Shimose

Charles E. Hoyle1, Sonny Jonsson2, Makoto Shimose , Jim Owens, and Per-Erik Sundell4... 

Synonyms AI3-15403 Carbazotic acid CCRIS 3106 C.I. 10305 EINECS 201-865-9 Hager s reagent 2-Hydroxy-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene Lyddite Melinite NA 1344 Nitroxanthic acid NSC 36947 NSC 56147 NSC 141218 NSC 168933 NSC 221282 Pertite Phenol trinitrate Picragol Picral Picronitric acid Shimose 1,3,5-Trinitrophenol 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol UN 0154 UN 1344. 

Note The compressed Guncotton contg about 18% moisture proved to be so successful that it was adopted by several countries (especially by Russia) for loading not only of sea mines but also of Whitehead torpedoes and cannon shells. Russian Artillery used it during the Russo-Japanese War (1904—1905), but it proved to be inferior to Japanese shells loaded with Shimose (cast Picric Acid). Senior author of this Encycl, who served in 1917 in the Russian Navy, remembers that torpedoes on his destroyer of 1905 vintage were loaded with compressed, moist Guncotton... 

Army demolition blocks, 2x2x1-inch size were used 1) PA (Shimose bakuyaku) 2) Haishoku-yaku (qv) and 3) Nigotangyaku (Tanoyaku) (50/50—TNT/RDX) (pp 28-30 234 of Ref 1 and p 230 of Ref 2) 4) Combined Demolition Blocks — two, three or four TNT and PA blocks were provided with a hole to receive the detonator (p 235 of Ref 1) 5) Demolition Cans were rectangular made of zinc. Three sizes are described in Ref 1, p 234 1-kg Can was filled with cast, wrapped PA 5-kg Can was... 

Type 98 Stick Hand Grenade had cylindrical, cast steel body, 7% inches long and 1-5/16 inches in diam, with smooth surface. It contd 3 oz of cast PA (Shimose) and had a 4-5-sec delay (Ref 2, p 230 with Fig 174 Ref 1, p 196)... 

Type 88 Model 1 Contact Mine consisted of two light-metal hemispheres separated by a cylindrical belt and provided by four chemical horns on upper hemisphere. It was filled with 396 lbs of block-fitted Shimose. The depth setting hydrostat and mooring cable were provided (p 36, Fig 1)... 

Mark 5 Model 1 Moored Contact Mine had spherical case contg 180 lbs of Shimose. Four chemical horns were fitted to the upper hemisphere (p 39, Fig 5)... 

It was a cylinder 8 inches in diam and 10 inches long, loaded with 33 lbs max of Type 88 Expl or Shimose. The device was towed underwater and when one of the four projecting arms welded to the body fouled a mine mooring cable, the device was electrically fired from the towing ship (pp 46—47, Fig 21 of Ref 1)... 

Picric Acid (PA) (Pikurinsan). See Oshokuyaku (Army) and Shimose Bakuyaku (Navy)... 

Type 90 Torpedo contd 880 lbs of Type 94 or Shimose (Obsolete replaced by Type 93) Type 93 Model 1 Mod 2 contd 1080 lbs of Type 97 Expl was 29 ft 6 inches long 24 inches in diam used in destroyers and cruisers. It was the standard Navy torpedo and a very superior weapon. There was also a Model 3 carrying 1700 lbs of Type 97 Expl Type 91 Modsl, 2, 3, 3 (Special), 4, 6 and 7 were standard aircraft torpedoes of diam 17.7 inches and 17 ft 3 inches to 18 ft 10 inches long which carried 340 to 900 lbs of Shimose, Type 94,97 or 98 Expl... 

Type 92 Mod 1, used in submarines, was copied from the Germans and contd 660 lbs of HE (no data). It was electrically driven, while other Japanese torpedoes were steam-driven Type 94 Mod 1, used in submarines, was 22 ft long 21 inches in diam. It contd 870 lbs of Type 97 or Shimose... 

Type 94 Mod 2, used in aircraft, was 17 ft 4 inches long and 17.7 inches in diam. It contd 460 lbs of Shimose... 

Bombs and Shells as replacement for Shimose (melting at high temp of 122.5°). Was also used for composite expls A (ko) or Type A (Explosive), described here as Otsu-B Type 2 (Explosive), described as B4 (Incendiary) E (Explosive) Type 98 (Explosive), described here as H2 Kongo Type 94M (Navy) and some other expl compns (Ref 1, p 32, Ref 5, p 377 and Vol 1 of Encycl, pp A450—451, under Anisole)... 

It was used for this purpose in France since 1886 under the name of Melinite and in Gt-Britain since 1888 under the name of Lyddit and then later in Japan as Shimose. Although PA was known for more than 100 years before Turpin s discovery, it was not used straight but always in mixtures, such as of Borlinetto and of Disignolle invented in 1867 (See Vol 2 of Encycl, p B250-R and Vol 3, p D90)... 

To the above discussion may be added that the Russians used compressed Guncotton, contg ca 17% of moisture since about the 1860 s for loading ammunition but during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Russian shells loaded with Guncotton proved to be much inferior to Japanese shells loaded with Shimose (cast Picric Acid). Some Whitehead torpedoes of the Russian Navy were loaded with Guncotton as late as WWI. One of the older P.ussian expls, known as Slonit (Elephantit) consisted of Guncotton hydraulically compressed to the hardness of elephant s bone... 

SF sans flammes(Fr)(flashless) Shimose jap cast PA prepd by a special... 

---