The cartridge is used in the 8.8 cm Flak 18 and 36 (8.8 cm multipurpose gun) in the anti-tank role. The length of the complete round is approximately 34.4 inches and the weight 34 lb.

Armour-piercing shell fitted with penetrative and ballistic cap and filled H.E.

Base detonating fuze with tracer.

Brass case or steel case coated with brass.

Propellant charge of double base propellant with a nitrocellulose igniter and a lead wire decoppering agent (1 mm in diameter).

Percussion Primer C/12 n.A. St.

The weight of the shell, filled and fuzed, is 21 lb. The projectile and cap are painted black. The general construction is the same as that of the 7.5 cm shell described in Pam-phlet No. 4, which includes a drawing (Fig. 15). The length of the shell is 14.5 inches.

The shell body is of chronium molybdenum steel and is fitted with two driving bands of soft iron covered with copper. Two cannelure for the attachment of the case are formed behind the driving band, and the base is screwthreaded to receive the fuze with tracer. The penetrative cap is of the same material as the body and is attached by a soldering process. The ballistic cap is of mild steel and is attached to the penetrative cap by spot welding at twelve points.

The bursting charge with exploder is contained in a light metal container, shaped to fit the shell cavity, except at the forward end, where it is flat. The container is open at the base end, where it is turned over to form an internal flange. The space between the for-ward end of the container and the small end of the cavity contains a filling of inert com-position. The bursting charge consists of T.N.T./Wax and is made up in two parts. The forward part is solid. The base part is in the form of a hollow charge to receive the ex-ploder pellet. The exploder pellet of P.E.T.N./Wax is pink in colour and has a cavity for-med in its base to receive the head of the fuze. The weight of the filling is approximately 5.5 oz.

The base fuze, which is stamped with the calibre and nature of the projectile, i.e. "8,8 cm Pzgr" (A.P. projectile) and stencilled in white "40" is of the same type as that used in the 7.5 cm Kw.K. shell (see Pamphlet No. 4, page 25) but differs in the dimensions of the steel body, which apparently functions as an adapter to enable this type of fuze to be used in shell of different calibres. The diameter over the threads is 2.1 inches and the length of the fuze 3.56 inches. The detonator contains a 0.32 grain filling of the following composition: mercury fulminate 25.8 per cent, potassium nitrate 36.9 per cent, antimony sulphide 29.5 per cent, and ground glass 7.8 per cent. The tracer, screwed into the base of the fuze, is described in the section on German tracers in this pamphlet.

Both the brass case and the steel case, coated with brass, bear the number "6347" stamped in the base. The steel case is readily distinguished from the brass by the letters "St" following the number. Both types are 22.4 inches long, increase sharply in taper near the mouth, and are necked. The primer boss is screw-threaded.

The propellant charge in the form of tubular cords, is partially enclosed in a  bag which fits over its base end and contains the igniter composition. The weight of the charge is 5.34 lb. The propellant is of the double base type and consists basically of nitrocellulose and diethylene glycoldinitrate and includes sodium bicarbonate. The tubes are graphited and have a glossy black appearance. The igniter composition consists of greenish cylin-drical grains of graphited nitrocellulose powder containing a small proportion of potassium nitrate.

The following markings are typical of markings stencilled on the bag in black:–

"2.425 kg Digl.R.P. 8 – 450-5 5/2 75) dgb 40,4LV24-3-41 P."

The percussion primer C/12 n.A. St is similar to the brass primer of the same number des-cribed in Pamphlet No. 4, page 10, but is of steel.