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4.5inch shell cases
- Thread starter Mathias
- Start date
The Hayes branch of the Gramophone co. was taken over during WW1 and staff from the London site moved there to make munitions, aircraft fittings etc. Quite a rare find nowadays. The 4.5" was used during WW2 in the training role and that is probably the source of your case. If you want any photos from the 4.5" Handbook, let me know. Dave
Mathias,
Second Case
Manufactured in 1918
By C.C.co (Sorry, I dont know, before my period)
At about 10 o/clock there appears to be 'RL' in a rectangle the Rectangle signifies that it has been repaired and in this instance it has been repaired by RL Royal Laboratories, Woolwich.
The number letters and number below the RL one assumes are the batch and serial number for the repair.
The A in a diamond signifies that the case has been low temperature annealed to remove stresses.
BCG would be the monogram of the contractor responsible for the annealing.
Low temperature annealing should be accompanied by a batch letter and serial number, the batch letter signifying the year. This is absent so one assumes that 13-3-18 is when the case was annealed.
Next to 1918 there is a CF which is the life of the case, C at that point in time refers to the case being filled Cordite and the F signifies that is was a full charge. Note, that having been repaired this case was apparently not refilled as there should have been another C or R (for reduced) after the F
The primer was manufactured by S. Heath and Sons, Ltd. of Birmingham in May 1942 and was filled by Chorley (CY) Agust 1942 Lot 844. The Q signifies that the primer is filled with a QF composition.
Tim. G.
Second Case
Manufactured in 1918
By C.C.co (Sorry, I dont know, before my period)
At about 10 o/clock there appears to be 'RL' in a rectangle the Rectangle signifies that it has been repaired and in this instance it has been repaired by RL Royal Laboratories, Woolwich.
The number letters and number below the RL one assumes are the batch and serial number for the repair.
The A in a diamond signifies that the case has been low temperature annealed to remove stresses.
BCG would be the monogram of the contractor responsible for the annealing.
Low temperature annealing should be accompanied by a batch letter and serial number, the batch letter signifying the year. This is absent so one assumes that 13-3-18 is when the case was annealed.
Next to 1918 there is a CF which is the life of the case, C at that point in time refers to the case being filled Cordite and the F signifies that is was a full charge. Note, that having been repaired this case was apparently not refilled as there should have been another C or R (for reduced) after the F
The primer was manufactured by S. Heath and Sons, Ltd. of Birmingham in May 1942 and was filled by Chorley (CY) Agust 1942 Lot 844. The Q signifies that the primer is filled with a QF composition.
Tim. G.
Quatermass
Well-Known Member
The 4.5" Howitzer was still in front line service at the beginning of WW2, examples being used with the B.E.F. in the middle east and in Home Defence.
My home town in 1941 was defended by three troops of 4.5 Howitzers (12 guns), four coast defence batteries (6 inch and 12 pdrs), 4 HAA batteries, various LAA postions, Pillboxes, Depth charge road craters, flamefougasses, AT blocks and ditches and a Brigade of infantry.
Post WW1 dated cases are rare, I'd imagine that there was still a huge number of cases manufactured during 1814-18 that post war production was very small?
Quatermass
My home town in 1941 was defended by three troops of 4.5 Howitzers (12 guns), four coast defence batteries (6 inch and 12 pdrs), 4 HAA batteries, various LAA postions, Pillboxes, Depth charge road craters, flamefougasses, AT blocks and ditches and a Brigade of infantry.
Post WW1 dated cases are rare, I'd imagine that there was still a huge number of cases manufactured during 1814-18 that post war production was very small?
Quatermass