| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Pozieres Area, Mouquet Farm |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM00554 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | pre 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Battlefield Relic : Australian Army : Driving band of a 10 cm German shell
Description
The relic is a corroded ferrous metal driving band approximately 20 mm in height and 5 mm thick. The band has been forced out of its circular shape and is an oval approximately 110 mm x 100 mm.
History / Summary
This driving band originally encircled the base of a German artillery shell. It was located within a shallow channel machined around the circumference of the shell. The band provided 'obturation', sealing the propulsion gases behind the shell as it passed up the length of the barrel, and as it was of a softer metal than the shell, it engaged with the rifling of the barrel. This imparted a spin on the shell, which in turn gave the shell directional stability and increased range. Typically the driving band is formed from copper. However, as the German war economy suffered shortages of such metals, increasing use was made of substitute metals - zinc, iron, and metal alloys. This driving band is such an example.
The shell was fired at Australian troops at Mouquet farm.