Shell (projectile) facts for kids

Shells used on the HMS Belfast

A 'shell is a type of projectile used in weapons. It is filled with explosive or other substances. Shells are usually large caliber projectiles fired by artillery, armored fighting vehicles (including tanks), and warships.

Shells usually have the shape of a cylinder but taper towards the front end to form a point. However, special shells may use other shapes.

Images for kids

Some sectioned shells from the First World War. From left to right: 90 mm shrapnel shell, 120 mm pig iron incendiary shell, 77/14 model - 75 mm high-explosive shell, model 16–75 mm shrapnel shell
US scientists with a full-scale cut-away model of the W48 155-millimeter nuclear artillery shell, a very small tactical nuclear weapon with an explosive yield equivalent to 72 tons of TNT (0.072 kiloton). It could be fired from any standard 155 mm (6.1 inch) howitzer (e.g., the M114 or M198)
155 mm M107 projectiles. All have fuzes fitted
Some shells displayed in Taipei
The 'flying-cloud thunderclap-eruptor' cannon from the Huolongjing.
A mortar with a hollowed shell from the Boshin war.
1870s cast-iron RML 16-pounder "Boxer" shrapnel shell showing limited space for bullets.
right
Poudre B was the first practical smokeless powder.
Sir James Dewar developed the cordite explosive in 1889.
Picric acid was used in the first high-explosive shells. Cut out section of a high-explosive shell belonging to a Canon de 75 modèle 1897.
Palliser shot for the BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I - VII, 1886.
A shell with sabot in an 1824 Paixhans gun.
A diagram of a fin stabilized discarding sabot showing its operation.
Diagram of PIAT ammunition
105 mm HESH rounds being prepared for disposal by the US Navy, 2011.
Petard spigot mortar launcher and 290mm HESH round, on Churchill AVRE
Drawing of a carcass shell.
British gun crew preparing 155 mm shells at Vergato, Italy on 22 February 1945
155 mm American artillery shells, March 1945
15 inch high-explosive howitzer shells. Circa 1917.
British APCBC Shell Mk XXII BNT (circa 1943) for BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun, showing base fuze
Typical World War I shrapnel round :1 shell bursting charge2 bullets3 nose fuze4 central ignition tube5 resin matrix6 thin steel shell wall7 cartridge case8 propellant
155 mm artillery shells containing "HD" agent at Pueblo chemical weapons storage facility. Note the colour-coding scheme on each shell.
British World War II 4-inch naval illuminating shell, showing time fuze (orange, top), illuminating compound (green) and parachute (white, bottom)
Illumination rounds fired from a M777 howitzer
Modern 155 mm artillery ammunition. These shells are unusual in having two driving bands. The shell on the right is a modified M107
M982 Excalibur. A GPS guided artillery shell.
M712 Copperhead approaches a target tank
SMArt 155. An anti-armor shell containing two autonomous, sensor-guided, fire-and-forget submunitions.