Unknown old projectiles ... can anyone identify?

[belcherbits]

My brother got these at an auction along with some other items. He says they are "Dia = 3.166" (80.4 mm), Top Fuse hole dia = 1.09375" (27.8 mm), About 5 1/2" (140 mm) above fractured base"
The holes in the base are particularly intriguing.
Does anyone recognize these shells?

 

[kahu1]

They look like practice bomb nose pieces,likely from 8-11lb types.Usually made of pig iron.

cheers
Bob

 

[belcherbits]

Now that's interesting! I never would have thought of that!

 

[Slick]

This link will likely confirm Bob's guess with the first illustration.

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/3774-British-practice-bombs

 

[belcherbits]

Granted, they look similar but the RCA (Royal Canadian Artillery) cast into one of them makes me think they were projectiles, not bombs.

 

[US-Subs]

The curvature makes that pretty unlikely. In your photo you can see the tapered ogive toward the nose, and another taper toward the base. Not much to stabilize a projectile in the barrel. Looks practice bomb to me as well.

 

[TimG]

RCA will more than likely be the manufacturer (did Radio Corporation of America have a Canadian factory?) The "REF 12P" I strongly suspect is part of an Air Ministry/R.A.F Stores Vocab. Number.

TimG