Military Projectiles ID Needed Please
My questions are ... What are these? What era? How do I know if they are inert? Thanks!
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Sorry! Forgot to post pics! Coming soon. 0 -
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The round on the right is a practice round used to train gun crews to load the weapon correctly and quickly. The giave-away is the wooden body. These were weight matched to the service round for most effective training. The middle round is an illumination round that contained an illuminating compound and, usually, a parachute. It was fired at night to light up potential targets. The cone shaped piece on the nose is the fuse/timer that ignites the compound at the pre-set time and altitude. It screws into the body of the round and is probably sealed with a compound to prevent moisture from getting into the contents. It may be removable by hand-turning it, IF it has been de-milled. If it can't be easily turned by hand don't force it get military advice on it. The stenciling on the projectile body should give you info on which branch it is used by USN (Navy) USAA (Army) etc. If the contents of the illuminating round are intact and fuse/timer is live it can be very dangerous as the fire can't be put out by any means other and complete suffocation - water only makes it worse. Small one ?? practice bomb or heavy mortar round? 0 -
Round in the middle is a 4.2 inch mortar illumination round (parachute flare). Was still in use in the late 1970s. Missing the bottom part of the round. Left projectile is probably an 81mm mortar. WW 2 up to about 1980, when projectile changed a lot. Right hand is a heavily modified round that could have been for display or training. It could be naval (3 inch 50) tank (75mm) or light artillery. Markings on the case head would help a lot.
EDIT: Here is a link to a cross section diagram. BTW, that was the most effective illumination round the US had- turn night into day in a LARGE area! http://uxoinfo.com/blogcfc/client/includes/uxopages/Mulvaney_Details.cfm?Ord_Id=M0070 -
Thanks. I didn't see any additional (besides that number) visible markings on the training round.
The Illuminating round is basically hollow except for a metal piece coming in at the top. Were the contents accessible from the top, and the parachute stored in the bottom part?0 -
I have the one on the right. As mentioned it is a practice artillery shell. Mine measures 31 1/2"long and weighs aprox. 24#. There is a number on the nose 47585-8, 47585-1 on the collar and 47585-2 on the face of the base. Was told it was used at Camp McCoy located in upper Wisc. way back[?] 0 -
So according to the diagram, it appears that my illuminating round is safe with no charges because it is hollow except for a metal tubing coming in from the top (also hollow). Agreed?
Thanks, asop. Mine also has numbers 47585-8 and 47585-1, but I did not see the other on the base. Perhaps it has worn off.
I didn't mention that there was a tag on the one some have thought to be an 81mm mortar. The tag says it's a USN Smoke Marker???
I was able to unscrew the top on the Illuminating Cartridge.0
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