TOPIC:

Heavens, Neville! What a collection! I have never seen even one of these before.

Neville, my goodness. Now I know why I haven't seen one before - you have them all! I don't know where you find them - I am always on the look-out for something interesting. Thanks so much for sharing these images - I now exactly what I have.

Owen

Fragments of T & P fuzes picked up at various sites in the late 1970s and early 80s (apart from the Modder River composition ring, which was brought home at the time by Lieut. Gladstone, 3rd K.O.S.B.)


KEY

A. Gun-metal nut
B. Brass washer
C. Brass dome
D. Gun-metal composition ring
E. Leather washer
F. Gun-metal body
G. Gun-metal percussion pellet (needle absent)
H. Gun-metal bottom plug



Head of 15-pdr shell, brought home as a souvenir of Paardeberg.









The fuze consists of the following parts: – Body, percussion pellet with steel needle and retaining bolt, spiral spring, detonator plug, safety pellet, brass ball, bottom plug, composition ring, dome, brass washer, nut, two safety pins, and two leather washers.
The body, composition ring, percussion pellet, detonator plug, bottom plug, and nut are made of the usual gun-metal or other approved alloy, the dome, washer, ball, safety pellet, and spring of brass, and the time safety pin of phosphor bronze wire, percussion safety pin of half round copper wire.

For Land Service B.L. 10-pr to 4-inch and 30-pr, Q.F. 12-pr and 2.95-inch, R.M.L. 2.5-inch to 16-pr. For Naval Service Q.F. 12-pr. It will supersede the Time and Percussion short, No. 55, as soon as the stock of that fuze is exhausted.

The bottom part of the body is screwed on the exterior to fit the General Service fuze-hole, and is bored out in the interior to take the percussion arrangement, and screwed to receive the bottom plug.
Above this the body is of larger diameter, and fits over the nose of the shell, a leather washer on the underside of the fuze making the joint tight.
Above this, again, the body terminates in a stem, the top of which is threaded to receive the nut, and two grooves are cut in the top end to receive the feathers on a brass washer. A groove is cut in the top face of the body close to the stem and half way round it, and a hole is bored obliquely through the body into the groove at an angle the reverse to the spin of rifling, for the escape of gas.

Round the enlarged diameter of the body will be found the safety pin of the percussion arrangement, a hole for the projection on the key by which the fuze is screwed into the shell, the escape hole mentioned above, and a black triangular setting mark, or notch. The notch marks the position of a fire-hole containing a small, perforated pellet of powder leading to a horizontal channel filled with fine grain powder, the latter communicating with the detonator plug. A white calfskin washer, beneath which is one of fine white paper, on the flat part of the body, prevents the composition in the ring from exploding. These washers are attached firmly to the body by shellac, a hole being pierced through them so as to leave the powder pellet in the fire-hole exposed. Until recently the setting mark on the body of the fuze was an arrowhead.

The composition ring, which is barrel-shaped on the exterior to give better grip in setting, fits on the top of the body. A channel lined with asbestos paper runs nearly all round its under surface and contains 3.25 inches of fuze composition. On the upper side of the ring there is a small chamber containing the lighting arrangement, which consists of a gun-metal hammer, having a steel needle suspended by a thin copper wire over .2 grain of cap composition surrounded by mealed powder, and covered by a thin brass disc; the top of the chamber is also closed with a brass disc.

A strong safety pin of phosphor-bronze wire passes through the ring from the outside, and underneath the hammer, which it supports. The end of this safety pin has a slot cut through it, and the two ends opened out to retain it in position. A loop of whipcord, coloured bright scarlet, and long enough to pass over the top cap, is attached to the pin to facilitate its withdrawal. The letter “T” is stamped on the time ring near the entrance of the safety pin. When the safety pin is withdrawn, a small brass pellet, having a spiral spring behind it, closes the hole.
The fore-hole leads from the bottom of the chamber to the commencement of the composition, which is indented in order to secure its ignition by the flash from the detonator.
A conical hole is bored into the composition channel, at the side, near its commencement, and an elongated hole at the top. These holes allow of the escape of gas from the burning composition into the dome.

