Common Pointed
Common Pointed shell, or C.P. were a type of Common Shell used in naval service from the 1890s - 1910s which had a solid nose and a percussion fuze in the base rather than the Common shell's nose fuze. The ogival 2 c.r.h. solid pointed nose was considered suitable for attacking shipping but was not armour-piercing - the main function was still explosive. They were of cast or forged (3 and 6 pounder) steel and contained a gunpowder bursting charge slightly smaller than that of a Common Shell, a tradeoff for the longer heavier nose.
In British service Common Pointed shells were typically painted black, except 12-pounder shells specific for QF guns which were painted lead colour to distinguish them from 12-pounder shells usable with both BL and QF guns. A red ring behind the nose indicated the shell was filled.
By World War II they were superseded in Royal Navy service by Common Pointed Capped (CPC) and Semi-Armour Piercing (S.A.P.), filled with TNT.
Read more about this topic: List Of British Ordnance Terms
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