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"Gudol Powders" from Tactical and Technical Trends
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department
publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime
intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No
attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or
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GUDOL POWDERS
Frequently within recent months technical descriptions of German ordnance
contained the word "Gudol" or "Gudol-type powder". A description of
this flashless propellant has recently become available. Its chief constituents
are triglycoldinitrate, nitro-cellulose and nitroguanidine in equal parts. Nitroguanidine
made by nitrating guanidine, which is a urea compound made from
calcium cyanamide, releases large quantities of ammonia when discharged as a
propellant. While the ammonia lowers the gas temperature below the flash-point,
when used in large quantities as artillery ammunition, it produces enough ammonia
gas to unfavorably affect the gun crews, particularly on a still day.
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