Any idea what type of shell this is?

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Trisnam_2000, Jan 8, 2021.

  1. Trisnam_2000

    Trisnam_2000 Member

    I found a shell on the Reichswald at Kleve. The area where I found it was taken by the 51st Highland Division in Operation Veritable. Of course we called the police and they took care of it. If anyone knows what type of shell it is, please let me know. It was about ca. 10 cm wide. Btw that’s me in the photo with my hand next to it for a comparison. No, I didn’t touch it.
     

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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    If you are 2 foot tall it is a 303 round

    If you are 6 foot it is a 4 inch shell

    Well done for calling the police
     
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  3. ceolredmonger

    ceolredmonger Member

    It is a shell. The fuse looks incomplete for some reason - cause of failure to explode/'defusing'/post-war decay..... The 3" to 4" size range gives a huge range of potential weapons. The driving band shows it has been fired from a gun/howitzer with a fair bit of rifling.
    Calling the police was the right action.
     
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  4. Listy

    Listy Well-Known Member

    I'm going to take a random guess and say: 25-pounder smoke.

     
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  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I dont think it is a 25pdr as it looks to be too parallel see attached.
    The 25pdr shell had to be loaded carefully as it could go into the breech crooked producing a "bad ram" causing the shell to go off course often landing short.
    The attached photo is of a Direct Action (Percussion fused shell) which could explode if it struck the breech and had a faulty safety locking device. A fused shell i.e Smoke or for Airburst had a cone on the end. I never saw one without it but it might have become detached, from memory, there was a flat profile by the graduations on the fuse to allow adjustment with a spanner type tool.
    The cartridge was separate.
    I think that is a shell which had a cartridge attached so had a more parallel profile.

    Good that you called the police, I have spent many an hour watching RE digging them up, stacking them. then detonating them on old ranges.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 8, 2021
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  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Looking at it again against your hand it is more like a 75mm (3 inch) of some sort possibly AA or a field gun as it is fused. I think an Anti Tank would be solid armour piercing or direct action.
    The 25pdr was 87.6mm (3.45 inch). Imagine a 2 litre pop bottle as a comparison. Loading them onto the supermarket checkout brings back memories.
     
  7. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    I'll say an American 105 only because Trisman said it was approximately 10cm wide, plus the odds favor it.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Nah! 105mm is American, (four plus inches) he has a European size hand looking at him!
    He mentions the 51st Highland Div Montgomery's favourites in the 8th Army.
    The Americans wouldnt go near them after Mark Clark (left of the gun) banned them from Rome.
    The guy on the right is saluting him and the one shouting is calling him to attention.

    (Hope you get the humour I dont do those smiley yellow things).
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2021
  9. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    My mistake. I made an error converting from the metric hand.
     
  10. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Not to worry, nice to meet you, I worked for an American Company for some years and was more concerned that you might not appreciate my humour.
    Whilst we all speak "English" interpretations can vary considerably,
    I almost moved to LA in the 70's but got married and stayed in the UK.
    The Regiment that I research were part of the 5th Army at Anzio and renewed their friendship with Gen Truscott at San Clemente at Christmas on the Gothic Line.
     
  11. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Nice to meet you too. I worked and socialized with a good number of Brits over the years and liked them all. Ha, except one, which I just remembered after 40 years. One co-worker brought his English fiancée into the office one afternoon and she tore me a new one for something she thought she heard me say about Northern Ireland. After she stormed out we all looked at each in total bewilderment wondering what the hell had set her off. Still don't know :) Maybe my Irish last name or something but I had not said a peep about Northern Ireland.

    English and American humor are better than the sum of the parts.

    upload_2021-1-8_19-48-52.png
     
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