Editing Shrapnel shell (section)

===Variations===
One item of note is the "universal shell", a type of field gun shell developed by [[Krupp]] of Germany in the early 1900s. This shell could function as either a shrapnel shell or high-explosive projectile. The shell had a modified fuse, and, instead of resin as the packing between the shrapnel balls, [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]] was used. When a timed fuse was set the shell functioned as a shrapnel round, ejecting the balls and igniting (not detonating) the TNT, giving a visible puff of black smoke. When allowed to impact, the TNT filling would detonate, becoming a high-explosive shell with a very large amount of low-velocity fragmentation and a milder blast. Due to its complexity it was dropped in favour of a simple high-explosive shell.

During World War I the UK also used shrapnel pattern shells to carry "pots" instead of "bullets".  These were incendiary shells with seven pots<ref>Hogg p. 173.</ref> using a [[thermite]] compound.

When World War I began the United States also had what it referred to as the "Ehrhardt high-explosive shrapnel" in its inventory.<ref>E.L. Gruber, [https://archive.org/details/noteson3inchgunm00grubrich "Notes on the 3 inch gun materiel and field artillery equipment"]. New Haven Print. Co., 1917</ref> It appears to be similar to the German design, with bullets embedded in TNT rather than resin, together with a quantity of explosive in the shell nose. Douglas Hamilton mentions this shell type in passing, as "not as common as other types" in his comprehensive treatises on manufacturing shrapnel<ref>Douglas T Hamilton, [https://archive.org/details/shrapnelshellman00hamirich "Shrapnel Shell Manufacture. A Comprehensive Treatise". New York: Industrial Press, 1915]</ref> and high-explosive shells<ref>Douglas T Hamilton, [https://archive.org/details/highexplosiveshe00hamirich "High-explosive shell manufacture; a comprehensive treatise".  New York: Industrial Press, 1916]</ref> of 1915 and 1916, but gives no manufacturing details. Nor does Ethan Viall in 1917.<ref>Ethan Viall, [https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesarti00vialrich "United States artillery ammunition; 3 to 6 in. shrapnel shells, 3 to 6 in. high explosive shells and their cartridge cases"]. New York, McGraw-Hill book company, 1917.</ref> Hence the US appears to have ceased its manufacture early in the war, presumably based on the experience of other combatants.