Part 18

=GRANATFUELLUNG= (i. e. Shell-filling) is a name given by the Germans to certain high explosives used for filling shell. Granatfuellung C/88 is picric acid, and C/02 is trinitro-toluene. See Fuellpulver. Other substances used in German shell and bombs are trinitro-anisole, dinitro-benzene, hexanitro-diphenylamine and hexanitro-diphenyl sulphide, otherwise picryl sulphide.

=GRISOUNITE.=--A French coal-mine explosive. See =FAVIER= Explosives.

=GRISOUTINE= or =GRISOU-DYNAMINE= is the only explosive except Grisounite allowed in the more dangerous French coal mines. It consists of ammonium nitrate mixed with blasting gelatine. As the State monopoly does not extend to explosives containing nitroglycerine, it is made by private firms, but the compositions are regulated by the “Commission des Substances Explosives,” which in 1911 resolved that they should be uniformly as follows--

Couche au Roche au Couche. Salpêtre. Roche. Salpêtre.

Nitroglycerine 12 12 29 29 Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 1 1 Ammonium nitrate 87·5 82·5 70 65 Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5

The calculated temperatures of explosion of the Grisoutines couches are below 1500°, and those of the Grisoutines roches below 1900°. The addition of 5 per cent. of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety.

There are a number of explosives of this type made in other countries also, but they usually contain small proportions of combustible substances such as wood meal, and nitro-bodies such as trinitro-toluene. Of British explosives of this type, mention may be made of Monobel, Super-Excellite and Monarkite. German explosives of this sort include Salit, Tremonit, Donarit, Ammon-Karbonit and Astralit.

On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Grisoutine II., which is identical in composition with Dynamite anti-grisouteuse V.

=GRISOUTITE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive--

Nitroglycerine 44 Magnesium sulphate 44 Cellulose 12

Charge limite 300 g.

=GUARDIAN.=--American coal-mine explosives. Nos. 2, 2X, 3 and 3X are ammonium nitrate explosives, whereas Guardian A and Guardian Coal Powder B are nitroglycerine explosives.

=GUNCOTTON.=--A highly nitrated cotton containing about 13 per cent. of nitrogen and only slightly soluble in ether-alcohol.

=GUNPOWDER.= See =BLACK POWDER=.

=*HALAKITE= attracted public attention out of all proportion to its merits, of which it possessed none, in consequence of the extravagant claims made on its behalf by its “inventors” and their dupes. Early in 1917 the British Government caused an inquiry to be held, and the case for the explosive collapsed in a ludicrous manner. According to patent specification, No. 685 of 1915, the basis of the explosive was an admixture of lead nitrate with glycerine and other substances, and under the working conditions the glycerine was said to react with the nitrate to form a nitro-compound, which, of course, is not true. The substance actually submitted to the British and French authorities consisted of cordite mixed with lead nitrate, barium nitrate and lead chromate. This was stated by the promoters to be equally effective as a high explosive and a propellant! See “Interim and Final Reports of the Army Council (Halakite) Inquiry,” Cd. 8446.

=HALALIT.=--A German blasting explosive made by Nahnsen, containing not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, and not more than 32 per cent. of nitrated toluene, of which not more than 20 per cent. must be trinitro-toluene. It may also contain collodion cotton to gelatinise the liquid nitro-toluene, and sodium nitrate and wood meal or other vegetable meal.

Ammon-Halalit A, which has been introduced recently, is similar to Astralit V.

=HALOKLASTIT.= See =PETROKLASTIT=.

=HAMMONIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing not more than 40 per cent. of potassium or sodium perchlorate, not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine, aromatic nitro-bodies, ammonium nitrate, sodium or potassium nitrate, neutral salts and vegetable meal or other combustible matter.

=HASSIA-CHLORAT= is an explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of 65 per cent. potassium chlorate and 35 per cent. combustible, and it is claimed that the large proportion of the latter not only makes it a mild explosive, but also renders it comparatively insensitive. It is also called Spreng-chlorat.

=HAYLITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the National Explosives Co. There were three varieties on the Permitted List: No. 1 was also on the old Permitted List, but has now been repealed.

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. Date of Permit 1-9-13 21-11-16 30-5-18

Nitroglycerine 26 15·5 9·5 Collodion cotton 1 0·3 -- Ammonium nitrate -- -- 60·5 Potassium nitrate 20 -- -- Sodium nitrate -- 59·5 -- Barium nitrate 20 -- -- Trinitro-toluene -- 5 -- Mineral jelly 7 -- -- Wood meal 15 7·7 5·5 Sodium chloride -- -- 19·5 Ammonium oxalate 11 -- 5 Borax -- 12 --

Limit charge 10 18 16 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·18 1·96 2·44”

=H.E.= stands for High Explosive, used for charging shell or other military purpose.

=*HEBLER POWDER= was a so-called smokeless powder which was manufactured at one time in Switzerland. According to an analysis published by Cundill and Thomson, it was ordinary gunpowder in which about a fifth of the saltpetre had been replaced by ammonium nitrate. It did not appear to have a greater tendency to absorb moisture than ordinary powder. It was also called Wellite. See also Ammonpulver.

=HECLA NO. 2= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive made by the Du Pont Co.

=HECLA POWDER= is a brand of American dynamite.