5 inch US Navy Drill Mk 2 Projectile, All Brass

[bdgreen]

While surfing the internet I came across a 5 inch US Navy Drill Mk 2 Projectile, all brass, on another forum: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/203825-us-navy-5-drill-mk2/

Brian

 

[EOD]

Many years ago I had one of these, they are unbelievable heavy...

 

[raymeketa]

That's a very nice collectable.

They are not really unbelievably heavy. They are made to simulate the weight of an actual 5"/38 projectile. Used primarily in the loading machines that are on most ships. Each gun crew member had to be familiar with the different gun and mount duties, and he learned, the hard way, on the loading machines.

When the newer and bigger 5"/54 guns came into use in the late 1940s, their 70 pound projectiles would tax any crew member and the poor guy who was the biggest usually ended up as projectile-man.

As a Gunners Mate I had to demonstrate the procedures to gun crews. I'm not a big guy, but I could usually crank out 10 or 15 rounds per minute. But only for a minute!

Ray

 

[orcutteod]

One of these were on ebay recently and it sold for good money.