Also known as: combination fuse.
In the Half Shell Book: This subject is treated in Civil War Artillery Projectiles: The Half Shell Book, pp. 7-10, 18-23.
| Class | Combination (time plus percussion) |
|---|---|
| Action | Bursts at a set time, or on impact if the time function does not act |
| Examples | Schenkl combination fuze; Sawyer combination fuze |
Purpose
A combination fuze carried both a time train and a percussion element in a single body, giving the gunner a timed air-burst while retaining an impact burst as a safeguard should the time function fail. This dual action made combination fuzes useful across a range of targets.
The Schenkl and Sawyer combination fuzes are the best-documented Civil War examples. Both set a graduated time function while a percussion mechanism stood ready to fire the charge on striking.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- Melton, Jack W., Jr. Civil War Artillery Projectiles: The Half Shell Book. Blue Ridge, GA: Historical Publications LLC, 2018.
- United States Army, Ordnance Department. The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1862.
- Benton, James G. A Course of Instruction in Ordnance and Gunnery. 2nd ed. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1862.