The New International Encyclopædia/Shrapnel

SHRAPNEL. A form of projectile used in field and naval guns and invented by Col. Henry Shrapnel of the British Army. It consists of a shell containing a number of balls, a bursting charge, usually of black powder, and a combination time and percussion fuze. (See Fuze.) The bursting charge may be located either in the front or in the rear of the shell, whose walls are thinner than in the case of ordinary shell. The bursting charge may also be contained in a central tube, as is the case of navy shrapnel, which may be larger than that used in field pieces. Shrapnel is designed for use against troops in open country or for clearing covered spaces, destructive effect over a considerable area rather than penetrative power being desired. With this in view the fuze is so adjusted that the projectile bursts in close vicinity to the target and scatters its fragments and the balls, which may be placed either in metal or wooden frames or plates or in a matrix of resin. In naval warfare shrapnel is used against attack by torpedo boats or small boats. See Projectiles, where United States Army 3.2-inch shrapnel is illustrated; also Canister; Field Artillery.