christopher_edmondson@btinternet.com wrote: > Is the explosive content of the NATO 155mm shell the same as the > Russian 152mm shell? L15 155mm HE shell, projectile nominal weight 42.55 kg; explosive 11.5 kg. 152 mm FRAG-HE 3OF45, projectile weight 43.56 kg, explosive filling - 7.65 kg > > I was thinking that the NATO shell has better and more powerful > explosive, and thicker walls for more efficent shrapnel, whereas the > Russian 152mm shell has thinner walls but more explosive to make up a > possible shortfall in explosive quality. Actually, the thinner the shell wall the better (within the limits of mechanical strength) for artillery shells: optimum fragmentation tends to be obtained around the 40-50% charge/mass ratio IIRC, while even the L15 manages only about 27%. Shells have to be strong enough to stand up to firing stresses, and so haul more metal around than they really need: the L15 is one of the better performers.