File:BL15inchAPMkXXIIBNTShell1943Diagram.jpg

Diagram of British Capped AP (Armour-Piercing) Shell with Ballistic Cap, Mk XXII BNT, 1943, for BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun.
Explanation of markings on shell, top to bottom ,left to right :-

• 15" XXII : 15 inch Mark XXII shell.
• B denotes 6 c.r. head (the dimensions of the ballistic cap)
• NT denotes the shell has a night tracer in the base. Hence the base fuze is not flush with the shell base, but is recessed into the shell.
• GNB denotes the filling contractor's initial. 8/43 denotes date shell filled.
• EXPL PEL 3 1/4 oz PA : denotes the exploder is Picric Acid, 3 1/4 oz.
• T inside the semi-circle segment indicates type of tracer shell has fitted.
• FZD159 denotes serial number of fuze is 159. 4 above 7/43 applies to the fuze : denotes lot number 4, filled July 1943. BL/I denotes the fuze maker's initial and mark of fuze.
• Red band denotes shell is filled.
• 70/30 denotes Shellite filling makeup : 70% Lyddite, 30% dinitrophenol.
• The circle on the band around the middle of the shell indicates centre of gravity.
• N denotes intended for Naval use.

Text Book of Ammunition, 1944.
Downloaded from Steve Johnson's Cyberheritage website at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/stephen.johnson/arms/shel15.jpg
Other sourse B.R. 932, Handbook on Ammunition, 1945. British Navy ammunition from WW II, Plate 8 in APPENDIX at http://www.hnsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/br932.pdf

circa. 1943 - 1944

War Office, UK

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