Shell shape and fuzes turned projectiles into engineered systems

By 1914 a naval shell had become a layered engineered device with a fuze rather than a simple variation on a cannonball. Projectile aerodynamics were being studied before powered aircraft made the subject more familiar. A very sharp, fragile nose could be chipped or blunted during handling and introduce unwanted variation, whereas a rounded form was more likely to retain its intended shape. The rounded front was also less likely to catch if a shell wobbled inside a rifled barrel. Aerodynamic form, robust ammunition handling, and manufacturing consistency all contributed to predictable gunnery.