Projectile Question - Vicksburg Military Park

[callicles]

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!

[emike123]

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.

[speedenforcer]

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

[CarlS]

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. 

[mccaul]

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.

[24thMichigan]

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