two 3 pounder headstamps

[tigbrand]

Can anybody provide more info these cases. I presume the PH is Priddys Hard in Gosport,but do not recognise some marks. Thanks Tig.

[ydnum303]

Hi Tigbrand,

The first case is Mk.2, made by Royal Laboratory (Woolwich Arsenal) in 1899, then loaded on 10th October, after having been inspected and accepted for Naval service. The case has a primer of different thickness to earlier ones (indicated by the 1 in circle. The A in circle indicates it has been annealed after firing and the BP3 O23 is the batch number of the annealing process, I believe. It was loaded with a full charge of cordite 3 times.

The 2nd case is again a Mk.2, made by Birmingham Metals & Munitions in 1902, and loaded on 9th August. Same type of primer as case 1, and loaded 4 times with a full charge of cordite.

Hope this info is what you want.

Regards,
Roger.

[Falcon]

I had an answer from Bonnex yesterday on a case I had with a similar marking. the "BP3" means it was repaired at The Royal Naval Ordnance Depot at Bull Point, Plymouth. The 3 is a batch number for the batch of cases being repaired.

[tigbrand]

All questions answered,excellent stuff! I understand the basic marks, The 1 in circle and BP3 i didnt. I take it Bull Point is the site next to the saltash bridge? Did they repair cases in ww2?Cheers for the answers Tig.

[TimG]

Tig,

All publications I have show Priddy's Hard as PHD. PH is shown as the station code for Portsmouth, which is a little odd as one would have thought the repair work would have been carried out at Priddy's Hard as it is almost swimming distance. BP as Falcon states is Bull Point, Plymouth. The 1 in the cirlce denotes the case is fitted with a Mark II (thin cap), this marking was unique to 3 & 6 pdr cases. Both cases have been annealed three times as denoted by the three punch marks on both. The second case, although filled four times with a non black powder propellant, had the first charge removed as denoted by the struck though F.

TimG