Incendiary ammunition is a type of ammunition that contains a chemical that, upon hitting a hard obstacle, has the characteristic of causing fire/setting flammable materials in the vicinity of the impact on fire.
Some sectioned shells from the First World War. From left to right: 90 mm shrapnel shell, 120 mm pig iron incendiary shell, 77/14 model - 75 mm high-explosive shell, model 16 - 75 mm shrapnel shell
The first time incendiary ammunition was widely used was in World War I, more specifically in 1916. At the time, phosphorus was the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge and ignited upon firing, leaving a trail of blue smoke. These early forms were also known as "smoke tracers" because of this. Though deadly, the effective range of these bullets was only 350 yards (320 m), as the phosphorus charge burned quickly.[1] Incendiary bullets called "Buckingham" ammunition were supplied to early British night fighters for use against military zeppelins threatening the British Isles. The flammable hydrogen gas of the zeppelins made incendiary bullets much more deadly than standard ones which would pass through the outer skin without igniting the gas. Similarly, incendiary ammunition was used against non-rigid observation balloons.[2] The British Royal Flying Corps forbade the use of incendiary ammunition for air-to-air combat with another airplane, as their use against personnel was at first considered to be a violation of the St. Petersburg Declaration. Pilots were permitted to deploy them against only zeppelins and balloons. Furthermore, they were required to carry written orders on their person when engaging these targets.[3]
World War IIedit
During World War II, incendiary bullets found a new use: they became one of the preferred types of ammunition for use in interceptor fighters. They were not nearly as effective at puncturing bomber aircraft as armor-piercing bullets, but were far more effective than standard bullets because they could also ignite fuel if they came into contact with a fuel tank or pipeline.[4]
Belgian inventor de Wilde, who was living in Switzerland, invented a new bullet in 1938. In December of that year the British Air Ministry purchased the design. However, as the bullet had to be made by hand rather than mass-produced, Major C. Aubrey Dixon of the British Royal Arsenal at Woolwich developed a greatly improved bullet with similar incendiary capabilities.[5] This was adopted by British forces as the 0.303 Incendiary B Mark VI. For security reasons, and to confuse the enemy, it was initially called 'de Wilde' ammunition, even though the design was almost entirely different from the original version. The B Mark VI incendiary bullet was packed with nitrocellulose, and a small steel ball was placed in the tip of the bullet to ensure that the chemical exploded on impact. As opposed to earlier designs, the B Mark VI was a true incendiary rather than tracer ammunition.[6] The B Mark VI incendiary bullets were first issued in June 1940 and tested operationally in the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire in the air battles over Dunkirk. The explosive power, coupled with the flash on impact which guided their aim, was much appreciated by pilots. The bullets were at first scarce, and as a result, a mix of ball, AP, Mk IV incendiary tracer and Mk VI incendiary were used until production increased to sufficient levels. By 1942 the standard loading for fixed .303s was half loaded with AP and half with incendiary bullets.[7]
One fighter pilot who was shot down by incendiary ammunition while flying in the Battle of Britain describes his experience:[8]
"I could smell powder smoke, hot and strong, but it didn't make me feel tough this time. It was from the cannon shells and incendiary bullets that had hit my machine...Bullets were going between my legs, and I remember seeing a bright flash of an incendiary bullet going past my leg into the gas tank...Then a little red tongue licked out inquiringly from under the gas tank in front of my feet and became a hot little bonfire in one corner of the cockpit."
Modernedit
Incendiary projectiles, in particular those intended for armor penetration, are more effective if they explode after penetrating a surface layer, such that they explode inside the target. Additionally, targets with onboard electronics or computers can be damaged by metal fragments when they explode on the surface. Ignition is often delayed by varying means until after impact.[9]
Some explosive projectiles, such as high-explosive incendiary bullets, contain an incendiary charge intended to ignite explosives within the shell.[9]
Although not intended to start fires, tracer bullets can have a mild incendiary effect. This is particularly dangerous when they strike flammable substances or dry brush.
^Williams, Anthony G. . Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
^Kershaw, Alex (2006). The Few: The American "Knights of the Air" Who Risked Everything to Fight in the Battle of Britain. Da Capo Press. ISBN0-306-81303-3.
^ ab"Bullets for Beginners". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
Bibliographyedit
Williams, Anthony G.; Gustin, Emmanuel (2003). Flying Guns World War II - Development of Aircraft Guns, Ammunition and Installations 1933-45 (Hardback). Ramsbury: Crowood Press. pp. 336 pages. ISBN1-84037-227-3.
