38mm Nordenfelt projectiles

[Burney Davis]

The pictures below show what I think is a strange anomaly between two 38mm Nordenfelt projectiles. The one on the right is what I would call a 'normal' projectile dated 1889 with the typical 'N'. The one on the left is an almost identical Projectile, the only difference being the threaded hole in the base for the fuze. The EOC projectile is fitted with a standard Hotchkiss base fuze.

What I find surprising is that the later projectile is dated 1919 ( and manufactured by Elswick - EOC) as the 38mm Nordenfelt had long been obsolete by the end of the first war

I know that various trials were carried out post war but I can't think why such an obscure weapon would have been used. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Hoeksel]

I did find several 1919 dated 37 mm COW gun cases. That year is pretty rare and the COW gun was also pretty outdated, like the 38,1 mm Nordenfelt. I also never understood that. Maybe there are more examples.

 

[Burney Davis]

I did find several 1919 dated 37 mm COW gun cases. That year is pretty rare and the COW gun was also pretty outdated, like the 38,1 mm Nordenfelt. I also never understood that. Maybe there are more examples.

This projectile was one of a pair, so at least one other is known.

Going slightly off topic, more is known about the 1 1/2pr COW gun ammunition. The picture below shows part of the trials process. I have the 1933 and 1941 dated cases and there is a 1942 dated case hiding somewhere.

 

[ThomasP]

FWIW

It might be that the weapon/ammo was selected for armour plate test purposes.

The British were using 2pdr, 6pdr, & 17pdr shot (various types) for testing some types of armour plate as late as the early-2000s. The known performance of the ammunition and the large stock of ammo lent themselves to the practice.

I do not know if the British followed a similar practice in the WWI period.

 

[Burney Davis]

FWIW

It might be that the weapon/ammo was selected for armour plate test purposes.

The British were using 2pdr, 6pdr, & 17pdr shot (various types) for testing some types of armour plate as late as the early-2000s. The known performance of the ammunition and the large stock of ammo lent themselves to the practice.

I do not know if the British followed a similar practice in the WWI period.

I suspect they did follow the same practice in WW1. But this model of shell/gun with the way it was seated in the case was so old I would have thought other guns would have been more suitable for such tests. It would be nice to find some documentary reference. Cheers

 

[Alan1]

Here are two 11/2 pr shells and cases, the shell driving bands are engraved HMS VINDICTIVE ZEEBRUGGE APRIL 23 1918. Think I posted them some time back. Both cases are dated 1918. Vindictive was fitted out with all sorts of miscellaneous guns for this adventure. The sketch of the ship shows a rough outline of what guns were placed where, but this was probably changed several times before the operation.
Alan1.