WW1 versu WW2 duds

[highlandotter]

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w2 duds





















There a high percentage of duds in WW1 due, apparently to poor fuzes, Does anyone have any data versus WW2 rates? Thanks, highlandotter












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[glevum]

Can't see the data or graphs?

 

[2pounder]

cant comment on dud ratios but even today it is high enough to allow 'the enemy' to make IEDs with them.

 

[Alpini]

...apparently to poor fuzes...

I think it's only one of many reasons. The storage of the ammunition was sometimes really worse (rain, humidtiy) during war. Then the very muddy ground, not well trained personel and failures during hectic battles and for sure there are more war releated reasons. On WW1 & WW2 time firing ranges we have a much lower percentage of duds compared to the battlefields.

 

[highlandotter]

Another example of my poor typing skills. I guess it is the webbed paws at work!!!

 

[Bellifortis]

I only saw info about aerial-bomb duds in WW2. As Alpini mentioned already, in peacetime, on firing ranges, the dud rate was below 5% (for the Rheinmetall electric fuzes). In wartime (battle of Britain) the dud rate went up to over 10 %, mostly because of bad storage, so that moisture entered the fuzes. With british bombs the dud rate was high at the start of WW2. One big problem was the (round ended) firing-pin of british fuzes. When the sharp-pointed firing pin was introduced, the dud rate dropped dramatically.
Bellifortis.