(Fig. 26)

This shell is similar to the 10.5 cm H.V. shell described in this pamphlet and consists of a streamlined 12.8 cm shell with a centering ring of 14.84 cm diameter forming a shoulder and a corresponding base ring carrying the driving band. The construction of the base ring differs from that of the 10.5 shell. Both of the rings are designed so that they be-come detached during the flight of the shell. The exterior is painted yellow and stencilled in black. The shell examined had no H.E. numeral stencilled on it but this was stamped in accordance with the usual practice, near the fuze hole. The normal marking for the T.N.T. bursting charge would be the numeral "14" stencilled in black near the fuze hole. The marking "R 9" indi-cating the inclusion of a No. 9 smoke box (Rauchentwickler Nr. 9) is stencilled prominently on the head above the centering ring. The shell examined also bore the stencilling "Z 3033" as shown in the drawing. The meaning of this marking is not apparent.

With the optional delay fuze A.Z. 23 (v. 0.15) with which it is fuzed, the overall length is 25.6 inches and the total weight 65 lb. Without the rings the weight is 57 lb. 15 oz. 12 drs.

The streamlined body has a comparatively thin wall and a head of large radius. The met-hod of attachment and the construction of the centering ring is the same as that des-cribed for the 10.5 cm shell. At the base the body is reduced in diameter for the assemb-ly of the base ring and has three equally spaced recesses each of which contains a pro-truding steel ball for the keying of the base ring. The centering ring and fittings weigh 14 oz. 11 drs.

The base ring, consisting of three segments with a coned fairing in three corresponding parts welded to it, has an interior shoulder which engages a shoulder near the base of the shell to prevent longitudinal movement. Each of the segments has a recess at the centre of its inner side to engage the steel balls protruding from similar recesses in the shell. A small radial channel leads from the recess to the exterior of the segment. The junction between ends of adjoining segments is sealed against the pressure of the pro-pellant gases by a steel oin inserted into a channel formed by coincident semi-circular grooves in the adjoining ends. The segments are held in position around the base of the shell by the steel driving band. The groove for the driving band, formed in the segments, has a band of milling protruding from the centre to prevent independent rotation of the band. Each of the segments on the shell examined had the number "156" stamped in its base. This number was also stamped in the body about two inches above the fairing. The three portions of the fairing were stamped "273", "274" and "275" respectivaly. These numbers were also stamped in the shell above the respective portions of the fairing and are probably a guide for assembly. The base ring and fitting weigh 6 lb. 1 oz. 7 drs.

A steel exploder container, larger in size than that in the 10.5 cm shell, is screwed into the fuze hole.

The bursting charge consists of 8 lb. 14 oz. 5 1/2 drs. of T.N.T. cast with a central cavi-ty to accommodate a No. 9 smoke box under the exploder container. The container holds a large P.E.T.N. gaine, the "Zdlg. 36 Np", which has a convex base and has a filling about three times the weight of that in the gr.Zdlg. C/98 Np. The weight of the filling is 107.5 grams. The large C/98 Np gaine contains approximately 35 grams.

The smoke box, Rauchentwickler Nr. 9, is described under a separate heading in this pamphlet.

Fig. 26