Unknown 20 mm drill/ballast round.

[hicky1300]

Help guys!!
Had this kicking around & still no idea as to origin!!
It is 20mm & case is 95mm. Base 25mm
Made from a heavy steel alloy -almost like white metal & it is slightly bent. Base is a sttel insert threaded & bonded with two op[posed flats for a spanner.
It is cast & has DCMT 54 BALLAST & a dimple castembossed in it.
Projectile is 73mm so o/al length is 168mm.
Cheers

 

[hangarman]

20 mm ballast

These rounds were used to fill ammunition boxes in Aircraft .They weigh the same as a live round but are obviously a lot safer.When aircraft are being test flown the C of g is the same as a fully armed aircraft. I have seen these rounds in 30mm Aden but not 20mm.
Cheers
Hangarman

 

[kahu1]

Hi ,
I have one of these as well though it doesn't have a base rim , just a beveled base.

I understand these were used soley as ballast rounds and not for gun functioning or feeding ,hence no need for an extraction rim.

cheers Rob

 

[kahu1]

20mm hispano variants
ballast,drill,SAPIR,SAPI,HEI,BALL,TP french electric primed

 

[kahu1]

Sapi(r)

refer to 20mm hispano SAPI(R) in Projectile thread.
Had me a bit concerned when i first got this as i knew (?) yellow signified explosive and blue meant inert or training .
Fortunately got hold of the correct Air Pub. before i got carried away and handed it in!.
cheers Bob.

 

[SG500]

Very nice Bob, you've got some good rounds there.
Dave.

 

[Millsman]

I've got some similar rounds. The base is just flat and closed off. They came from a Shakleton that had been retired from the RAF in the 80's.

John