Identify Projectile

[ammocat]

The following projectile was recently recovered, but we have been unable to identify it. The projectile is approximately 4.5 inches in diameter, 12.5 inches long, 12 inches in circumference, and weighs approximately 25-30 lbs.

Any ideas?

 

[HAZORD]

Are you sure it is a projectile? It looks amazingly just like the U.S. 5 inch rocket warheads that have a metal thread protector screwed onto their external threads at the base.

Since it doesn't have a rotating band or groove for one, you should check to see if it matches any of your indigenous rocket components.

Typically the thread protector is screwed on tight, and requires a few hammer blows to break it loose so the right hand threaded cap will unscrew.

Of course you wouldn't strilke an energetic filled one! The square nose plug looks like the ones I've seen in U.K. projectiles.

John

 

[Madbomber31]

The tekst looks like R /|\ L 11/87
R L is for Royal Lab.
And the arrow is War Department.

 

[ozziammo]

ID projectile

Ammocat,

What you have there is an example of an Armstrong breach loading, lead coated projectile (unfired) it is a bit rusted around the nose area so I can't tell if it is a shrap or HE style. The fuze thread should be the GS 1" (tapered thread).
Not sure of the filling, if it is HE, probably blackpowder.
Should be easy to find info on it in some of the Treatise on ammo series.
Made by RL (Royal Laboratory. British) in 1897
Great find, (hope it gets saved)!

Regards Ozzi.