Three projections are formed on the inside of the ring, which keep it central when placed on the stem of the body.

Round the exterior of the ring are divisions marked and numbered up to 18. The divisions are further subdivided by unnumbered lines into quarters.
These divisions are now made more distinct by having the lines for the whole numbers marked completely across the ring.
An arrow on the exterior of the ring denotes the position of the centre of the bridge. When this arrow is wet opposite the notch on the body the fuze is said to be at safety.

The dome is stamped up from sheet brass; it fits over the composition ring, and is retained by the cap [nut]. It covers the lighting arrangement of the time ring, and forms a chamber into which the gas escapes, thus making the pressure on the burning composition more regular.

The washer is made of sheet brass with a central hole having two feathers fitting into the grooves in the top part of the stem, which prevent the washer turning: this washer prevents the dome being turned and the setting altered when screwing up the cap [nut].

The cap [nut] is hexagonal in form and fits the small hole in the “Key, fuze, universal”, it screws on the end of the stem of the body and holds the dome and ring in position.
The percussion arrangement consists of a percussion pellet with steel needle, and retaining bolt with spiral spring, safety pellet, detonator plug, spiral spring, brass ball and bottom plug.

The percussion pellet contains on its upper surface the needle plug, with hardened steel needle in centre with six fire-holes around it. It has on the underside a disc of fine white paper secured with shellac, and in a recess under the needle plug are three grains of F.G. powder, this recess is closed at the bottom with a brass washer and shalloon disc. A small recess is made in the underside of the body and a corresponding one in top of pellet, into which fits a spiral spring, this prevents rebound. There is a slot down the side for the safety pellet and ball to fall into, and the percussion pellet is prevented from turning by a screw in the body which projects into a groove down its side.

The retaining bolt is an additional precaution against prematures. It passes transversely through the detonator pellet, and its head projects into a recess in the body, where it is kept by a spiral spring as shown in the plate.
The other end of the bolt is heavy and is caused to fly outwards when the shell is rotated. A slotted recess is formed in the body into which the heavy end of the bolt can move.
In manufacture these bolts are tested by spinning the percussion pellet in a special lathe. The bolt must withdraw between 1,700 and 2,100 revolutions per minute.
The ball prevents the percussion pellet moving forward so long as the safety pellet is in its place.
The spiral spring is made of thin brass wire, and fits in a recess in the body and percussion pellet and prevents the percussion pellet rebounding or working forward during flight.
The safety pellet is suspended in the body of the fuze by a thin copper suspending wire.
The safety pin of split copper wire passes through the centre of the body, and through the safety pellet which it supports, its ends being opened out to retain it in its place. The letter “P” is stamped on the body near the entrance of this pin. The pin is provided with a tarred whipcord loop for withdrawal. The loop is long enough to fit over the top cap.
A small brass pellet, having a spiral spring in compression behind it, closes the safety pin hole when the safety pin is withdrawn.

The detonator plug is a small cylinder of gun-metal, screwed on the exterior to fit the body at the end of the horizontal powder channel, and above the needle. It is recessed to receive the Royal Laboratory cap, and has a central fire-hole. The cap is held in position against the underside of the interior of the body.

The bottom plug is a short cylinder of gun-metal threaded on the exterior to screw into the bottom of the fuze. It has a cavity filled with a perforated pellet of compressed powder, over the top of which is a disc of fine paper, then a disc of shalloon secured by a brass washer over which the metal is spun. The hole at the bottom is closed by a disc of shalloon similarly secured.

The exterior of the fuze is lacquered all over.
The screw threads of the detonator plug and bottom plug are touched with Pettman cement before screwing in, and the bottom of the fuze is covered with the same cement.
The mark, number of lot, date of manufacture, and manufacturer’s initials are stamped upon the plain portion of the body.

