Bullet and Shell Civil War Projectiles Forum

Relic Discussion => Artillery => Topic started by: callicles on July 03, 2017, 12:08:07 PM

Title: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: callicles on July 03, 2017, 12:08:07 PM

I was at the VNMP museum the other day and noticed this cut in half projectile displayed behind glass.  It was not identified but I think it is a 12-pounder.

Question #1: Is this this an example of the later-made shells (after the CS stopped manufacturing shells for Bormann fuse)?

Question #2:  Aren't the walls too thick to operate effectively with case-shot?  I mean to ask whether the small amount of powder used in case shot would have been enough to fracture the thick walls in this specimen?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: emike123 on July 03, 2017, 01:51:09 PM

The fuze packs are modern repros so I wonder if the half shell is a modern one too.  Hard for me to see exactly, but the cutaway fuse adapter looks like one of those Paulsen Bros modern ones for reenactor use.  24thMichigan has/had some of them and would know better.

The balls look like they were added and just set in the cavity.  I agree about the wall thickness of the shell.

All in all a display that could be improved upon.

Title: Re: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: speedenforcer on July 03, 2017, 05:23:42 PM

You beat me too it, I'm not an expert but I too believe the balls are added for display effect.

Title: Re: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: CarlS on July 04, 2017, 11:33:41 AM

I'm just echoing the other two but there is nothing real looking about that shell half.  You'd think they'd have a real shell they could use.  Would even be better if they had a real half shell naturally sectioned.  They used to have a small artillery display that had some neat shells and frags in it. 

Title: Re: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: mccaul on July 04, 2017, 04:29:47 PM

They have a duplicate example at Tredegar and it is a modern reproduction which also has too thick of a wall for a case shot projectile.

Title: Re: Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park
Post by: 24thMichigan on July 05, 2017, 11:57:50 AM

I can't tell from that photo, but here are Paulson Brothers reproduction spherical shell fuses for comparison.