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3 inch Probert AA projectiles

Gspragge

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I picked up a pair of these, no markings, but they need a clean.
Do these fit the 3inch 50 cal cases from the 50s ?
 

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Only this picture with this kind of 3in probert with a single band on top

3in 3/70 Mk34 mod1

3in 3 70 mk34 mod1.jpg
 
Well that's a casing Ive never seen over here, just projectiles. My projectiles do not have
spiral banding to match the cases so how would this work ? Is thare an earlier MK for 50 cal guns ?
Or are mine U.S. pattern which may be different ?
 
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The U.S. had 3 inch 70 cal guns for a brief period, I believe on aircraft carriers. Casings and projos were available in the early 80's. So they come up now and then.

Gordon, your projectiles don't look U.S. British design front rotating bands are different.
 
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closer pictures of what I have in my files (maybe from bocn) to compare with yours.
Mk34 shell
3in probert mk34.jpg3in probert mk34 2.jpg

Picture of practice and case
3in probert prac.jpg
 
These are certainly the same thing unmarked, no finish so left overs / surpluss. Well, I'll keep one as the design is interesting.
 
This was a joint British/American project that started in the early 50s. It was used on British Tiger class Cruisers and Canadian Restigouche and Mackenzie class destroyers. Apparently, there is a slight difference between the British and US cases.

That spiral banding is the neck of the case.

TimG
 
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The Hoarde in the projectile ; I know it's not 10,000 gold Roman coins - but
some of it is still good - Not sure about the older Shillings ?
Hopefully some one can enlighten me ~
Looking into it I think I have 3pounds 15 pence =$5.64 Cdn ! + older shillings if they can be exchanged ~
Oddly I noticed this stamped around the edge of the one pound coin; PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD, it's Welsh for
something like this according to a poor translation; "Party I to my Country" , I'm sure that has missed the proper sense of it.

So are these British projectiles ? as I can't see how/why this would have gotten in there over here.
But the wrappers are all Canadian -

I found a marking, Drawing or design number ; KE12B6

The Austrian coins I imagine have been replaced by Euros now.
First old candy wrappers, then this lot fell out ~
 

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​The two 20p are the only current UK coins you have. The other UK coins have all been replaced by newer designs of different sizes.
 
Here is a US, 3" TP Projectile crimped into a brass case. Came from the estate of a, NAVY Officer.

Jason

IMG_4061.jpg
 
@Hazord

John,

Perhaps you can advise - For WWII and post war period, how common was the utilisation of steel cartridge cases by the U.S. Navy?

TIA

TimG
 
As far as I know steel cases were for home service only as there was worry aboout a brass shortage and it was a means to ensure that there was
enough brass cases for overseas use. Steel cases were made in 1943 - But please correct me on this if I am wrong.

The projectile just keeps giving, these fell out as I was starting to clean the insides of it. A mix of Canadian and American pennies ~
 

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Shipping plug - As I don't expect to find a fuze for the projectile a shipping plug would do.
Would any one have a spare or an image of what was used ?
 
@TimG

Typical large caliber U.S. Navy cases WWII to present are comprised of 40mm L/60 Bofors (Brass and Steel), 3 inch 50 cal (Brass and Steel), 3 inch 70 cal (Steel), 76.2mm Otto Malera (Brass and Steel) 5 inch 38 cal (Brass and Steel), 5 inch 54 cal (Brass and Steel), 6 inch 47 cal (Brass or Powder Bag), and 8 inch 47 cal (Brass or powder bag).

Observations:
40mm Both brass and steel post war. Biggest current user USAF.
3 inch 50 Brass from early 1900's thru WWII. Steel post war.
3 inch 70 Steel only.
76.2mm Otto post WWII. Early cases brass, later cases steel.
5 inch 38 cal Thru WWII brass, steel post war.
5 inch 54 cal scarce from WWII brass, steel post war. Only current Navy Gun. Norris was making steel cases in the late 80's.
6 inch 47 Brass only
8 inch 55 Brass only
 
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@Hazord

Many thanks for that information. It think it explains why we (UK) used a steel case. Excluding a late Mk. 25Pr case, I think it was our first venture into steel cases.

TimG
 
@TimG

During WWII, K.T. Norris (Norris Industries), perfected the process for ironing steel cartridge cases, I.E. the steel 3 inch Tank Destroyer case. That's how he made his millions. When I worked there we were making 5 inch 54, 105 tank gun cases, and 76.2mm Otto cases. Norris made a very diverse range of round/rotational ordnance items by forging and ironing, from MLRS rocket motor bodies to the grapefruit size aluminum GB Bomblet bodies.
 
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