British 12 pdr Armstrong Segment Shell

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

To All Interested,
    I want to share with the members the type ammunition that England was using from the Crimean War ujp until around 1866 When they shifted back to muzzle loading projectiles.
   This particujlar projectile was an all in one depending on how it was fuzed.
1 - with no fuzes and no burster and a fuze hole plug it was a bolt.
2. With the No. 2 percussion fuze, burster  and a nose plug it was a shell.
3. With both fuzes and burster it was a shrapnel (case shot).
    The No. 22 was a essentially a circuler flat time element initiated at setback.
     The No. 2 percussion fuze was armed at setback and fired on impact.
     When used together it would fire by the time fuse. When the time fuse fired its hot gases wold enter through the four holes in the top of the No. 2 fuze forcing the striker diaphragm inward into the detonator.
    The segments were loaded through the base then closed with the base disk.  The sabot was cast on similar to the method used by Bashley Britten.
    The Armstrong projectile was manufactured by Sir William Armstrong at his Elswick Ordnance Company (EOC).
If you have questions please ask.
Regards,
John

[jonpatterson]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[scottfromgeorgia]

Very interesting, John. I think I saw some of these in a display in Bulgaria, where Russia used them against the Ottomans.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Sctt,
   That is also interesting since this projectile was the prime artillery piece for England.  you would have thought that the British government would not have permitted external sales. Yet Evidently Russia and the Confederates purchased them.
Regardes,l
John

[scottfromgeorgia]

They were used by the Russians in the 1870s in the Seige of Plevna, and might have been seen as outdated by then. The Russians also had 5 Gatling guns sold by the American manufacturer, of which 2 are still at the museum.

[emike123]

Although I have heard some rumors to the contrary (and I am open to new information), I am not aware that this specific fuzing system was used in the American Civil War.  Some of the Armstrong shells were imported, however, and Jack Melton has a good write-up on them on his website which can be accessed directly through this link:

http://www.civilwarartillery.com/inventors/Armstrong.htm

I have a shipping plug and the 2 pieces of the fuse that were recovered on the retreat route shown here:

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
    No, as far as I am aware neigher fuze nor projectile was used in the ACW.  I merely posted it to let the members see what England was using during the ACW. since all they have been shown and told are the projectiles and fuzes not adopted for operational use by the British government. If you like I will refrain from future non ACW postings.
Kind Regards,
John

[emike123]

Fine with me if you post this here. Its interesting to me.

Chuck had that combination fuse in his book, but not the kind I illustrated that was dug up on the retreat route. I know the non dug examples shown are not from here, and so his inclusion of the one but not the other has, to me at least, added some confusion as to what types of Armstrong fuses made it over for use in the American Civil War.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

According to Gen. Abbot's "Siege of Richmond" plates.  All the above fuzes were discovered, but as far as I know none were fired in battle. If anyone knows to the contrary let us know.
Regards,
John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike, can you post the thread diameter, tpi and depth of the side hole on the fuze head.  It has to be a tool hole for tightening the fuze as I see no other use for it. I speak of the center fuze above.
Thank you,
John

[Dave the plumber]

  Is it for a slider safety pin ??

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Dave, no the only safety pin goes through the threads. I haven't drawn the upper hole in the side of the fuze head is because I am not sure how far it goes. Perhaps another question for Mike to check.
John

[emike123]

Diameter at threads is 1.214"

8tpi (are you sure yours is 9tpi? because the ones here are eight).  Left hand threads

Hole in head flange is 0.118" deep.  There is a safety pin through the holes in the threads

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
The Royal Laboratory plate that I drew this from says 9 tpi L?H thread.
I think the shallow hole in the head is for a pin spanner wrench .
Thanks a lot.
John

[emike123]

I think Dave has the one of these combo fuses you used to own so maybe he can check for us.  Odd, but perhaps a way to tell what was used here vs. elsewhere.

A forum member sent me this picture without any explanation.  It shows one of the Armstrongs with two rows of copper studs to the right of the detachable nose Whitworth.  I am pretty near positive those Whitworths with the detachable nose were not used here, but I think I remember that both two and three stud row Armstrongs may have made it to America.  My Armstrong from here and I think Scott's has three rows of studs so need confirmation of this.