This fixed Q.F. round is fired from the short 7.5 cm tank gun (7,5 cm Kw.K.) and assault gun (Stu.G. 7,5 cm K.). The weight of the complete round is approximately 12 lb. 14 oz. and the overall length 18.5 inches. The shell is fitted with a dome-shaped impact cap which carries the small direct action fuze A.Z. 38. The cap and shell are painted the nor-mal dark olive green or, in some instances, white. There is no fundamental difference between the shells of these colours. The numeral "95", indicating the nature of filling, is marked on the cap in black. The cartridge case is stamped in the base with the model number 6354 St. and the designation of the tank gun "7,5 cm Kw.K.".

The complete round consists of the following components:–

Fuze, A.Z. 38.

Shell, model 38, filled cyclonite/wax/T.N.T.

Gaine, model 40.

Case, model 6354 St.

Propellant charge of 355 grams of Nz.R.P. (135 x 5,5/2).

Primer, electric C/22.

The weight of the shell, filled and fuzed, is approximately 9 lb. 14 oz. and the overall length, 11.2 inches.

The steel body of the shell is punched and drawn with a solid base and is fitted with a single driving band of the iron copper clad type. A cannelure is formed behind the driving band for the attachment of the case. The cavity for the bursting charge tapers towards the base and is designed for a block filling. An internal screwthread is formed at the for-ward end of the body to receive the impact cap. The impact cap is of cast iron and is dome-shaped with a flat formed on the top in which is screwthreaded fuze hole is for-med. A circumferencial shoulder is formed on the inner surface of the cap to bear on a washer positioned over the liner of the cavity in the bursting charge. The cavity liner is pressed from dead mild steel sheet of 1 mm thickness and is flanged to cover the top of the bursting charge. An aluminium tube, to connect the fuze with the gaine in the base of the shell cavity, passes through a hole in the base of the liner, where it is secured by crimping of the tube. The weight of the shell without filling, fuze or gaine is 8.46 lb.

The bursting charge weighs 1 lb. 3 oz. 9 dr. and compries three pressed blocks consisting of 60 per cent of cyclonite, phlegmatised with 5 per cent wax and 40 per cent of T.N.T. The upper block has the "hollow" cavity formed in the head and a central channel for the aluminium tube. The intermediate block also has a channel for the aluminium tube, whilst the lower block is in annular form and accommodates the gaine. The three blocks are contained in a waxed paper carton which is secured in the shell by a bituminous compo-sition lining the walls. A layer of this composition is also formed in the base of the shell cavity.

Description of the gaine, model 40, and the A.Z. 38 fuze are included in this pamphlet as separate items.

The charge is enclosed in an artificial silk bag and, as indicated by the markings on the bag, weighs 12 oz. 8 dr. The propellant is nitrocellulose powder in the tubular form. The tubes vary in colour and are approximately 5.3 inches long. The diameter of the hole va-ries between 0.053 and 0.068 inches. The external diameter of the tube varies because of the irregular exterior surface. This diameter is appoximately 0.131 inches. An igniter consisting of perforated circular discs of double base propellant is attached at the base of the bag by thread. The bag containing the charge is marked "7.5 cm Kw.K, Stu.G. 7,5 cm, 355 g. Nz.R.P. (135 x 5,5/2)".

On impact the cap is shattered and the fuze functions. The flash from the fuze passes through the aluminium tube to the detonator in the gaine at the base of the shell cavity. This results in the detonation of the P.E.T.N./wax filling of the gaine and thus brings about the detonation of the bursting charge from the base. The "hollow" in the head of the bursting charge has the effect of focusing the effect of the detonation to perforate the plate struck.

It is estimated that the shell will perforate 55 mm of homogeneous armour at normal of 45 mm of homogeneous armour at 30 degrees to the normal.