Editing Shell (projectile) (section)

==== Illumination ====<!-- This section is linked from [[Starshell]] and [[Star shell]] -->
[[File:British 4 inch 35 lb star shell 1943 diagram.jpg|thumb|upright|British World War&nbsp;II 4-inch naval illuminating shell, showing [[Artillery fuze#Time fuzes|time fuze]] (orange, top), illuminating compound (green) and parachute (white, bottom)]]
Modern illuminating shells are a type of carrier shell or cargo munition. Those used in World War&nbsp;I were shrapnel pattern shells ejecting small burning "pots".

A modern illumination shell has a time fuze that ejects a flare "package" through the base of the carrier shell at a standard height above ground (typically about 600&nbsp;metres), from where it slowly falls beneath a non-flammable [[parachute]], illuminating the area below. The ejection process also initiates a [[pyrotechnics|pyrotechnic]] flare emitting white or "black" [[infrared]] light.

[[File:Flares fired by M777 howitzers to illuminate during Operation Tora Arwa V in the Kandahar province Aug. 2 2009.jpg|thumb|left|Illumination rounds fired from a [[M777 howitzer]]]]
Typically illumination flares burn for about 60&nbsp;seconds. These are also known as ''star shells''. Infrared illumination is a more recent development used to enhance the performance of night-vision devices. Both white- and black-light illuminating shells may be used to provide continuous illumination over an area for a period of time and may use several dispersed aimpoints to illuminate a large area. Alternatively, firing single illuminating shells may be coordinated with the adjustment of HE shell fire onto a target.

Colored flare shells have also been used for target marking and other signaling purposes.
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