What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

US WWII Mark 2 High Explosoive Shell for 37mm M3, M5 and M6 Guns

M8owner

Well-Known Member
What may not be well documented is that there was no M63 high explosive shell for the M3 antitank gun when it was adopted in 1940. The 1940 manual only shows the Mark 2. The Mark 2 was first used in the Model 1916 cannons that the US got from France in WWI. I have attached pictures from a US Ordnance document - Complete Round Charts - that I found and have never seen anyone reference before. It was published in 1940 and updated in 1941. The Mark 2 HE shell is very hard to find even in the US. I have attached photos of two practice shells that retain much of their original paint and markings. It is interesting to note that these would not be proper to use on an M16 shell case for the M3 gun per the manuals. It only shows the M51 target practice round for the M3 gun.

Sorry. This site does not spell check the title line, and I cannot change it after it is posted.
 

Attachments

  • Complete Round Chart 37mm M1916.jpg
    Complete Round Chart 37mm M1916.jpg
    276 KB · Views: 33
  • 37mm Manual 3.jpg
    37mm Manual 3.jpg
    268.6 KB · Views: 31
  • 37mm MkII HE.jpg
    37mm MkII HE.jpg
    292.3 KB · Views: 54
  • 37mm MkII HE 2.jpg
    37mm MkII HE 2.jpg
    298.5 KB · Views: 48
  • 37mm Manual 2.jpg
    37mm Manual 2.jpg
    295.9 KB · Views: 57
  • 37mm Manual.jpg
    37mm Manual.jpg
    266.6 KB · Views: 28
  • 37mm M3 M5 M6 Round Chart Close Up.jpg
    37mm M3 M5 M6 Round Chart Close Up.jpg
    162.4 KB · Views: 27
  • 37mm M3 M5 M6 Round Chart.jpg
    37mm M3 M5 M6 Round Chart.jpg
    276.4 KB · Views: 23
  • Complete Round Charts.jpg
    Complete Round Charts.jpg
    274.7 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:
The Ordnance Department didn't accept any production M63 rounds until February 1942 (74,000 rounds).
But by the end of 1942 they had accepted over 10 million rounds of M63.
 
I can add a little to this; showing the fuzes for the MKll HE M38 and MKll A1 practice,
the M38 Practice fuze.
It is extremely difficult to find Mkll's with the yellow finish intact (I haven't one myself), though the Mkll
itself dating from WW1 is itself not so rare, or wasn't a couple of years ago.
The M38 fuze would have superceded the earlier MKlV Minor Caliber base detonating fuze.
The M74 shows up in a later ww2 publication so perhaps it was introduced after
1941. Also mention is made of the M63 replacing the Mkll. It is worth mentioning
that the M63 was nothing new but a direct copy of the WW1 French Mle 1916 base fused
HE Dshell.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0002 6.JPG
    IMG_0002 6.JPG
    218.8 KB · Views: 28
  • 37 m63.jpg
    37 m63.jpg
    190.8 KB · Views: 22
  • 37 fzs.jpg
    37 fzs.jpg
    166.7 KB · Views: 22
  • IMG_0003 3.jpg
    IMG_0003 3.jpg
    37.3 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_0004.JPG
    IMG_0004.JPG
    261.1 KB · Views: 16
  • IMG_0006.JPG
    IMG_0006.JPG
    283.1 KB · Views: 24
  • MKll-HE-Yellow1930s.jpg
    MKll-HE-Yellow1930s.jpg
    114.7 KB · Views: 19
Last edited:
I have never even seen a picture of a yellow Mark II HE before. Your photos also show a blue M63; that is a new one to me.
 
Some nice rounds being shown, thank you and keeps reminding me how many more i have to get, a collectors work is never done. I have this example of a Blue painted M63 with a ungrooved band for use in a WW2 dated 37 x 84 case as a subcal round.
Best regards Weasel.

37mm M63 Subcal 01.jpg37mm M63 Band.jpg37mm M63 Headstamp.jpg
 
The first M63s used for practice seem to be regular grooved M63s and those are the ones
illustrated. But the majority were made without the groove. When the finish is gone
that is the only way to distinguish them apart. Weasel's is a perfect example, mine are
all rather worn and tatty ~ Replaced by the M92, Coastal Artillery did not use these.
Cases used are brass or steel.
 

Attachments

  • M63subcal-1959.jpg
    M63subcal-1959.jpg
    120.6 KB · Views: 19
  • M63&M92.jpg
    M63&M92.jpg
    180.5 KB · Views: 29
Top