>>27680305Depending on the target being fired against would determine the shell type being used. A battleship engaging another battleship or even a cruiser would use armor piercing shells to destroy their target and high-explosive shells against unarmored/lightly armored targets (merchants, destroyers, light cruisers) and for shore bombardment.
The shell itself had to be sturdy enough to withstand firing from the gun but with sidewalls thin enough to pack a larger volume of explosive compared to an AP round. The HC Mk 13 rounds fired by an Iowa-class weighed 1,900 lbs compared to their AP counterparts which tipped the scales at 2,700 lbs.
An HE shell would still throw out "shrapnel" when detonating but the main damage was caused by the explosion itself on those unarmored and lightly armored targets.
