A shrapnel shell is a type of artillery shell designed to explode in the air, dispersing small metal fragments, or shrapnel, over a wide area. This design maximizes damage to enemy personnel and equipment by creating a lethal cloud of projectiles. Shrapnel shells were widely used in warfare, particularly during World War I and World War II. The shell typically contains a casing filled with explosive material and a number of small balls or fragments. When detonated, the explosion propels these fragments outward, making it effective against troops in the open or in trenches. Shrapnel shells are named after Henry Shrapnel, the British Army officer who invented them in the early 19th century.