External linksedit
U.S. Patent 2,398,287
U.S. Patent 3,948,181
December 15, 2023
incendiary, ammunition, type, ammunition, that, contains, chemical, that, upon, hitting, hard, obstacle, characteristic, causing, fire, setting, flammable, materials, vicinity, impact, fire, world, buckingham, incendiary, bullet, contents, world, world, modern. Incendiary ammunition is a type of ammunition that contains a chemical that upon hitting a hard obstacle has the characteristic of causing fire setting flammable materials in the vicinity of the impact on fire A World War I era Buckingham Incendiary Bullet Contents 1 World War I 2 World War II 3 Modern 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Bibliography 7 External linksWorld War I edit nbsp Some sectioned shells from the First World War From left to right 90 mm shrapnel shell 120 mm pig iron incendiary shell 77 14 model 75 mm high explosive shell model 16 75 mm shrapnel shellThe first time incendiary ammunition was widely used was in World War I more specifically in 1916 At the time phosphorus was the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge and ignited upon firing leaving a trail of blue smoke These early forms were also known as smoke tracers because of this Though deadly the effective range of these bullets was only 350 yards 320 m as the phosphorus charge burned quickly 1 Incendiary bullets called Buckingham ammunition were supplied to early British night fighters for use against military zeppelins threatening the British Isles The flammable hydrogen gas of the zeppelins made incendiary bullets much more deadly than standard ones which would pass through the outer skin without igniting the gas Similarly incendiary ammunition was used against non rigid observation balloons 2 The British Royal Flying Corps forbade the use of incendiary ammunition for air to air combat with another airplane as their use against personnel was at first considered to be a violation of the St Petersburg Declaration Pilots were permitted to deploy them against only zeppelins and balloons Furthermore they were required to carry written orders on their person when engaging these targets 3 World War II editDuring World War II incendiary bullets found a new use they became one of the preferred types of ammunition for use in interceptor fighters They were not nearly as effective at puncturing bomber aircraft as armor piercing bullets but were far more effective than standard bullets because they could also ignite fuel if they came into contact with a fuel tank or pipeline 4 Belgian inventor de Wilde who was living in Switzerland invented a new bullet in 1938 In December of that year the British Air Ministry purchased the design However as the bullet had to be made by hand rather than mass produced Major C Aubrey Dixon of the British Royal Arsenal at Woolwich developed a greatly improved bullet with similar incendiary capabilities 5 This was adopted by British forces as the 0 303 Incendiary B Mark VI For security reasons and to confuse the enemy it was initially called de Wilde ammunition even though the design was almost entirely different from the original version The B Mark VI incendiary bullet was packed with nitrocellulose and a small steel ball was placed in the tip of the bullet to ensure that the chemical exploded on impact As opposed to earlier designs the B Mark VI was a true incendiary rather than tracer ammunition 6 The B Mark VI incendiary bullets were first issued in June 1940 and tested operationally in the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire in the air battles over Dunkirk The explosive power coupled with the flash on impact which guided their aim was much appreciated by pilots The bullets were at first scarce and as a result a mix of ball AP Mk IV incendiary tracer and Mk VI incendiary were used until production increased to sufficient levels By 1942 the standard loading for fixed 303s was half loaded with AP and half with incendiary bullets 7 One fighter pilot who was shot down by incendiary ammunition while flying in the Battle of Britain describes his experience 8 I could smell powder smoke hot and strong but it didn t make me feel tough this time It was from the cannon shells and incendiary bullets that had hit my machine Bullets were going between my legs and I remember seeing a bright flash of an incendiary bullet going past my leg into the gas tank Then a little red tongue licked out inquiringly from under the gas tank in front of my feet and became a hot little bonfire in one corner of the cockpit Modern editIncendiary projectiles in particular those intended for armor penetration are more effective if they explode after penetrating a surface layer such that they explode inside the target Additionally targets with onboard electronics or computers can be damaged by metal fragments when they explode on the surface Ignition is often delayed by varying means until after impact 9 Some explosive projectiles such as high explosive incendiary bullets contain an incendiary charge intended to ignite explosives within the shell 9 Although not intended to start fires tracer bullets can have a mild incendiary effect This is particularly dangerous when they strike flammable substances or dry brush See also editEarly thermal weapons Dragon s Breath Tracer ammunitionNotes edit United States War Department 1919 America s Munitions 1917 1918 U S Government Printing Office Zeppelins and balloons Firstworldwar com Heaven High Hell Deep 1917 1918 Normal Archibald Harris Sir Arthur T 1995 Despatch on War Operations Routledge ISBN 0 7146 4692 X McKinstry Leo 2010 Hurricane Victor of the Battle of Britain London John Murray p 133 ISBN 978 1 84854 339 3 Cartridge of the Month Williams Anthony G The Battle of Britain Armament of the Competing Fighters Archived from the original on 5 January 2013 Retrieved 5 January 2013 Kershaw Alex 2006 The Few The American Knights of the Air Who Risked Everything to Fight in the Battle of Britain Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 81303 3 a b Bullets for Beginners GlobalSecurity org Retrieved 2008 04 11 Bibliography editWilliams Anthony G Gustin Emmanuel 2003 Flying Guns World War II Development of Aircraft Guns Ammunition and Installations 1933 45 Hardback Ramsbury Crowood Press pp 336 pages ISBN 1 84037 227 3 External links editU S Patent 2 398 287 U S Patent 3 948 181 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Incendiary ammunition amp oldid 1186270576, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
