oldshotandshell
Well-Known Member
I think this might be a case for the Royal Navy 3.5in Anti-Submarine Stick Bomb Thrower. It seems to be based on the 18Pdr Field Gun case and measures 88x151R with a head diameter of 102mm. Headstamps are as per the pic. It is currently fitted with what appears to be a brass primer plug. The case shows typical 'turning marks' inside the case mouth indicating that it is the correct length and not cut down. The only reference I can find is in the book Naval Weapons of World War One by Norman Friedman which describes the weapon but not the propelling charge for the round: 'According to DNO, the Anti-Submarine Committee was interested in bomb-throwers even before WW1. It found that ranges were too short to be worth while. However, in the latter part of 1916 the idea was revived, and trials conducted with EOC-designed stick bomb throwers. The result was the Sutton Armstrong 3.5in 200lb stick-bomb thrower, the first purely naval weapon of this type. The 3.5in bomb-thrower fired a Type F depth charge (fused to fire at 50ft depth) carrying a charge of 70lbs of Trotyl (TNT) or amatol, with a hemisperical top and coned bottom.' Does anyone else have anymore information?
