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37mm AP Target Plate Mounted for Desk Display

M

M8owner

Well-Known Member
I blew a hole in this plate with my 37mm cannon years ago and just kept hauling it around. I became inspired, cut it down to size, and mounted it on ball bearings so it could spin. I also have a two inch plate with a hole in it and a three inch plate that it almost went through. Those are a little too heavy for desk top display though.

37mm impact plate.jpg37mm impact plate front.jpg
 
AP Hit on Three Inch Mild Steel Plate

37mm AP hit on 3 in plate.JPGAttached is a photo of the three inch plate. It was not penetrated all the way through. It is interesting as the projectile did not "stick" in the target - like it popped out. I never found it. I still need to find the two inch plate photos; it has several hits. The most interesting is the one that entered and went sideways till it ran out of steam and was trapped.
 
37mm AP hit on 2 inch plate2.jpgHere is the two inch plate with an AP hit on top and a mild steel projectile (one I made) hit on the bottom.
 
Great pictures, thank you for posting them. The shape of the pierced armour plate in the second post is very nice, would make a fantastic display. The round pictured is one I am missing from my collection, anyone have a spare ? I have plenty of cases just need the projectile.
Best regards Weasel.
 
Hello Weasel,

I believe that M59 projectile now only exists as a hole in the two inch plate. At that time, shooting was more important to me than collecting.

Sorry.
 
That's fine, I can understand the need to shoot things, or at least used to before our gun laws became so draconian. The M51 although a fairly common one on your side of the pond does not seem so readily available over here, I am sure I will find one.
Best regards Weasel.
 
Let us not abandon all hope yet. The projectile in the post above is the M59 APC round for the US 37mm antiaircraft gun. I have only encountered that one projectile. However, I was into the M3, M5, and M6 antiguns at the time, so I went ahead and shot it. Are you looking for an M59 specifically, or do you desire the M51 AP round for the M3, M5 and M6 guns? I do hereby declare myself the king of ammo for the US M3, M5 and M6 guns with over 50 original projectiles and 200 casings for such guns. I do have a spare an M51 round of your choice, B1, B2, etc. I would love to trade one for a 2 pdr projectile. Do you think such a projectile would survive post from the US to the UK?
 
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