In artillery, a carcass was a kind of bomb or shell, originally oblong or oval, and later spherical in shape, consisting of an external casing filled with highly flammable matter, and having three to five holes through which the internal flames could blaze outward.^[1][2] Carcasses were shot from howitzers, mortars, and other cannons to set fire to buildings and defences; on impact, the shell shattered, spreading its fiery interior around the target. They were used for the first time by the French under Louis XIV in 1672.^[3] From the 17th to the early 19th century, carcasses were the ideal ammunition used on warships.^[4] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bomb (disambiguation). ... A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and Proof shot). ... 19th century 12 pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzer displayed by the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, USA A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... For other uses, see Cannon (disambiguation). ... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory; usually via fortifications. ... “Louis XIV” redirects here. ... Events England, France, Munster and Cologne invade the United Provinces, therefore this name is know as ´het rampjaar´ (the disaster year) in the Netherlands. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

For the composition of the flammable material used in a carcass, Johannes Wolfius prescribed 10 parts of pounded gunpowder, 2 of nitre, 1 of sulfur, and 1 of colophony; or 6 of gunpowder, 4 of nitre, 4 of sulfur, 1 of beaten glass, 0.5 of antimony 0.5 of camphor, 1 of sal armoniac, and 0.25 of common salt. For the shell, he started with two iron rings (others used plates), fitting one at one extreme, near the aperture at which the carcass was to be fired, and the other at the other. These he braced with cords drawn lengthwise; and across these, at right angles, laced other cords, making a knot at each intersection. Between the folds of the cords, he made holes, inserted copper tubes, and filled them half full of powder and lead bullets, packing it in with a tow. The internal shell thus prepared, Wolfius immersed it, the aperture first plugged up, in a liquid consisting of 4 parts of melted pitch, 20 of colophony, 1 of oil of turpentine, and as much ground gunpowder as would reduce it to the consistency of a paste. After immersion, the shell was to be covered with tow, and immersed again, until it was the proper size for the mortar.^[2] Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ... Niter is a mineral form of potassium nitrate, KNO3, which see for more info. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... Rosin is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vapourise the volatile liquid terpene components. ... This article is about the material. ... General Name, Symbol, Number antimony, Sb, 51 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15, 5, p Appearance silvery lustrous grey Standard atomic weight 121. ... R-phrases 11-20/21/22-36/37/38 S-phrases 16-26-36 RTECS number EX1260000 (R) EX1250000 (S) Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Ammonium chloride or Sal Ammoniac (chemically ammonium chloride (NH4Cl); also nushadir salt, zalmiak, sal armagnac, sal armoniac, and salt armoniack) is, in its pure form, a clear white water-soluble crystalline salt with a biting taste. ... For other uses, see Salt (disambiguation). ... The pitch drop experiment. ... Turpentine is a fluid obtained by distillation from resin obtained from trees, mainly various species of pine (Pinus). ...

It has the name carcass, because the circles which pass from one ring, or plate, to the other, seem to represent the ribs of a human carcass.^[2] Carcass of a chicken after cooking Carcass may refer to: A carcass (or carcase) is a term for a dead body, typically that of an animal. ...

As an example, an early 19th-century 10-inch mortar used in the British sea service fired iron-shelled carcasses weighing 105 pounds (48 kg), filled with about 7 pounds (3 kg) of incendiary material, which was ignited during the discharge of the mortar. It burned very fiercely for about 9 minutes, with flames coming out of the three holes in the shell. While the 105-pound projectile's purpose was to crash into combustible structures, setting them ablaze, the force of its descent was so large that, upon falling on a building, it frequently went straight through the roof and all the floors of the house, until it ultimately buried itself in the cellar, where there was nothing combustile, rendering it useless. Rocket artillery, which could carry the same-sized payload eventually replaced carcasses and other specialized artillery shells.^[5] M270 MLRS. Rocket artillery is artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars. ...

As another example, the Dictator was a huge 13-inch cast iron mortar used in the bombardment of Petersburg, Virginia, 1864–5. Its shells weighed at least 200 pounds (90 kg).^[6] Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon (alloys with less carbon are carbon steel by definition). ... Nickname: Location in the State of Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States State Virginia County Independent city Founded December 17, 1748 Government  - Mayor Annie M. Mickens Area  - City  23. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

See also

• Napalm
• Incendiary bomb
• Greek fire

also are used for Arby's drive-thru windows A simulated Napalm explosion during MCAS Air Show in 2003. ... Incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, or white phosphorus. ... Greek fire was a burning-liquid weapon used by the Byzantine Greeks, typically in naval battles to great effect as it could continue burning even on water. ...

References

1. ^ "Carcass". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd edition. 1989.
2. ^ ^{a b c} This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.
3. ^ Nicolas Édouard Delabarre-Duparcq and George Washington Cullum. Elements of Military Art and History. 1863. p 142.
4. ^ Bolton, D. "The Arming of Battle Ships". Seapower: 1652-1860. URL accessed 2006-05-29.
5. ^ Voyle, George Elliot. A Military Dictionary, Comprising Terms, Scientific and Otherwise, Connected with the Science of War. Clowes. 1876. p 349.
6. ^ Manucy, Albert. Artillery Through the Ages. The Minerva Group, Inc. ISBN 0-89875-446-1. 2001. p 60.