Vintage work crew photos

[volodar]

´Forging 14 in. shells with steam hammer at Midvale Steel and Ordnance Co., 1918´

i see the projectile, not the shell.

[desbromilow]

´Forging 14 in. shells with steam hammer at Midvale Steel and Ordnance Co., 1918´

i see the projectile, not the shell.

depending upon your terminology, the projectile is called a "shell" - hence the term "shelling the enemy trenches" and "shelling the beaches"... not all "cannons" use casings like pistols and rifles. The larger guns (think the Mighty Mo) use a projectile (shell), and then the propellant is loaded into the chamber in portioned lots, and the entire ensemble is initiated by a much smaller primer. There is several scenes in various movies showing how the guns in larger naval turrets are loaded.. the "bags" containing the propellant essentially rupture and disintegrate and the remnants are discharged out the muzzle with the rest of the smoke and roar as the gun is fired. It's been recently covered in Australian journalism that the powder bags for a number of field guns contained asbestos, and as such the gunnery crews were breathing asbestos as a result when they were enveloped in the smoke around the guns.

[12bolts]

As I understood it the propellant bags were made of silk, (originally), but now cotton or rayon, or other flammable material so as to be fully consumed during firing. Why would they employ a fibre that is designed to resist burning?

[desbromilow]

As I understood it the propellant bags were made of silk, (originally), but now cotton or rayon, or other flammable material so as to be fully consumed during firing. Why would they employ a fibre that is designed to resist burning?

I do not know the answer to why... I asked the same question when it hit the news here. I could guess and say perhaps it was to reduce burning embers landing on the ground near the guns and starting a scrub fire, but that is just a guess on my part. I always worked on the principle that the bags were medium weight cotton or silk as well, so was quite surprised when the news stories talked about "a small amount of asbestos" being in them.

[baja]

As I understood it the propellant bags were made of silk, (originally), but now cotton or rayon, or other flammable material so as to be fully consumed during firing. Why would they employ a fibre that is designed to resist burning?

I went to work for a Naval Ammunition Depot after high school and during the ordnance worker training the propellant for the 16" naval guns was discussed since the components were stored there. I don`t remember what the the main bag was made of but each one had a red silk section sewed on the bottom that contained black powder which was what ignited the grains of smokeless powder in the main charge. The smokeless powder was extruded like rifle powders are although on a much larger scale, each grain being more than 2" long with longitudinal holes which controlled the burning rate.

[jackhoying]

As I understood it the propellant bags were made of silk, (originally), but now cotton or rayon, or other flammable material so as to be fully consumed during firing. Why would they employ a fibre that is designed to resist burning?

In 1984, my friend and I were on Norfolk naval base, walking along the pier where the USS Iowa battleship was moored. We were going to tour a small destroyer that was open to tours that day. As we passed the gangplank of the Iowa, we asked the guard if they were open for visitors. He said "We are not officially open, but we never turn down anyone who ask". An officer gave us a private tour, including the inside of of turret 1, as well as the spaces below deck. Very interesting how the powder is kept secure until the last second before it is delivered inside the turret.

[Scotsman Hosie]

I believe 'shell' is the correct term for the projectile — for large ordinance like this. (Which usually carries an explosive charge, itself.)