Certain alterations and improvements have been made in this fuze since it was first made, without any change of mark. These are embodied in the foregoing description, but are given here in condensed form.

Lines denoting divisions on time ring and letters “T” and “P” made more distinct; and lines for whole numbers completely across the ring. These commence with the 207th thousand. Number of lot and manufacturing marks placed clear of setting mark and of safety pins. Percussion pin placed a little to the left. Safety pins strengthened, “P” pin by being made of a double turn of copper wire soldered together, commencing with No. 152 thousand, and “T” pin by being made of a single wire of phosphor-bronze, with a loop and split end, commencing with the 461at thousand. Loops of safety pins made long enough to be turned over the cap when the fuze is in the shell, commencing with No. 215 thousand, and the loop of the time safety pin coloured bright scarlet to distinguish it readily from the percussion pin. Finally, the setting mark altered from an arrowhead to a blackened notch, commencing with the 449th thousand.

The fuze weighs about 13 oz.
The time of burning at rest is printed on the label of the cylinder in which the fuze is packed. It is about 13 seconds; but varies slightly for different lots.

The fuze is screwed into the shell by means of the universal key, the cap [nut] loosened by the same means, and the ring turned until the required graduation on the ring is opposite the arrowhead or notch on the body.
The cap [nut] is then clamped tightly.
This is a most important point in all such fuzes, for, if it is not securely done, the ring of composition may explode without burning. At the same time, care must be taken that the setting of the fuze is not altered in the operation.

The shell is then brought up to the gun, and, when it is on the point of being loaded, one or both safety pins must be withdrawn according to the use intended. If required to act as a combined fuze, both pins are withdrawn; if as a time fuze only, the percussion safety pin is left in; and, if required to act as a percussion fuze only, the time safety pin should be allowed to remain. In order to prevent mistakes, the letter “T” is stamped near the time safety pin, and the letter “P” close to the percussion pin. For the latter purpose it does not appear to be safe to withdraw both safety pins and set the fuze on the bridge].

The action for time is as follows: –
On the shock of discharge the hammer shears the suspending wire and fires the detonating composition, which ignites the composition ring. The gas from the ring escapes into the dome, thence through the hole in the side of the body.
When the ring has burned round to the channel, marked by the arrow or notch, it fires the percussion arrangement of the shell.
On the shock of discharge, the suspending wire is sheared, and the safety pellet sets back to the bottom of the slot in the percussion pellet, the ball following it in the first movement of rotation, the spiral spring prevents the percussion pellet rebounding.
During flight the centrifugal force of the heavier end of the retaining bolt overpowers the spring and withdraws the smaller end from the recess, so that the percussion pellet is free to move forward, which it does in impact or graze compressing the spiral spring, and the needle striking the detonator fires the fuze.

Each fuze is packed in its own tin cylinder. The cylinder is fitted with two papier-maché packing pieces, one to fit over the lower screwed part of the fuze, the other over the dome. A tape loop passes through the two packing pieces and under the bottom of the fuze to facilitate withdrawal.
The number of lot of the fuze is stamped on the bottom of each cylinder.



Dome from Spion Kop, brought home by Lieutenant Hugh Steuart Gladstone, 3rd K.O.S.B. Retains some or the original lacquer.




Detail from a photograph of shell fragments picked up in the Ladysmith area, taken by R.E.E. Gell, Newcastle, Natal.



..

A. 12-pdr, Shrapnel, Service, Mk I, dated 1886, Belmont (bursting charge contained in head, opposed to base). "PICKED UP BY / PTE WELLS / 5TH FUSILEERS / AT BELMONT / 23RD NOV. 1899".
B. 12-pdr, Shrapnel, Service, Mk I, dated 1894 (bursting charge contained in head, opposed to base)
C. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk V, dated 1900
D. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III, dated 1898, Horseshoe Hill, Tugela Operations (The Projectile Company, Battersea)
E. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk ?, dated 1899 & 1900, Rangeworthy (marriage of body and head)
F. 15-pdr Begbie Foundry common shell, made by the Boers for captured British guns (Begbie Foundry, Johannesburg)
G. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III, dated 1899, Modder River (The Projectile Company, Battersea). Retains lead-coloured paint, used in order to readily distinguish the 15-pdr BL shrapnel from its 12-pdr equivalent, which was painted black (see "B").

