Collection: Artillery Shells

British artillery shells are explosive shells used by the British Army in various conflicts throughout history. Artillery shells come in a variety of types and sizes, each with a different purpose and range.

During World War I, British artillery shells included high-explosive (HE) shells, shrapnel shells, and gas shells. High-explosive shells were designed to explode on impact and cause damage to enemy structures, vehicles, and personnel. Shrapnel shells, on the other hand, were designed to explode in the air and release a cloud of metal fragments that would rain down on enemy troops, causing casualties. Gas shells were used to release chemical agents such as mustard gas, phosgene, or chlorine gas, which were intended to cause chemical burns or asphyxiation to enemy troops.

In World War II, British artillery shells saw further development with the addition of new types of ammunition, such as armor-piercing (AP) shells, which were designed to penetrate enemy armor and destroy vehicles, and incendiary shells, which were used to start fires in enemy buildings or vehicles.