Editing Shell (projectile) (section)

===Separate loading cased charge===
[[File:3-112 live fires M777A2 and M119A3 howitzers 150826-Z-AL508-076.jpg|thumb|Semi-fixed ammunition for the [[M119 howitzer]], with the propellant cases and projectiles separated]]

Separate loading cased charge ammunition has three main components: the fuzed projectile, the casing to hold the propellants and primer, and the bagged propellant charges.  The components are usually separated into two or more parts.  In British ordnance terms, this type of ammunition is called [[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Separate QF|separate quick firing]].  Often guns which use separate loading cased charge ammunition use sliding-block or sliding-wedge breeches and during [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] Germany predominantly used fixed or separate loading cased charges and sliding block breeches even for their largest guns.  A variant of separate loading cased charge ammunition is '''semi-fixed''' ammunition.  With semi-fixed ammunition the round comes as a complete package but the projectile and its case can be separated.  The case holds a set number of bagged charges and the gun crew can add or subtract propellant to change range and velocity.  The round is then reassembled, loaded, and fired. Advantages include easier handling for larger caliber rounds, while range and velocity can easily be varied by increasing or decreasing the number of propellant charges.  Disadvantages include more complexity, slower loading, less safety, less moisture resistance, and the metal cases can still be a material resource issue.<ref name=":Hogg" />