4 ms·

Does anyone know offhand how airburst shells were fused in those days? The only way that I can think that it could have been done, would be to have a very accur

Does anyone know offhand how airburst shells were fused in those days? The only way that I can think that it could have been done, would be to have a very accurate timer detonate the shell. But then you have to know the flight time, and that would have changed whenever the gun was aimed at a different spot. Was the gun capable of setting the shell's timer automatically, based on it's firing angle? Did someone compensate for elevation difference? Or, was there a guy with a slide rule tweaking a knob on each shell just before firing?

cs24 10y ago
Basically three mechanisms have been used: a. Powder burning, these were the norm with shrapnel shells in WW1, and continued with smoke shells until at most a few decades ago. b. Mechanical time, appeared in WW1 and still used for shells that need a high burst such as smoke and illuminating. Were also used for HE, but round to round variation meant they were sell that perfect. c. Proximity (AKA Variable Time (VT)), this uses a radio transmitter and relies on reflected radio waves, first used in WW2 for anti-aircraft. Based on UK development that was transferred to the US in 1942. Used in the ground role to get a burst about 10 metres above ground late in WW2. Now a function in Multi-role fuzes that provide airburst, ground burst or delayed burst (ie penetrate the ground for about a metre before bursting) as selected.
angry_octet 10y ago
In WWI the British used burning timers, which are quite inaccurate due to variable burn rates vs pressure and chemical composition. The Germans had mechanical timers. The battery command post would do the calculations from gun tables, tell the battery the fuse setting (twisting something in the fuse (nose) of the round), then observers would report back and it would be adjusted. In late WWII the UK invented RF proximity fuses, first for AA then for surface. Nowadays the guns talk to the shells, the shells run self tests, etc. They will be self aware before too long, a la Darkstar: https://youtu.be/qjGRySVyTDk https://youtu.be/qjGRySVyTDk
- chiph 10y ago
  One of the first large-scale uses of POZIT proximity fuses by US forces in WW-II was at Elsenborn Ridge[1] in late 1944. Prior to this, the commanders restricted their use for the fear that the Germans would find a dud and reverse-engineer it. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge#Artillery_role https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge#Arti...
shabble 10y ago
This[1] explains the various fuzing types pretty well. Generally, some sort of intertial or centrifugal striker lights a fuse-train of constant-speed burning powder, which subsequently ignits the main charge. Timed fuzes could be set by either punching a hole through the delay spiral into the trigger charge at a specific point, or rotating a metal collar on the shell which had the same effect. I think they would have all been set manually, although probably with reference to markings on the fuzes themselves for either time or distance. Experience and/or feedback from the artillery spotters would indicate if they were bursting too early or late (and many would have backup impact fuzes in case they were too late). [1] http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_fusees_types.html http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_fus...

cs24 10y ago

Basically three mechanisms have been used: a. Powder burning, these were the norm with shrapnel shells in WW1, and continued with smoke shells until at most a few decades ago. b. Mechanical time, appeared in WW1 and still used for shells that need a high burst such as smoke and illuminating. Were also used for HE, but round to round variation meant they were sell that perfect. c. Proximity (AKA Variable Time (VT)), this uses a radio transmitter and relies on reflected radio waves, first used in WW2 for anti-aircraft. Based on UK development that was transferred to the US in 1942. Used in the ground role to get a burst about 10 metres above ground late in WW2. Now a function in Multi-role fuzes that provide airburst, ground burst or delayed burst (ie penetrate the ground for about a metre before bursting) as selected.

angry_octet 10y ago

In WWI the British used burning timers, which are quite inaccurate due to variable burn rates vs pressure and chemical composition. The Germans had mechanical timers. The battery command post would do the calculations from gun tables, tell the battery the fuse setting (twisting something in the fuse (nose) of the round), then observers would report back and it would be adjusted. In late WWII the UK invented RF proximity fuses, first for AA then for surface. Nowadays the guns talk to the shells, the shells run self tests, etc. They will be self aware before too long, a la Darkstar: https://youtu.be/qjGRySVyTDk https://youtu.be/qjGRySVyTDk

chiph 10y ago
One of the first large-scale uses of POZIT proximity fuses by US forces in WW-II was at Elsenborn Ridge[1] in late 1944. Prior to this, the commanders restricted their use for the fear that the Germans would find a dud and reverse-engineer it. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge#Artillery_role https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elsenborn_Ridge#Arti...

shabble 10y ago

This[1] explains the various fuzing types pretty well. Generally, some sort of intertial or centrifugal striker lights a fuse-train of constant-speed burning powder, which subsequently ignits the main charge. Timed fuzes could be set by either punching a hole through the delay spiral into the trigger charge at a specific point, or rotating a metal collar on the shell which had the same effect. I think they would have all been set manually, although probably with reference to markings on the fuzes themselves for either time or distance. Experience and/or feedback from the artillery spotters would indicate if they were bursting too early or late (and many would have backup impact fuzes in case they were too late). [1] http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_fusees_types.html http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_fus...