WW2 US 40mm Bofors Rounds

[tigbrand]

The US Bofors L60 rounds are the only American items that I would like to own. (Other than the 75mm used with the Sherman etc), and would look amazing with the different British L60 items I have! These are like hens teeth in Britain. Perhaps some of you guys could post some pics to show all the pretty colours! I don't think this has been covered on Bocn. Cheers Tig.

 

[917601]

The US Bofors L60 rounds are the only American items that I would like to own. (Other than the 75mm used with the Sherman etc), and would look amazing with the different British L60 items I have! These are like hens teeth in Britain. Perhaps some of you guys could post some pics to show all the pretty colours! I don't think this has been covered on Bocn. Cheers Tig.

I found this example doing a search on our forum. I assume they are British color codes? I have been unable to find anywhere the US Army 40mm color coding system, or is this picture the US color schemes? I suspect the answer can only be found from vintage US Tech manuals???...at this time my interest is identifying the 40mm casings I have so I can paint them correctly. I have an event to attend in a few weeks and need to paint the projos.

 

[bdgreen]

The 40mm display board shown in the picture above is most likely a US Navy Bureau of Ordnance Mk2 Mod0 40mm Ammunition Display Board, circa WW2.

U.S. Navy 40mm color code chart as of June 1, 1945, add on supplement to U.S. Navy Ordnance Pamphlet No. 4; Ammunition, Instructions For The Naval Service, May 1943 :

 

[HAZORD]

Navy and would use the color codes shown on the display board shown above. If a casing is marked Mk. and Mod number identification, they are Navy. If they have an M model number they are Army.

All U.S. navy casings have a Mk. and Mod number.

UD marked casings are for AP-T.

@Tigbrand, there are a number of threads here on BOCN that show the details of the 40mm fuze. WWII 40mm Bofors HE projectiles are like a piece of pipe, if empty, unfazed, and minus the tracer element, you can see right through them. The SD function is built into the screw-in tracer. If you look at the photo of the Navy training board shown above, there is a sectioned projectile directly below the sectioned round on top of the board.

 

[tigbrand]

Hi Hazord, I have collected British Bofors L60 for over 25 years and appreciate any info, thank you! Your comments ref the bare projectile are true for a lot of calibers, which makes the fuze and tracer elements the interesting bit. I once owned an empty US fuze body, but believe it differs internally to British 251, 255 and 259 fuzes. Also the US tracer and self destruct design is totally different to British designs. The tracer in the cutaway is hardly visible to me! This is a really interesting subject and some of the loadings were never used in British service, as I said before these don't turn up over here ever, so some good pics of items over the pond would be really great, or is it rare over there too?? Tig:bigsmile:

 

[Weasel]

Hi 917601, Tig,
From a thread on here a few years ago i started about a US 40mm L60 round, i found some more info to add, the following is regarding WW2 US Naval colour codes. i have been collecting US WW2 40mm L60 for a while but still dont have many. If i can get them all in one place i will get a picture to add to this thread.
Best regards Weasel.

View attachment 117433View attachment 117431View attachment 117432

 

[tigbrand]

Thanks that's great stuff, I found the post a while back, but more real pics would be really interesting. Look fwd to more! Cheers Tig.

 

[HAZORD]

Tig,

I have two of the training boards shown above. I'll take a close-up photo of the sectioned round with SD tracer. The M246 20mm HEIT-SD used in the F-16 is similar in function. When the tracer burns into the explosive cavity, it low-order detonates the projectile. I also have a number of experimental L-60 projo/fuze combinations to photograph.

 

[bdgreen]

40mm projectile, U.S. Navy WW2, pictures showing empty projectile, projectile, dismantled projectile (empty fuze body, empty projectile body, tracer element), markings on driving band, markings on fuze and markings on tracer element. The projectile is empty, contractor deactivated.

 

[tigbrand]

Wow, that a nice shell, really appreciate you taking time to take the quality photos, The tracer size and design is very interesting, looks similar to German types. What date did the US start using the Bofors? Strange these are non existent over here, although I think I know for one. Any more pics to show colour coding welcomed and Hazord and Weasel please try to post too when you have time. Cracking thread. Tig:xd:

 

[bdgreen]

U.S Navy Mk II Tracer, 1945

 

[Weasel]

Here is a picture of one of my US wartime 40mm Bofors rounds, this one is the M81 AP-T and dated 1943.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[tigbrand]

Hi Weasel, that's great! does the projectile or band have any stamps on? That's the first one I have ever seen in nearly 30 years of collecting. Thanks very much. Tig.

 

[Weasel]

Hi Tig,
The band is stamped, I did take a pic but its out of focus. Will try and get another tomorrow. I wish I had more US rounds than I do, but as you said they are difficult to find over here.
Best regards Weasel

 

[Weasel]

Here are few pictures of the stampings on the band for you Tig, the only markings on the projectile are faint white ink " M81 Tracer " as seen in the 3rd picture.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[Weasel]

I have managed to unpack another one from the move and this is a clip of four WW2 US Navy Dummy / Drill rounds, i have taken as many pics as possible to show the stampings on the bands and headstamps. They are all held together with a metal rod screwed in to the primer and into the projectile. The fuzes all unscrew and are empty as you would expect. I bought these many many years ago from the US via a certain auction site, the shipping was a lot more than the rounds.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[Weasel]

Have any other members got some US WW2 Bofors rounds to show ?

 

[tankbarrell]

I have some US cases but no projectiles. I do have a few M2 and M3 clips spare though if anybody wants some.

 

[tigbrand]

Cracking extra pics Weasel, those drill rounds look nice in the clip. Now I know what to look for on a WW2 AP, the band is well stamped and the windshield is held on by what looks spot welds? Funny how no one has any of these US rounds? Would expect these to be everywhere in America.
Tankbarrell please add pics of your cases and headstamps.
Also has any one info on the US rounds being sold by worldwide arms? Pics are not good enough for me to ID. Tig

 

[MINENAZ16]

40mm projectile, U.S. Navy WW2, pictures showing empty projectile, projectile, dismantled projectile (empty fuze body, empty projectile body, tracer element), markings on driving band, markings on fuze and markings on tracer element. The projectile is empty, contractor deactivated.

Hello,

What is the designation of this shell, I can't find color code (green-black-yellow-red) in the doc ?

Regards