List of British Ordnance Terms - S.B.C.

S.B.C.

Slow Burning Cocoa Powder. A form of Brown Prismatic Powder, i.e. gunpowder, with more charcoal, saltpetre and moisture but less sulphur than black powder. Cocoa referred to the appearance rather than composition. Used in the late 19th century for early large long-barreled guns, where its slow-burning properties gave the projectile a prolonged smooth acceleration instead of the short violent accereration typical of black powder. Was inefficient as most energy was expended as smoke, and enormous quantities were required, such as 960 lb for the BL 16.25 inch gun of 1888. Required a primer of black powder to ignite.