20mm German ?

[timeout]

I have what I think is a 20mm German belted, case length 137mm, with a headstamp of 37= year, P382 manufacturing factory, this is where I draw my first blank. After hours of searching on the internet the only reference I can find to P382 is sometimes appears on ammunition, most sites don't even list it. I think 16e is the batch number. Under the eagle the numbers and letters = W upsidedown 2 A329

After seeing numerous similar shaped cases on various sites, some say its anti aircraft, some say flack, and other anti tank. Could it be used for all of those, but projectile dependant.

thanks.....paul.

 

[TonyE]

It is a german 20x138RB Solothurn. It was extensively used as a light flak gun by all three services and also in light tanks and armoured cars.

I am not a German specialist so will leave others to identify P382.

Regards
TonyE

 

[timeout]

thanks Tony, thats a great start, the numbers and letters under the eagle, any clue what they mean?.....paul.

 

[Tmine35]

P382 is maker of case as you assumed = HAK, Hanseatisches Kettenwerk GmbH Hamburg.
16e is batch number.
WaA329 is inspector's personal number. You may check here http://claus.espeholt.dk/ if it matches with maker, it should. For some reason I can no longer open the links on that site since I changed to Win 8.

 

[smle2009]

It is a german 20x138RB Solothurn. It was extensively used as a light flak gun by all three services and also in light tanks and armoured cars.

I am not a German specialist so will leave others to identify P382.

Regards
TonyE

ooooh.....bet your'e going to get into trouble calling it a Solothurn.:wink:

Tony

 

[timeout]

Many thanks.....the chart is divided into 3 columns, first is the p number, next the factory, and the last has (asr) in lower case in it. There is nothing at the top of the column to say what this means, but not all factories have something in this column. Tmine.....do you know what asr stands for? However its a good site which I did not come across. thank you.....paul.

 

[TonyE]

ooooh.....bet your'e going to get into trouble calling it a Solothurn.:wink:

Tony

It depends what you are firing it in :tinysmile_fatgrin_t

Cheers
TonyE

 

[Tmine35]

asr is a letter code for the same factory. Letter codes replaced numeral codes sometimes 1940-41.

 

[timeout]

Many thanks, have been reading more on that site, they have so much info on it. well recommended....... and I am going to order the book they recommend on German headstamps. it looks good as far as the cover can do! so once again many thanks......paul.