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Mystery 105mm Tank Projectile - US Smoke?

peregrinvs

Well-Known Member
Hi,

Previously discussed in the identification section, but I thought I'd re-start it here now I've taken delivery.

105mm TK Projectile (3).JPG105mm TK Projectile (4).jpg105mm TK Projectile (1).JPG105mm TK Projectile (5).JPG

The markings look something like:

B
105MM TK
?? 698
M?8G3 RAT
4/69 LOT 525

It is empty, other than a thin metal ring about 7cm wide loose inside. There is also a hard, grey substance around the hole at the back that feels like concrete. I'm not sure if the paint is original - the previous owner seems to have tried to fill in the rifling grooves in the lower drive band with some sort of pinkish putty.

So what is it..?

Cheers,
Mark
 
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Hello,

Waves under band sound British.
Looks like a 105 practice flash tracer Sx689 (I can read 689 on the body of your shell)

Regards

745482_-_photo_3_1424277547_big.jpg745482_-_photo_1_1424277545_big.jpg745482_-_photo_2_1424277547_big.jpg
 
MINENAZ16 pictures are of a British Round 105mm Tank L7 Gun Practice Squash Head / Tracer.
I have never seen FLASH incorporated in the markings, they were as I described it, but 1987 is after my time so perhaps this is how it became.

Cartridge Case RW 242 is the case used in both the HESH and SH Prac / T.
 
Thanks everyone. Can anyone give me anymore information on the SX 689 105mm Practice shell? Were these British issue? Does anyone have any diagrams / illustrations, etc? Assuming it is 1969 dated, what would be the correct colours and stencils?

It's a bit of an odd one. Perhaps someone has tried to turn it into a lookalike HE at some point? I've also noted the the casing is bulged into a slight hourglass shape rather than having straight sides.
 
You can see SX 689 on MINENAZ16's projectile, therefore it is the same British Flash SH Prac/T as yours.
The four depressions in the base of the cartridge case indicate that it is only for use with HESH or SH Prac.
The HESH cases had blackened bases and the SH Prac were left plain.
The same system was used with the 120mm BAT series of HESH and SH Prac cartridge cases.
 
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SX 689 is the design drawing number for the shell, RW 242 is the design drawing number for the cartridge case. Both items comprised a Round.

There were two main designs of Prac SH. One was fitted with a Fuze (initially the L19) and a tracer. It was filled with a HE substitute (HES). The fuze was arranged with a flash pellet and exploder pellet. I suspect that those fuzed L29 and L56 (see below) were the later versions of this arrangement. The other version was filled with HES and a tracer but no fuze. I suspect that the Round L56A1 (see below) was a later version of this arrangement.

The later designations of Round that were in service were:

Round 105 mm Tank SH Practice L38A2 Fuzed L29
Round 105 mm Tank SH Practice L38A3 Fuzed L56
Round 105 mm Tank SH Practice L56A1

As AE501 has said, the HESH and SH Prac had the four equispaced 1 inch recesses on the base of the case. The HESH had a black base with white recesses. The SH Prac had a plain brass base. There were two other cartridge case base designs, depending on what the round was.
 
Just to add some trivia to the drawing number. Skip if easily bored.

SX numbers with no trailing characters identify a single part I believe, and in the QAD business these numbers were often referred to as Part Numbers. The contractor's design drawing number is often used on documentation. The contractor's drawing number for SX689 is S1/15291/E [S1 was a division within RARDE so it was designed at Fort Halstead, 15291 is a serial number issued in sequence as jobs arose, and E indicates the design is for an empty - this drawing dates from 1955]. Stamped on the shell body should be:

'P' for practice
Calibre and role
Drawing Number (the SX one)
Lot number
Initials or monogram of manufacturer
Steelmaker's code and cast number together with Forgemaster's code letter (if not the Steelmaker).

The SX part can be used in a number of assemblies, for instance when SX689 is combined with:

Inert filling
felt washer
SX137AF Exploder pellet
SX814 liner
SX813 tube paper
SX136AF Pellet flash
a paper disc
another felt washer
QX195AF Tracer
SX28SA Base, Shell
QX429GF Fuze, Percussion Base
Three washers
SX701 gascheck
and some lead shot

it makes up SX455GF which is the drawing number for Shell, 105mm, TK, Practice, SH

The same body could be used on other assemblies and is listed for Shell, 105mm, TK, SH, Proof of Propellant and Tracer (SX141A)

The drawing number system (SX, TX, QX etc.) has some quirks but if you take it that a drawing reference with just a prefix and number (eg SX615) identifies a single part and that a drawing reference with a prefix, a number, and some letters (eg SX231GF) identifies a more complicated store you wont go far wrong. Oh and don't expect SX123A to refer to the same item as SX123AF.
 
Great info. Many thanks indeed.

Are there any illustrations of circa 1960's British 105mm tank ammunition about? I'm intending to restore it and would like to get it as accurate as possible rather than just copying the one on the JC Militaria website.
 
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