The shell is fired from 21 cm Mrs. 18, a separate-loading Q.F. heavy howitzer and is, in general design, similar to the shell of the same nature described for the 15 cm s.F.H. 18. Two driving bands of the copper and iron type are fitted. The ballistic cap, welded to the head, is not rounded at the nose to the same extent as that on the 15-cm shell. The shell and cap are painted the normal dark olive green and the abbreviated designation, "Gr. 18 Be", is included in the stampings in the underside of the base fuze. The overall length is 36.75 inches and the weight, filled and fuzed, is 267.75 lb. The weight of the empty shell is 237 lb. 3 oz. The average V.D.H. figure for the body is 290.

The bursting charge weighs approximately 25 lb. 9 oz. and is of the block type comprising a main filling of T.N.T./wax pellets, an intermediary of T.N.T. pellets and desensitized nose pellets consisting of T.N.T./wax/potassium chloride. The pellets, 10 in all, are con-tained in a cardboard carton which is cemented to the wall of the shell cavity. The car-ton is stencilled "Sprengladung 21 cm Gr. 18 Be" and a label at the base is printed as fol-lows:–

"Sprengldg. d. 21 cm Gr. Be, Fp. 10 (Sulfiltri) Rd. 1939
Fp. 02 (umkr.)"

The details of the pellets comprising the filling from base to nose are as follows:–

4 lb. 2 oz. pellet of T.N.T/wax 94/6 at the base shaped from the underside to fit over the exploder container and at the upperside to receive a T.N.T. pellet.

8 oz. T.N.T. pellet is annular form which fits into the upperside of the base pellet and surrounds the upper end of the exploder container.

4 lb. 0 3/4 oz. pellet of T.N.T./wax 90/10 in annular form to receive a T.N.T. pel-let.

1 lb. 5 1/2 oz. T.N.T. pellet in solid cylindrical form which fits into the annular T.N.T./wax pellet.

6 oz. disc pellet of T.N.T. 60.5 per cent, wax 5.4 per cent and potassium chloride 34.1 per cent.

5 oz. disc pellet of T.N.T. 44.1 per cent, wax 5.6 per cent and potassium chloride 50.3 per cent.

The potassium chloride pellet and the desensitized T.N.T. composite pellets at the for-ward end of the shell cavity are apparently used instead of the usual pitch pad of woo-den block to deaden the H.E. filling at this point and so prevent premature functioning on impact.

Gaine and Fuze

The gaine is carried in the steel exploder container and is the Zdlg. C/98 filled picric acid.

The base fuze is of the optional delay type and is provided with a setting plug and has setting graduations stamped in the underside.