WW2 NZ 3" Mortar round with "DE" stamped on it...

[Dronic69]

Hi All,

Picked this up today down in Bondi (just kidding!)- a NZ manufactured 3" HE round with about 80%+ original lacquer left.

Well marked and appears to perhaps been made by "GMNZ", which I'm guessing may stand for "General Motors New Zealand"?

Also has "DE" stamped above the "3" MOR", which I'm also assuming to indicated that it is perhaps "DEactivated", although not sure what would have been done as it looks like it was never filled. (Probably way of track here!)

There is another interesting "OLB III" stamp under the "3" MOR" - any ideas?

It is also very well dated:
Body: 4/44 and 7/44
Tail: 12/41
Gain: 11/43 (Made by "AMC"?)

Not sure what the letters in the circle are for???

A
J P
S

Anyway as it's not a fuze it is in the trade /for sale bin.

Cheers
Drew

 

[Dronic69]

Hi All,

Any takers on what "DE" stands for? (DEactivated?)

And if so, how was it deactivated as it just appears to have been never filled?

Also "OLB III" stamping - what's the "OLB" stands for?

Any hints appreciated!

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[kahu1]

Hi Drew,

GMNZ will be General Motors ,don't know about the DE but as stamped prior to being lacquered ,i doubt very much if it means Deactivated.
one of approx 1 million made in NZ!

Cheers
Bob

 

[Dronic69]

Hi Bob,

Good point! Unless it was specifically made for training perhaps? But then why not just stamp it as practice?

Humm, were the drill/practice ones lacquered as well? I gather they just use to fill them with sand, fire them and reload.

Yes I'm a little puzzle by the "DE" .....if it is along the lines of "HE" then the "E" would be Explosive of course - but "D"? (Delay?)

Perhaps a mis-stamp? They couldn't find the "H" stamp?
(I had a prior post on a WW1 18pdr projectile with interesting markings)

I gather that the 1 million produced extended into post war?

I need to go and dig out some 3" manuals

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[kahu1]

Hi Drew,
I have one of these but clearly stamped DRILL, has the 'ajps' and DE stamps too.
Lacquered finish.
DE might mean delay element but surely that would be part of the fuse,seperate from the shell?
Info from the book 'Defending New Zealand,Ramparts on the sea1840-1950s' pt2,by Peter Cooke.
"380,000 3" mortar bombs for the NZ Army and 650,000 for the Eastern Group Supply Council (India).
123,724 manufactured by end 1943 with 30,000 more a month."

cheers ,
Bob

 

[Dronic69]

Hi Bob,

That's very interesting re the 'DRILL' - clarifies that query!

I'll further research the DE markings.

Thanks for the production statistics!
Cheers
Drew