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French 75mm M1936 Anti-aircraft gun

Vasco Da Gama

Well-Known Member
My core interest is aircraft and anti-aircraft ammunition but I have struggled to find many references or pictures of the ammunition for the French Schneider M36 anti-aircraft gun ammunition. The cases for this weapon appear relatively often but the projectiles and fuzes remain a mystery to me! Pictured are 3 projectiles of which I think that the 3 banded streamlined projectile is correct for this weapon, the second grey and white I think is for the normal French 75 and may have been used for anti-aircraft work, the red shrapnel is just for comparison although I think these projectiles were used when the French 75 was first pointed upwards! Glad of any clarification the team may have, particularly on the correct fuze.

The cases pictured are 515mm long, one French (what does FB stand for?) dated 1933 but also with German acceptance stamp and a Belgian case clearly indicating anti-aircraft use (DTCA) and model M36 dated 193?. Just for completeness I have offered a picture of the Belgian M27 anti-aircraft case alongside to show the difference, 542mm long and dated 1930. To me this would indicate that both guns were in service in Belgium at the same time. Can anybody educate me on this topic?
 

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FB means Frein de Bouche (muzzle brake). I also have a M36 in my collection with a primer that has a Polish eagle, and I have a M36 made by FZ (FN factory Zeebrugge, Belgium).
Both M27 and M36 have indeed been used by Belgium for AA purposes, they also used the 4 cm Bofors L/60.
 
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Hello,

The second shell was used with the gun 1897 improved for AA.
The third is the 75mm Mle 1928 with three bands for AA gun. It's the good shell for your gun AA 36. The M36 case is 435 cm long, M28 is 518 long.
This shell is used with 75mm guns Mle 17/34, Mle 1930, Mle 1933, Mle 1936.
Fuzes used :
-30/45mm Mle 30 (Powder Time fuze)
-Mle 39 (Mechanical time fuze)
-Point dtonating fuze (24-31mm Mle 1899) with special socket.

Shells and guns used by Germans during occupation.

Regards

Ldv 4403 :

75aa.jpg75aa2.jpg75aa3.jpgcase36.jpgfuze39.jpgfuze 30.jpgfuze 99.jpg
 
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Very many thanks for such a comprehensive answer and the pictures. Just to confirm the 518mm case length is associated with the Mle 17/34, Mle 1930 and Mle 1933. I had no idea that the Mle 1936 used a shorter case length, 435 long, another case to start looking for!
Best regards and thanks
 
Thanks to the words above further digging in the reference books would indicate: in around 1928 a longer barrel was introduced (50 calibres) to the older guns along with improved ammunition, shells were lighter but of higher grade steel and with more explosive filing. For me this is when the 518mm case entered the story, marked FB. This case length was the used with the following guns, Mle 1917/34, 1930, 1932 and 1933. The Mle 1936 was a new Schneider design and used the 453mm case length. Many thanks to Minenaz16 and Hoeskel for your support.
 
Hello,
Was looking at your post from 2014 for the 75mm Mle 1928 DCA. Do you know if the Mle1925 time fuse could be used on this ammunition ?

Regards

Philip
 
Hi
the special socket is from the chemical shell 1WW. (Bague de calage)
Hello,

The second shell was used with the gun 1897 improved for AA.
The third is the 75mm Mle 1928 with three bands for AA gun. It's the good shell for your gun AA 36. The M36 case is 435 cm long, M28 is 518 long.
This shell is used with 75mm guns Mle 17/34, Mle 1930, Mle 1933, Mle 1936.
Fuzes used :
-30/45mm Mle 30 (Powder Time fuze)
-Mle 39 (Mechanical time fuze)
-Point d�tonating fuze (24-31mm Mle 1899) with special socket.

Shells and guns used by Germans during occupation.

Regards

Ldv 4403 :

View attachment 92866View attachment 92867View attachment 92868View attachment 92869View attachment 92870View attachment 92871View attachment 92872
 
So what is the Rim Diameter of the 453mm Schneider M1936 case please
Thanks very much. Initially confusing because the Belgian 518mm case as above (and as in my collection) is M36
 
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