Base of 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III, from Modder River. “F.S.” denotes that this shell was of Forged Steel, and “P.Co.” that it was made at the Projectile Company works in Battersea, London. Brought home by Lieutenant Hugh Steuart Gladstone, 3rd K.O.S.B.
Around the circumference can be seen “sawtooth” impressions, left in the copper driving band by the 18 grooves of a 15pdr BL, Mk I, with Mk II Rifling. This same profile is seen with shells fired by the 15-pdr BL, Mk II & Mk IV, but nearly all the guns deployed in South Africa were Mk I's.





12-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III – V, and 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk IV – VI








A. 12-pdr, Service, Mk I, 16 grooves (possibly fired by Naval 12-pdr QF). From Belmont.
B. 12-pdr, Service, Mk I, 18 grooves (fired by 12-pdr BL, Mk I, II or IV)
C. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk V, 18 grooves (fired by 15-pdr BL, Mk I, with Mk II Rifling, 15-pdr BL Mk II or 15-pdr BL Mk IV). Note absence of cannelures and addition of serrations on front slope of driving band, modifications that were introduced with the Mk V shell.
D. 15-pdr, Common, Begbie Foundry, 18 grooves (fired by one of the captured British 15-pdrs)
E. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III, 18 grooves (fired by 15-pdr BL, Mk I, with Mk II Rifling). From Modder River. Brought home by Lieutenant Hugh Steuart Gladstone, 3rd K.O.S.B.
F. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk III, showing the cast ridges that would have held the band in place. From Horseshoe Hill, Tugela.
G. 15-pdr, Shrapnel, Mk ?, 18 grooves (fired by 15-pdr BL, Mk I, with Mk II Rifling). From Rangeworthy.
H. 12-pdr, Common, Pointed, 16 grooves (fired by Naval 12-pdr QF gun). From Horseshoe Hill, Tugela.


Major Darrell Hall (South African Military History Society Journal - Vol 3 No 4) notes: “in nearly all cases, the 15 prs in service in South Africa were fitted with the Mark I gun”.
At the time of the ABW, the Mk I 15-pdrs were furnished with three patterns of barrel, each with a different rifling system. These guns were designated the 15-pdr B.L. Mk I, with Rifling Mk I, Mk II or Mk III.
The Mk I Rifling had 12 grooves of “hook” section, the Mk II, 18 grooves, again of “hook” section, and the Mk III, 18 grooves of “plain” section. Projectiles encountered with 12 rather than 18 grooves were therefore fired by the older R.F.A. guns.
Subsequent gun mark numbers tended to reflect the pattern of rifling used. For instance, the Mk II Gun had Mk II Rifling, and the Mk III, modified Mk III Rifling. The exception was the later Mk IV Gun, which reverted to the tried-and-tested Mk II Rifling.




Details from a photograph by R.E.E. Gell, Newcastle, Natal, showing the 18 and 12-groove 15-pdr BL Mk I variants.


Two napkin rings fashioned from 12 and 18-groove driving bands. These types of grooves are described as having “hook” or “sawtooth” profiles, where the groove slopes off to the surface of the bore. The 12-groove "hook" section rifling was designated "Rifling, Mark I" and its 18-groove equivalent, "Rifling, Mark II". "Rifling, Mark III" differed, in having grooves with “plain” or “crenelated” sections (see below).



