Large calibre markings on artillery shells and fuzes

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Terminology

Fuze

The most common spelling for this usage in the militaries of most English-speaking countries is "fuze", and some suggest this is derived from “fuzee” meaning a tube filled with combustible material itself derived from “fusée” meaning a spindle, whereas other types of fuse derive from “fusus” and “fundu” meaning to melt.

An artillery fuze is the type of munition fuze used with artillery munitions, typically projectiles fired by guns (field, anti-aircraft, coast and naval), howitzers and mortars. A fuze is a device that initiates an explosive function in a munition, most commonly causing it to detonate or release its contents, when its activation conditions are met. This action typically occurs a preset time after firing, or on physical contact with or detected proximity to the ground, a structure or other target.

Projectile

Round

The complete set of components needed to fire the gun once. Consists of a Shell (projectile), a propellant Cartridge and Primer or Igniter Tube. A Fixed Round had all the components integrated into a brass cartridge case with the projectile attached, e.g. a rifle cartridge or QF 18-pounder round, in which case Round is synonymous with Cartridge. A Separate round required the projectile and propellant Cartridge (either in bags or brass Case) to be loaded separately.

Shell

A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and proof shot). Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used. Shells are usually large rounds fired by artillery, armored fighting vehicles (including tanks), and warships. Shells usually have the shape of a cylinder topped by an ogive-shaped nose for good aerodynamic performance, possibly with a tapering base; but some specialized types are quite different.

Schrapnel

Shrapnel shells were anti-personnel artillery munitions which carried a large number of individual bullets close to the target and then ejected them to allow them to continue along the shell's trajectory and strike the target individually. They relied almost entirely on the shell's velocity for their lethality. The munition has been obsolete since the end of World War I for anti-personnel use, when it was superseded by high-explosive shells for that role. The functioning and principles behind Shrapnel shells are totally different from high-explosive shell fragmentation. Shrapnel is named after Major-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), an English artillery officer, whose experiments, initially conducted in his own time and at his own expense, culminated in the design and development of a new type of artillery shell.

German 7.7cm Schrapnell
	1.	Pressed steel body
	2.	Doppelzünder Model 96
	3.	Gunpowder filled tubing
	4.	Leadbullets (300 pieces of 10 gram each)
	5.	Steel ejection plate
	6.	Bottom main charge (80 gram gunpowder)
	7.	Red copper drivingband

	France Fusée Fusante de 22/31A Mle 1917
	Germany Doppelzünder 92 used for 10cm Schrapnell shell 96, used for 13cm Schrapnell shell, used for 15cm shell 88/14/17, used for 15cm Schrapnell shell 13.
	Germany Doppelzünder 96 used for 7.7cm