This silent, rough-cut footage shows the manufacture, handling, quality control testing, and testing of shells — probably 105mm howitzer shells — for the U.S. Army. The manufacturer is not certain but the rolls of film and the shells themselves are marked “amatex”, possibly indicating that the explosive being used is a form of amatol. It’s also possible that “amatex” stands for the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, which was located in Karnack, Texas. Some highlights include howitzers and mobile artillery units firing shells (:26), aerial of the Pentagon, Washington D.C. (:44), checking shells for any signs of deterioration (1:20), shells being tested in exposure to low temperatures in a cold / arctic facility (2:58), mobile artillery (3:00), at (3:52) the unit is vibrated as part of the testing, close up of interior of shell (4:20), manufacture of explosives or shell lining (6:00), mixing of same (8:00) under pressure. At (9:23) raw materials are seen being processed by plant personnel, possibly asbestos. At (11:04) shells are processed and prepared for filling which takes place at (13:19). At (18:00) shell threads are checked and depth of filling is checked. At (18:17) handling rings are secured. At (20:50), a split open casing is checked for flaws. At (21:56) stacks of shells are shown in storage in a revetment. At (23:25) a semi-tractor trailer arrives to carry shells. At (23:55) shells are shown stored outside on wooden racks and at (24:00) in arctic conditions. At (25:56) shells are x-rayed to check for flaws. At (27:30) ammunition is dropped from great heights as part of worthiness tests. At (29:53) shells are test fired on a special rig to measure velocity and other features. At (30:00) results are analyzed in an instrumentation van on a Honeywell mainframe computer.
The 105 mm M101A1 howitzer (previously designated M2A1) is an artillery piece developed and used by the United States. It was the standard U.S. light field howitzer in World War II and saw action in both the European and Pacific theaters. Entering production in 1941, it quickly gained a reputation for accuracy and a powerful punch. The M101A1 fires 105 mm high explosive (HE) semi-fixed ammunition and has a range of 12,330 yards (11,270 m), making it suitable for supporting infantry. The gun fired semi-fixed ammunition, with 105 mm Cartridge Case M14. The propelling charge consisted of a base charge and six increments, forming seven charges from 1 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest). Use of M1 HE rounds prepared for the 105 mm howitzer M3 (same projectile and cartridge, but different propelling charge) was authorized.
HEAT M67 Shell was originally designed as fixed round, with Cartridge Case M14 type II. It was later changed to semi-fixed type with the standard cartridge, but with non-adjustable propelling charge. For blank ammunition, a shorter Cartridge Case M15 with black powder charge was used
Amatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate. The British name originates from the words ammonium and toluene (the precursor of TNT). Similar mixtures (1 part dinitronaphthalene and 7 parts ammonium nitrate) were known as Schneiderite in France. Amatol was used extensively during World War I and World War II, typically as an explosive in military weapons such as aircraft bombs, shells, depth charges, and naval mines. It was eventually replaced with alternative explosives such as composition B, torpex, and tritonal. Amatol exploits synergy between TNT and ammonium nitrate. TNT has higher explosive velocity and brisance, but is deficient in oxygen. Oxygen deficiency causes black smoke residue from a pure TNT explosion. The oxygen surplus of ammonium nitrate increases the energy release of TNT during detonation. Depending on the ratio of ingredients used, amatol leaves a residue of white or grey smoke after detonation. Amatol has a lower explosive velocity and correspondingly lower brisance than TNT but is cheaper because of the lower cost of ammonium nitrate.
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