Blind Shells

[redbob]

This question may have been asked before and if it has, I apologize; but what was the purpose of a "Blind" shell?

[Pete George]

  Civil war "Blind-Shells" were the early attempt to devise an armor-penetrating explosive shell. They were made with much-thicker-than-usual walls to aid in penetrating the armor... and they did not have an "actual" fuze, but instead relied on the heat generated by the shell's impact on the armor to ignite the shell's bursting charge a fraction of a second after it crashed through the armor.  The civil war era ones were not notably successful, which is why very few were manufactured.

Regards,
Pete

[scottfromgeorgia]

Pete, what armor was the intended target? Was this the armor plating around the gun emplacements in fortifications? The blind shells were not naval weapons, were they?

[emike123]

The 3.4" and 4" Dahlgren ones are sized for boat howitzers so absolutely Naval.  Seems like they are always filled with black sand though, not powder.  My question is "What's the deal with the sand?" 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

There are percussion fuzed Dalhgrens. the black sand is the casting sand forming the explosive cavityh. they could, however, be filled with powder and the copper rivit woujld serve as the heat exhanger during penetration. Common sense, don't ask me for a reference.
 John

[emike123]

Not exactly what I was after, but are you saying they left the sand in there unless they emptied it out and replaced it with powder which they rarely did?   Why leave the sand in there at all?  Why cast a powder chamber if they rarely if ever used it with powder on some shell types?  Did the sand help with the shell's center of gravity or throw weight?  How come they didn't leave sand in other kinds of shells?

[Dave the plumber]

 boy Mike, you ask a lot of questions !!   

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Mike,
Who really knows the answers to all your questions. I said I have no references.  I suspect weight balance could have entered the equasion.  They could be available as a shell if needed.  I have tried to burn it and it will not ignite. if filled with powder, the copper rivit would have served as a heat sink to help ignite the powder.
Please, others share the knowledge or hunches.
Regards,
John
I have been in hospital last fourt days sorry for delay.

[emike123]

Hope you are on the mend John.  Wondered where you were.  Quiet around here without you!

[Selma Brooke Gunner]

Hope that you are doing better, John.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Thanks all,
    I was in Norfolk General having cardiac surgery.
Best Regards,
John

[Pete George]

  Ouch!

  I'm glad to hear you came through okay, and are on the mend, Bart.  I'll put you on my prayer-list for speedy and complete healing.

Best regards,
Pete

[redbob]

My best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Thank you all, I am doing fine. Just two little stints in an old one.  Feel fine just taking it easy for awihile.
John

[alwion]

Take care John!!