37mm projectile

[mach1bang]

Hi all,
a recent aquaintance has this 37mm caliber projectile,I cannot find it in any of my reference material,limited though it
may be,can anyone help?
I don't have it to hand to measure length and driveband etc,so hope the photo with description will be enough for now.
37mm cal,with empty shallow tracer pocket,solid steel or cast iron construction,the portion of proj encorporating ogive is lead coated.
The canela is very close to base of proj.
For what purpose would the lead coating being only on the nose serve?
Thanks in advance for any info.
Tim.

 

[gravelbelly]

Could the "lead coating" be the remains of tin/lead soft solder? Some AP caps were "sweated" onto the projectile (sweating is an old plumbers term for soft soldering steel).

gravelbelly

 

[hasag]

37x223R APC-T

 

[MINENAZ16]

Hello,

Caps are missing on this US AP-T shot.
M51 (two caps) or M59 (only penetration cap)

Regards

 

[mach1bang]

Thanks Minenaz 16,
It looks to me you may have the answer,being a fired proj and no markings,made it harder.
The lead coating led me to think it may be old,ie ww1 or earlier.
I didn't think of lead being under a cap.
When I can will offer up next to an American 37mm for comparison.
Tim.

 

[Gspragge]

Yes that is what you have, an M51 type minus the cap. The capless projectile is identical to the
M80 shot that was issued to the Airacobra and 37mm AA gun due to the shorter length. So issued without
the cap it's an M80 , with M51. There was some thought that the first M80s were M51s with the cap removed,
but no proof could be found for this idea.