What on earth is this?

[heyimjason]

I've posted at a few other forums before finally finding this one (love it, by the way), but nobody has been able to identify this for me. I don't know much about munitions, but this looks like it would be a pretty standard sort of shell.

I'm curious about which country/countries used this, and during which era, and even who the manufacturer might have been.
Of course, I'd like to know if it's worth anything, but my limited understanding is that most of the tail-ends of mortars that weren't scrapped or trashed were simply used as barracks ashtrays.

Well, thanks for looking!

[Dronic69]

It looks like the tail section of a 81mm Illuminating Mortar round. The illuminating rounds had this structure where the fin section fitted into the upper portion with parallel sides (rather than tapered) & were white colour.

What's the diameter on the "thickest" part at the top of the body bit?

Cheers
Drew

[heyimjason]

It looks like the tail section of a 81mm Illuminating Mortar round. The illuminating rounds had this structure where the fin section fitted into the upper portion with parallel sides (rather than tapered) & were white colour.

What's the diameter on the "thickest" part at the top of the body bit?

Cheers
Drew

The thickest part is 3" in diameter. The middle section (of this partial mortar) is about 1.25" in diameter.

[banksy-2k10]

hello

i agree that it looks like the tale fin section of a 81mm Illuminating Mortar round ive got one in my pics have a look for comparson ...

[heyimjason]

Cool. So which era was this from? And who used them?
And why are they called "illuminating" rounds?

[Dronic69]

The thickest part is 3" in diameter. The middle section (of this partial mortar) is about 1.25" in diameter.

What are we going to do with you guys that still function in "inches"!!!

OK, 3" = 76mm, which is the 81mm Mortar

Yes, I know 76mm does not equal 81mm

Just google it:

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_ML_3_inch_Mortar"]Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:IND_004723.jpg" class="image"><img alt="IND 004723.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/IND_004723.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/a/a8/IND_004723.jpg[/ame]

"Virtually every civilian reference publication states the 3-inch (76 mm) mortar had a caliber of 76.2mm (3 inches); however, the “3-inch” mortar had an actual bore of 3.189 inches (81mm)"

Cheers
Drew

[heyimjason]

Ahhhh, neat. Thanks for the replies!!
I'm going to learn the metric system soon enough. I plan on leaving the states as soon as I can find a job/housing elsewhere. Measurements of currency, weight, size, and speed - it's going to be confusing to re-learn it all.

[Dronic69]

Cool. So which era was this from? And who used them?
And why are they called "illuminating" rounds?

Refer to my URL above:

The United Kingdom's Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar was the standard mortar used by the British Army from the late 1920s to the late 1960s, superseding the Stokes Mortar.

I'll give you the pleasure of "Googling" for what an "illuminating round is"


Cheers
Drew

BTW - I was only "teasing you" re the imperial measurements!!!

[HAZORD]

As the others have said, it is the tail from an 81mm Illuminating mortar shell, U.S. manufactured. Value practically nothing without the other half, the body that carries the flare and parachute. This style has been in use for around 30 years. If it was older it would be gray instead of white.