75mm M18 Case

[Big Dave]

Bought this case a while back ,can anyone tell me when we started buying 75mm M18 ammo from the Americans or producing it our selves .Is this a British case ? or an American case with a British acceptance mark [broad arrow]? Apart from someone chrome plating it ,its in quite good condition ,regards Dave

 

[Hoeksel]

It is indeed British, the "B" is for [FONT=&quot]Birmingham Metals & Munitions Co. Ltd., Birmingham, U.K..[/FONT]

 

[RichardB]

I would have thought that 1940 is pretty early for an M18 case? I have a quite a few (7) and and all are 1942-1944, with the exception of one, which is 1941.....either way nice case.

Now all you need is a nice chromed M61 or M72 projectile

 

[Hoeksel]

I have 2, the one I have from "B" is also from 1940 (LOT 9) and the other one is from 1942, but this case is US made and used by the UK.

 

[Big Dave]

Thanks guys for the info ,now my second question is what were these early M18s used in? The Grant /Lee pilot models were not completed till April 1941 and the Sherman not till September 1941 .Did the Allies already have the M3 75mm gun ,that used the M18 case ,picked before either the Grant or Sherman were designed ?Also i just read in the HMSO Book Churchill Tank ,Vehicle History and Specification ,printed in 1983 that the ammo for the M3 was obtained from the US !