Image depicting three different groove profiles.
Top: “plain” or “crenelated”, 15-pdr BL Mk I, with Mk III Rifling; from Hart’s Hill.
Centre: “hook” or “sawtooth”, 12 &15-pdr BL Mk I, with Mk II Rifling (also 12 & 15-pdr BL Mks II & IV); from Horseshoe Hill.
Bottom: Elswick [E.O.C.] “modified plain”, Naval 12-pdr QF; from Hart’s Hill.
The grooves of the BL Mk I guns with Mk III rifling were 0.265-inches wide, and those of the Naval QF guns 0.4-inches.



Morgan 1898, p. 18

Grooves. – The systems of rifling adopted in B.L. ordnance are the polygroove, or hook section, and the plain, or modified plain. In a few cases also the polygroove of Elswick section is employed. The non-driving side of the groove of the hook section is sloped off to the surface of the bore or land, the depth of the groove being, 0.04 inch for field, 0.05 inch up to 9.2-inch guns, and 0.06 inch for heavier natures, the width varying with the size of the piece. The number of grooves in a gun correspond to about four times the number of inches of calibre. Thus a 12-inch gun has forty-eight grooves, but 12-pr. and 4-inch guns of new manufacture, or when re-tubed or through-lined, have six grooves for each inch of calibre.




Descriptions of the rifling of the various marks (12 & 15-pdrs).
Sources: Handbook for the 12-pdr B.L. Gun, Mark I (1900); Addendum to Treatise on Service Ordnance (1898); Handbook for the 12-pr B.L. 6 cwt Gun (1901); Handbook for the 15-pr B.L. Gun, Marks II to IV (1903); Handbook for the 12-pr Q.F., Guns (1906), p. 1; Handbook for the 12-pr Q.F., Guns (1906), p. 23; Handbook for the 15-pr B.L.C. Gun (1908)



Driving bands were keenly sought by souvenir makers, who used them to make all sorts of curios, including the selection of napkin rings pictured above.



This gilt bracelet, made from the driving band of a shell fired by a 15-pdr BL Mk I with Mk III rifling, appears to have been a gift from Captain David Ham, 3rd Victorian (Bushmen's) Contingent, to his wife Margaret, commemorating his participation in the Elands River siege.
The low profile and striations between the grooves suggest that the barrel of the gun that fired this projectile had become very worn. The only 15-pdrs present at Elands River were the captured British guns under the command of General Koos de la Rey.
In this case, the jeweller has used only half the width of the original driving band.


..

Fascinating, and beautifully photographed. What do you mean by 'bursting charge contained in head'? Do you mean the bursting charge failed to go off? If so, be extremely careful with 123 yr old black powder.
Here's a cautionary tale: Just today I spent an idle morning in Natal rendering inert some .303 and 7mm rounds, picked up on the battlefield soon after 1900. Making them inert involves extracting the bullet, emptying the cordite or nitro, and drilling out the primer. One .303 cartridge contained black powder instead of cordite, and since I couldn't empty the black powder pellet I decided to burn it out using a strand of cordite as a fuse. It went off with an almighty bang! Some of the primers went bang while being drilled, despite being soaked in oil which 'should' make them inert. I ended up with a mug full of cordite and nitrocelluose, which burnt extremey fiercely when lit. Cordite from cartridges picked up today will, similarly, burn firecely. The point of my tale is this: if your shells are un-burst, i.e. the nose cone has not blown off, please check they are not 'live'.

Thank you for the warning Rob.

I spent many hours as a teenager performing similar deactivation work on WWII aircraft ammo found at crash sites on the Yorkshire Moors, and, yes, the cordite burned mightily well (and filled the air with a pungent aroma).
As far as the shells are concerned, rest assured, they are not live. The early "Service" 12 and 15-pdr shrapnel shells had the bursting charge in the head instead of the base. Unlike later rounds, which discharged their contents by means of a detachable head, the bullets in these shells were dispersed via the base, which was fixed in place with six steel shearing pins. I thought it useful to note this distinction.

I'm still searching for a definitive answer to the 12-groove question.

Neville