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Colour and Markings for a M485A1 illum round

Thats great thank you, the round I have has been redone in gray with white markings, I wasnt sure it was correct ??? I'll post a picture of it this week

thanks again
 
In the U.S. the older short Illum for the 155Gun/Howitzer was painted gray with white letters, but I have only seen the newer design projo in OD.
 
155illu001.jpg


155illu002.jpg
 
The shorter older Illum is a M118, not a M495. The colors are correct, nomenclature incorrect. Data sheets to follow.

One thing to watch. If you notice, at the top the caliber lettering is 155GH This projo was originally fired by both 155mm Guns and Howitzers. It is the only one of the 155mm projos that I have ever seen lettered in this way. The Larger numbers near the bottom (D545) is the DODAC for this projectile. The letters should be 2 inches high.
 

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As usual youve helped me out, sorry if it comes across as I'm being dumb, I'm still learning

Where it says LOT 2011, is that the date ??? so if i want a date for WW2 is this where i put it ????

Does it still have white stripe like on my one ???

Please confirm that the Main body colour is gray ??

What is the correct fuze for this ???

Thanks again
 
There is nothing wrong with asking questions. If you refer to the data sheets I attached, you will find information regarding the color of the body (gray) and the lettering color (White), and the proper series of fuzes (MTSQ M501). It also explains that the older ones didn't have the white stripe around the body.

The U.S. has only been incorporating the date in the lot numbers of ordnance for the past 10-20 years, so the lot numbers from the late 40's and 50's wouldn't include the date.

I don't have data as to the first year that M118 155GH Illums were used, but they are not listed in the 1944 version of TM9-1901 Artillery Ammunition. They are listed and shown in the 1950 version of the same manual, so they might have been used from 1945 on. The 1950 manual also says that some were issued with TSQ M54 fuzes.
 
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Stuart,

Here is some additional info:

Projectile:

http://www.mtarnguxoinformation.inf... fuzes/Projectile_155mm_Illuminating_M118.pdf

Observe the projectile in the photo is really gray, also notice how the lettering wraps around the projectile body. The lettering is put on with a rubber stamp that has the curvature of the projectile built into the support of the stamp. The projectile is rolled over the rubber stamp, and the projectile rotates around its axis, so each line of text is parallel to the others and the white band around the body.

http://articles.janes.com/articles/...s-illumination-projectiles-United-States.html

Gun:

http://www.bravecannons.org/the_gun/munitions.html#projo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M114_155_mm_howitzer
 
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Thats great thank you, do you have a date for when the white stripe was painted on as I cant find anything saying when they applied itm all i can find is early rounds didnt have it ???

Thanks
 
No idea when they started adding the stripe. It's a strange round anyway, because it was a late WWII early 50's piece. The candle is only around 1/4 the value of the candle in the newer M495 which is 2 Million candlepower for 2 minutes, so they phased the M118 out to inventory the newer better M495s.
 
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