I have an example of what I have been told is a Japanese Aircraft experimental 37mm round. In the group photo of rounds, it is the one on the far left. I haven't taken the time to go through ordnance translations to determine what the characters are on the headstamp, but maybe one of you with experience in this can help translate them.
The case is 110mm tall, and 46.2mm across the rim. The projectile has a threaded brass nose plug that makes up all of the ogive. There is also a threaded brass piece underneath the nose plug.
The story I heard about the copies of these rounds that made it into the U.S., was that a New York National Guard detachment was stationed in Japan after the end of the war, and when they entered a factory they found a box of projectiles and a box of cartridge cases, and each interested soldier took a case and projectile. I have no idea how many were found. The soldiers returned to New York, and the rounds have gradually spread out from there. I purchased one round from a collector in Toronto Canada.
I have been told that this is the HO-201 or HO-202, which was the experimental predecessor to the HO-203 and/or HO-204. Does anyone have any info to confirm this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
The case is 110mm tall, and 46.2mm across the rim. The projectile has a threaded brass nose plug that makes up all of the ogive. There is also a threaded brass piece underneath the nose plug.
The story I heard about the copies of these rounds that made it into the U.S., was that a New York National Guard detachment was stationed in Japan after the end of the war, and when they entered a factory they found a box of projectiles and a box of cartridge cases, and each interested soldier took a case and projectile. I have no idea how many were found. The soldiers returned to New York, and the rounds have gradually spread out from there. I purchased one round from a collector in Toronto Canada.
I have been told that this is the HO-201 or HO-202, which was the experimental predecessor to the HO-203 and/or HO-204. Does anyone have any info to confirm this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
