3 inch case trials ???

[ken68]

This has a lot of people puzzled because or the 114mm Rim and headstamp , it's a 3 inch case, I got it from an Armourer when HMS Rosyth Naval dock yard was still fully operational in the Firth of Forth 12 miles from me ,
The Headstamp is confusing because of the rim diameter 114mm ,
After years I still can't get this to add up because right calibre but wrong rim etc , some say it was a failed rapid fire trials for a 3 inch naval gun like the oto melera , ??? I've spoken to Anthony Williams about it ,now I'm here ,
Trying to get maximum information on this ,
Cheers Ken

 

[TimG]

3"/70 - http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_3-70_mk6.htm

However, the D2/L/8161/E/873 appears to be a drawing number.

TimG

 

[ken68]

Hello Ken,

The standard 762mm OTO Melara round has a 114 mm rim. This gun was fitted to the British-built Peacock class corvettes built for the Hong Kong squadron of the RN from 1982, before being sold off to Ireland and elsewhere. The USN also used it and renamed it the 3-in. I wonder if any ammo for it was made in the UK?


The only other 3" case with a 114mm rim I know of was for a Vickers naval gun which I think was pre-WW2, and also used by Italy.

Tony

Hi Tim G that's the problem with this the L/70 3" guns had a rim of 128mm bud ???
Cheers Ken

 

[Tony Williams]

The 3" L70 ammo had a 138mm rim diameter. See: http://quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable9.html

 

[ken68]

If what TimG says about the headstamp being a Drawing number , could this possibility be like a template of something that never even got to trials ?????
usually you would here of a failed trials and why ???

Cheers Ken

 

[TimG]

As we, the British, were not happy with the American 3"/70 case, it might be a trials case before we settled on a 138mm rim.

TimG

 

[ken68]

Its an Interesting Base Tim , like you said could be a Drawing number , just wish someone out there could say right it's ??? I've tried so many times to have the full identification of what drawing plan , when and why , thanks for the help I really appreciate it , maybe someone will crack it one day
Thanks Ken

As we, the British, were not happy with the American 3"/70 case, it might be a trials case before we settled on a 138mm rim.

TimG

 

[Bonnex]

Its an Interesting Base Tim , like you said could be a Drawing number , just wish someone out there could say right it's ??? I've tried so many times to have the full identification of what drawing plan , when and why , thanks for the help I really appreciate it , maybe someone will crack it one day
Thanks Ken

D2/L/8161/E/873

This is the drawing number sometimes referred to as the Designer's Reference Number. It decodes as:

D2/L/ is the Design Department Drawing Office dealing with gun ammunition. It was renamed S1 in about 1955(see note) and was at Fort Halstead.

8161 is a serial number, the next drawing would be issued with 8162 and could be on a completely different subject.

E indicates that the design is for an empty store

The last field 873 is the 'Parent Number' which is basically the project that it is for. In this case the parent number 873 is registered as
"Cartridge QF 3in 70 Cals Case Empty"

Note: The history of the drawing office notations goes something like:

Royal Laboratory (RL) until 1922
Design Department (Laboratory*) DD(L) 1922 to about 1944
Design 2 (Laboratory) D2(L) to about 1955

similarly Royal Gun Factory (RGF) became DD(G) in 1922, D1(G) in 1944 etc

*Not 'Land' as some suggest.

 

[ken68]

Is it a good find bud , it's very interesting and thank you for looking into this cheers Ken

D2/L/8161/E/873

This is the drawing number sometimes referred to as the Designer's Reference Number. It decodes as:

D2/L/ is the Design Department Drawing Office dealing with gun ammunition. It was renamed S1 in about 1955(see note) and was at Fort Halstead.

8161 is a serial number, the next drawing would be issued with 8162 and could be on a completely different subject.

E indicates that the design is for an empty store

The last field 873 is the 'Parent Number' which is basically the project that it is for. In this case the parent number 873 is registered as
"Cartridge QF 3in 70 Cals Case Empty"

Note: The history of the drawing office notations goes something like:

Royal Laboratory (RL) until 1922
Design Department (Laboratory*) DD(L) 1922 to about 1944
Design 2 (Laboratory) D2(L) to about 1955

similarly Royal Gun Factory (RGF) became DD(G) in 1922, D1(G) in 1944 etc

*Not 'Land' as some suggest.