Quote:
Originally Posted by tlturbo
OK, I have some questions back on the original subject that I started this thread for.
Thanks for the websites - I had pretty much torn those and a LOT of other sites apart looking for information.
Is a 16" 50 cal HE projectile nose or base fused?
If it is nose fused, what is the small screw in piece in the center of the base plug?
Can the base plug be unscrewed with a BIG spanner wrench made to fit the holes?
Thanks - Terry
|
Almost all are base fuzed. A nose fuse on an AP shell wouldn't last long enough to be of any use when hitting steel armor or reinforced concrete. There are some nose fused types designed to explode above the ground such as the "Firecracker" rounds that scatter 400 bouncing bettys all around.
To remove a base fuse, you need a screwdriver first. That's to take out the locking screw that prevents the base fuse from unscrewing itself. Please, no double entendres on that "unscrewing" discription. The 16" shells fired by
Massachussets at the Battle of Casablanca had a problem with the base fuses falling out half way to their targets. One of the dud rounds is on display in town.
Actually, the round that sunk the
Jean Bart was a dud but it went all the way through the after hull and cracked the stern casting. As the ship settled by the stern, the casting broke off.
No, I'm not going to dig out my plans now. I've been having computer problems and I bought it only last November. For some reason it won't talk to my scanner anymore, or vice versee.