clockwork fuze
Quick Summary
A time fuze is a military technology designed to detonate an explosive charge after a specific interval has passed. These fuzes were crucial in artillery, particularly for shells like the shrapnel shell, which was filled with powder and musket balls. The fuze ignited the powder, causing the shell to burst over enemy troops.12
Early time fuzes used gunpowder trains, but advancements led to clockwork fuzes, developed by Krupp during World War I. These clockwork mechanisms were not affected by atmospheric conditions and were used for long-range firing and anti-aircraft shells. Modern electronic time fuzes have largely replaced mechanical clockwork types due to their increased accuracy and ease of setting.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.