The American 16-inch high-explosive shell cited here weighs about 1,900 pounds, or 862 kilograms, and contains roughly 70 kilograms of Explosive D. The explosive filling alone approaches an adult person's weight. Salvo fire multiplies that charge across several shells. Bombardment is envisaged as destroying a target and its surroundings, while unexploded heavy shells leave a danger after the firing ends.
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What a 16-inch shell adds to shore bombardment
A 1,900-pound American 16-inch shell carries roughly 70 kilograms of explosive, with salvo fire multiplying the weight delivered ashore.