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Image: BL6inch30cwtHowitzerStarShellMkIDiagram

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Description: Diagram of Star shell Mk I for British BL 6 inch 30 cwt howitzer, 1914. Used for illuminating the enemy and/or battlefield at night. Shell length = 17.69 inches, diameter = 5.97 inches, weight filled & fuzed 58 1/4 lbs. Shell contains 12 stars in 2 tiers of 6 each. Stars are supported in shell by 2 semi-circular corrugated steel supports in each tier. Central tube contains 70 grains R.F.G.2 powder primer. Bursting charge of 10 drams R.F.G.2 powder in base. Stars consist of brown paper cylinders filled with "star composition" with a priming of saltpetre, sulphur and mealed powder, with quickmatch threaded through holes at each end. Like shrapnel, the time fuze ignites the bursting charge which ignites the stars and fires them forward out of the shell. Special No. 25 time fuze is used, which has a weak stirrup spring design to arm on the low discharge shock of reduced propellant charge used for star-shell.
Title: BL6inch30cwtHowitzerStarShellMkIDiagram
Credit: Plate XXXII, pages 192-195, 197 in "Treatise on Ammunition" 10th Edition, 1915.
Author: War Office, UK
Permission: Crown Copyright expired (50 years)
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No

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