Unknown British 93mm Diameter Shot.

[roadrunner404]

Any help in identifying this piece would be appreciated. 280mm long with a 36mm wide, double grooved copper driving band, stamped '5/5'. Crimping groove located 18mm behind driving band & a tracer location in the base, no apparent info stamped on the shot body. Also possible colour code (assume it's British AP, therefore black with white & red bands?). Regards, Ian.

 

[2pounder]

93mm think that equates to 3.7in. Driving band looks 3.7in AA. Im sure your going to clean of the old black paint and de rust and treat then maybe a little filler. So when the paint of have a look for markings on the body of the shot as you slowly remove any rust.

 

[303Gunner]

3.7in is a 94mm proj.

While the 3.7in AA gun saw very limited use in an AT role, the ordnance became the basis for the postwar 32pdr AT gun.

 

[2pounder]

yep 3.7in shells are 94mm across, must remember brain cannot be trusted to remember things that well. Still think its a 3.7 ap shot.

 

[Quatermass]

Or 3.7" practice shot.

 

[roadrunner404]

Thank you all for your comments & opinions. Given that the suggestion has been made that it might be a 3.7" shot or practice shot, 1: How do I determine the difference between these two, & 2: What would be the colour codes for each? Regards, Ian.

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Thank you all for your comments & opinions. Given that the suggestion has been made that it might be a 3.7" shot or practice shot, 1: How do I determine the difference between these two, & 2: What would be the colour codes for each? Regards, Ian.

A Practice projectile will be made of an unhardened steel so will easily be cut with a file or hacksaw blade whereas an "Armour Piercing" shot will be so hard that neither a file or hacksaw will touch it other than clean the surface !
Cannot help you with the colour but I reckon that is pretty rare in collecting circles

 

[Quatermass]

Painting and stencilling:

Armour piercing shot.
(a) Armour piercing shot are painted black, with a white tip.
(b) Below the white tip, a white ring.
(c) When the shot carries a filled tracer the space between the white tip and white band is filled by a red ring.
(d) Series number in ring distinguishing filled lot.
(e) Monogram of filling firm or filling station.
(f) Date of filling (month and year).
(g) Design number of method of filling.

Semi-armour piercing shot.

Semi-armour piercing shot are painted and stencilled similar to the armour piercing shot with the following exception.
The white ring below the red ring is omitted.

Practice projectles.

(a) Practice projectiles are painted black with a white tip.
(b) Below the white tip a red ring denotes steel shot or a light brown ring denotes cast iron shot.
(c) Stencilled on the body, series No. in ring.
(d) Monogram of filling firm or filling station.
(e) Date of filling (month and year).
(f) Design number of method of filling.
(g) All practice projectiles have a yellow band 1 inch wide painted round the body

The shot would also have the 'raised eyebrows' and T denoting a tracer is fitted (the 'T' omitted if no tracer fitted)
All stencilling will be 3/8 of an inch in size.

Source: Handbook for the ordnance, Q.F. 3.7-inch, marks 1, 2 and 3. 1945

 

[fert]

Hi
This comes from Cassino found with other 3.
AP 3.7 marked on the body. the date seems to be 42
I hope it can help
best regards

 

[2pounder]

interestingly it was in Italy that the 3.7in AA was used for shelling ground targets.