3 inch & 95mm CSH rounds

[Rrickoshae]

prompted by Richards request, here are some of the Close Support Howitzer rounds held by the Tank Museum. The 3 inch is on the left, the remainder are 95mm (hollow charge with 233 spit back fuze (the most simple and dangerous fuze ever used by UK armed forces, simply a cylinder of lead azide and CE. No safety devices whatsoever, one hard knock on the breach when loading and thats it!), HE, smoke, sectioned hollow charge

[RichardB]

Here's another picture of these fabulous rounds....but please can someone tell me what the round on the far left is and case dimensions etc.

British Close Support Rounds2-1024.jpg

Rich

[Quatermass]

The round on the left appears to be a 3.7-Inch (94x104R) Close Support (CS) Mortar.

[RichardB]

Amazingly quick reply Q, I take it this is different from the separately loaded 3.7in Howizter rounds as shown in Armourer39-Page32.
The reason I ask is I believe I have a case for this round, but If I didnt trust the seller, Id have said it was a Cutdown 95mm CS case.
Do you or anyone have any drawings etc of these rounds.

Rich

[Quatermass]

Yes Richard, different round different gun.
There's a picture of the round in the next edition of the Armourer (issue 40)
The case should be marked 3.7IN MOR.

[RichardB]

Q, heres the case in question....what can you tell me about it. My only concern is it is far from 95mm I/D

It measures 100x92, but I believe its supposed to be 95x92mm
Do you have any info on this round and what a projectile would look like?

95mm Inf and SP-1024.jpg 95mm Inf and SP Headstamp-1024.jpg

Rich

[SG500]

prompted by Richards request, here are some of the Close Support Howitzer rounds held by the Tank Museum. The 3 inch is on the left, the remainder are 95mm (hollow charge with 233 spit back fuze (the most simple and dangerous fuze ever used by UK armed forces, simply a cylinder of lead azide and CE. No safety devices whatsoever, one hard knock on the breach when loading and thats it!), HE, smoke, sectioned hollow charge

Nice paint jobs there Dave.
Dave.

[ydnum303]

Hi RichardB,

I have a similar case to the one you show, except it is Lot 224 of 1944.
It was sold to me as a 95mm Howitzer case, then a bit later I acquired the longer 95mm case, and, like you, thought that I had been sold a "cut-down" case. However, a closer look at the short one made me think again, as the thickness of the brass at the case mouth was the same as at the mouth of the longer case. Had it been cut down, the metal would have been about 1mm thicker, from measurements of the case wall of the longer round. So it seems it was made this length. Presumably for separate loading. But for what gun? And what projectiles were fired?

Roger.

[RichardB]

Hi Roger, I bought the case from someone I trust, so I didn't actually think it was cut-down, but equally, ill admit I didn't know anything about the round. The case is the same as the 3.7inch Howitzer case, but has no crimping as its separately loaded from the projectile. I am told it uses the same projectiles as the 95x206R CS rounds.... and the primer is presumably a No.1 (pls confirm if yours has one present)

If and when I find out more, ill post....so now we're both in the hunt to find a suitable projectile...or 4 in my case ...(no pun intended!)

Good luck, Rich

[ydnum303]

Hi Rich,
When I bought this case, it did have a fired No.1 primer screwed in. However, I think this was an "addition" by the seller, as the case was all shiny new brass inside, and had obviously never been fired.
Would be very nice to find a projectile for it, but even if I did, I doubt I could afford it!
Regards,
Roger.