The Shrapnel Shell in England and in Belgium; With Some Reflections on the Use of This Projectile in the Late Crimean War a Historico-Technical Sketch

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1862. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... § 12.--Lastly it may be remarked that the Boxer Expensive a J J ofthenew En Shell must necessarily be more expensive than the £jfhhJhrap Belgian shell, on account of the difficulty of casting it and on account of the great waste in castings of such complicated nature. The difference of price perhaps, may be such that 1000 empty Boxer shells will hardly be had in the workshops of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, for the price of 1500 empty Belgian shells (). Adding to this that the price of 1000 Boxer fuzes, as we shall see hereafter, may be estimated to be from 2500 to 3000 francs (from £ 100 to £ 120), while 1000 Belgian metallic fuzes cost only 350 francs (£ 14), it will be readily agreed, that on this point also the Belgian system is more advantageous than the new English one (). () Thejdifficulty of casting the Boxer shell may be appreciated by the following statement: Quarterly Review, January 1858. London. Art.VII. Woolwich Arsenal and its manufacturing establishments, p. 221.-' A still stronger case to show the extraordinary prices which the Go"vernment had to pay contractors when the demand was imperative "and supply confined to two or three houses, was that of the 6-pounder "diaphragm shells: £ 73 per ton, now made in the Royal Laboratory-at £ 14-19-2 per ton." () These prices, of course, will have changed since 1859, but a difference of price in favour of the Belgian system will still exist. coionei Deio-§ 13.--Endeavouring myself to remain perfectly bel on the Boxer fuze impartial on the Boxer system, I here subjoin and on the nd"heiihrap Colonel Delobel's observations on the same subject. Colonel Delobel after having laid down, Revue, II, p. 388, the fundamental conditions, which in his view constitute a good ...