Imperial War Museum London

[Chris 42 RQ]

Had an hour and a half spare in London on Friday so went to the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth.

Well worthy of a visit if you are in the area but 1 1/2 hours will NOT do it justice.

It is very well laid out with plenty of static displays both large and small.

For us "ammo nuts" there is not an awful lot of goodies but below are some pictures of some of them.

Entry is free (you can make a donation in boxes dotted around the entrance) and people with camera's are welcome (what a refreshing change that is!) but beware do not bother to take a tripod unless you ask their permission beforehand.
Pic 1 Main entrance
Pic 2 One of many "gate guardians" 16 inch HE shells
Pic 3 14" inch High Explosive Naval shell
Pic 4 15" inch Armour Piercing Navan minus Driving band.

 

[leeski]

very nice chris i must make a vist when i have time great pics

regards lee

 

[Fuzeman]

Hi Chris
I spent a lot of my mis spent youth at the IWM in the 60,s and 70,s before the museum was revamped and modinised, in those days if you wanted to see say the various marks of Mills grenades , they were all on display, nowadays i might see one in a display case with 100 other items. their libray is excellent still.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Imperial War Museum

More pictures of the exhibits from the Imperial War Museum Lambeth London.

Pic 5 42.5 Cm High Explosive shell German in origen and RH side 18" inch Naval High Explosive from WW1 era.

Pic 6 9.2" inch High Explosive shell stood on 9.2" inch Howitzer.

Pic 7 80 cm Shell for "Shcwerer Gustav" the largest gun ever made.

Pic 8 40/60 Bofors gun on mobile mounting.

Pic 9 High view of the 9.2" inch Howitzer.

 

[leeski]

very nice that 80cm shell would look great in my collection

regards lee

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Imperial War Museum London.

A few more pictures-

Pic 11 Arial view of 9.2 Howitzer.

Pic 12 Parachute Mine.

Pic 14 Royal Navy missile.

Pic 15 Exocet missile.

Pic 16 Cabinet with 6 pounder, 17 pounder a couple of 88's

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

A few more;

Pic 19 "Little Boy" Atomic bomb

Pic 20 Incendiary bombs and 2", 3" and 4.2 Mortar bombs.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Imperial War Museum London.

Finally I would just like to say thank you to the Imperial War Museum for being one of the few establishments "enlightened" enough to welcome people with camera's.

Steve I wonder what happened to all the old exhibits as the first time I went some 30 (cough cough) years ago there were row upon row of cabinets in the front entrance full of Artillery and Anti-Aircraft rounds of every description, must have been 60 plus !

Lee you are sadly in the queue behind me for a spare 80 cm "Schwerer Gustav" shell - sorry old bean !:xd:

 

[StielGr]

Chris
Good pictures. I have been a few times but looking at your pictures makes me think I could do with another visit.
I like the pic 20 with the bomb and fuse dispay.

A few more pictures-

Pic 16 Cabinet with 6 pounder, 17 pounder a couple of 88's

Some nice looking German 5cm shells in front of the ID board.
Which ones are labeled as 8.8cm shells?

PC

 

[SG500]

Good photos Chris, sounds like you had a good time there.
Thanks for showing them.
Dave.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

88's

Chris
Good pictures. I have been a few times but looking at your pictures makes me think I could do with another visit.
I like the pic 20 with the bomb and fuse dispay.



Some nice looking German 5cm shells in front of the ID board.
Which ones are labeled as 8.8cm shells?

PC

The two tall ones at the rear were labelled as 88's StielGr.

SG500 not a sniff of anything experimental I am afraid !

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

A few more pictures.

Here are a few more of some more of the exhibits
A Italian 47 MM He rounds

B Doodlebug

C Showing my ignorance here ! Nice gun though.

D 25 Pounder field gun

E I WW Tank.

 

[V1coy67]

Cameras

Great pictures there Our National Army Museum is the same in the fact that you are welcome to take your camera along. I go along every couple of weeks for a look around. I got to go behind the scenes 2 weeks ago and look through the uniform room and next time im getting to look through the weapons armoury..........Im drooling in anticipation!!!

 

[StielGr]

The two tall ones at the rear were labelled as 88's StielGr.

It must be just the picture but if I was a betting man I would put money on it that the tall shells are 7.5cm Pak 40.

Just my 10 cents worth as you would imagine that they wouldn't have made a mistake like that.

PC

 

[pointblank0]

I haven't been there since I was little, but, this, the Bovington tank museum and the Fleet Airarm museum have got to be the best museums in the UK. Hendon RAF museum nice also

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Most likely my mistake !

It must be just the picture but if I was a betting man I would put money on it that the tall shells are 7.5cm Pak 40.

Just my 10 cents worth as you would imagine that they wouldn't have made a mistake like that.

PC

StielGr I will go again and see if it is my mistake or the IWM's, as you say it would be unlikely to be their mistake so may well be mine due to having only a scrap of paper to make notes on and the picture was blurred so I cannot read the legends.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

And a few more !

Here are a few more of the exhibits or parts thereof -

E First World War tank British made

F Again not sure as lost my paperwork on this one "88 " ????

G German Pak rounds

H 2", 3" and 4.2" HE Mortars along with a 2 pounder AP round

I 2 mines (again unsure as not my thing)

 

[Quatermass]

Here are a few more of some more of the exhibits
A Italian 47 MM He rounds

B Doodlebug

C Showing my ignorance here ! Nice gun though.

D 25 Pounder field gun

E I WW Tank.

'C' is a German 2cm flak 30 AA gun and Sonderanhanger 51 trailer.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

German 20mm Gun.

'C' is a German 2cm flak 30 AA gun and Sonderanhanger 51 trailer.

Thanks for that Quatermass, the weapons are not my thing and the paper I made notes on has been "mislaid" as I would prefer to call it !

 

[Tony Williams]

very nice that 80cm shell would look great in my collection

Just don't be tempted to try to smuggle it out under your jacket :biggrin: