In 1894, naval artillery shells were transitioning from older gunpowder-filled projectiles to faster, more destructive types, including "common pointed" steel shells with base-fuzes and the introduction of armored-piercing caps. Key shells included 6-inch and 4.7-inch quick-firing (QF) shells, along with 12-pounder 3-inch shells introduced that year. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Naval Artillery Shell Features in 1894:
- Types: Common pointed (CP) shells with solid noses and base fuzes were introduced, allowing better penetration before exploding. They were typically cast or forged steel.
- Armor Piercing: The armor-piercing cap (APC), which helped penetrate face-hardened armor, began development by Russia and America around 1894, later adopted by other nations.
- Propellants: Smokeless powders, such as cordite, were becoming standard, allowing higher muzzle velocities.
- Design: Shells used copper driving bands to engage rifling, and larger shells were separated from their propellant charges, while smaller QF guns used brass-cased ammunition.
- Common Calibres:
