Spigot mortar question, distance sleave?

[BMG50]

A friend of mine has just acquired a 14lb practice spigot mortar round, not the best condition. I noticed on his that there is a sleeve with a slot fitted above the drum fin to stop the drum from sliding up the spigot body to where it steps up, never seen this before and don't have this slotted tube on mine, my drum fin just rides up the body nothing stopping it. Found a picture of the same round fitted with it, is it official, its not in the manuals, just wondering if this is a Home guard Mod and not a factory item or mine is missing.

 

[Basilisk]

Perhaps an incremental design improvement? It seems a little too common to be the result of Home Guard units modifying ammunition.

The 20lb AT round often seems to have a shorter distance sleeve fitted. See here: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threa...e-Rounds-found?p=203857&viewfull=1#post203857 and here: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threa...m-HE-20lb-bomb?p=233260&viewfull=1#post233260

 

[MINENAZ16]

The designation of 14lb practice seems to be 15/20LB (20-15lb).

 

[BMG50]

The designation of 14lb practice seems to be 15/20LB (20-15lb).

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Only seems to mention about a circlip being used. to hold the tail on. It seems in repair that this distance space could have been used and added later during repair but not from factory, unless proven other wise.

 

[Basilisk]

Certainly could be something added when the damaged tails get replaced on the reusable practice rounds. However I don't think that would account for the presence of a similar distance piece on the 20lb types, like for example this one: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30023734 as that is single use only, so is less likely to be subject to damage and repair.