German artillery shells began using TNT in 1902, with particular value in armour-piercing ammunition for battleships. The more stable filling could survive the initial strike and detonate after deeper penetration. British lyddite, by comparison, had a greater tendency to explode on first contact. Britain began replacing lyddite with TNT from 1907, so British shells increasingly shared the advantage before the First World War.
Notable Point · 6:52-7:33
TNT lets armour-piercing shells detonate after penetration
German and British navies valued TNT because its stability let a shell pass through armour before exploding instead of bursting on first impact.