BL8inchSAPKMkIBNTShell1943Diagram

Text Book of Ammunition, 1944.

Diagram of British SAPC (semi-armour-piercing capped) shell for BL 8 inch Mk VIII gun, Naval service, World War II.
Explanation of markings on shell, top to bottom ,left to right :-

• RED - colour of dye.
• K denotes it contains a coloured dye bag for identifying fall of shot. Note nose fuze for dispersing dye.
• B denotes 6 c.r. head.
• NT denotes the shell has a night tracer in the base. Hence the base fuze is not flush with the shell base, but is recessed into the shell.
• GNB denotes the filling contractors initial. 7/43 denotes date shell filled.
• EXPL PEL C.E. 3 1/4 oz : denotes the exploder is "Composition Exploding", 3 1/4 oz.
• T inside the semi-circle segment indicates type of tracer shell has fitted.
• FZD346 denotes serial number of fuze is 346. 6 above 7/43 applies to the fuze : denotes lot number 6, filled July 1943. BL/1 denotes the fuze maker's initial and mark of fuze.
• The white band above the red band, just below the ballistic cap, denotes SAPC shell.
• Red band denotes shell is filled.
• 93/7 denotes filling percentages : 93% TNT, 7% beeswax.
• Green band denotes primary filling is TNT.
• N denotes intended for Naval use.