.8 Vickers

[SG500]

This one has me puzzled, all the information I can find on it is described in Peter Labbetts excellent book "British Small Arms Ammunition 1864-1938" which states that although manufactured in Britain it was possibly intended for customers overseas and that it is described on ICI Ltd. drawing BK 101/60, dated June 1930 as for a .8 inch (20.3mm) automatic Gun.

The case is 124.7mm long with a rim diameter of 30.5mm. It is semi-rimless.

Does anyone have any further information on this round. Variations on projectiles. Type of gun. etc. etc.

All inert/primer oiled etc.

Dave.

 

[Falcon]

Where do you find these things???

That is a really nice round, and in excellent condition fot its age. Most cases have usually been dented, polished and otherwise damaged.

 

[SG500]

All over the place Falcon, I made a decision when I first started collecting 20 years ago only too go for the experimental or unusual rounds, in the hope that it would keep the collection down to a reasonable size........silly me, I hadn't bargained for the fact that for every service round there are loads of experimental varieties........so now I've ended up with boxes of the stuff. I guess half the battle is recognising it in the first place.
Its all good fun though!!
Dave.

 

[Tony Williams]

I have a note from the Ordnance Committee Minutes (25/11/31) concerning some correspondence in 1930 with Vickers-Armstrong over their 0.8 inch gun.

It is said to be almost identical to the Elswick gun although it fires a slightly smaller cartridge. Projectile weight is 0.2833 lb and MV 2,900 fps (128 g at 884 m/s in new money), either API or HE, with a chamber pressure of 20 tons. The gun is said to use the Colt long-recoil system with a cross strip feed (5 or 10 rounds), similar to the Elswick. A hopper feed was being tested. The gun weighs 152 lb (air-cooled) or 168 lb (water cooled) and fires at c.120 rpm.

A field carriage had not been devised at that time, but drawings had been prepared for HA tripod and cone mountings. AA and anti-tank applications were both being considered.

 

[Falcon]

All over the place Falcon, I made a decision when I first started collecting 20 years ago only too go for the experimental or unusual rounds, in the hope that it would keep the collection down to a reasonable size........silly me, I hadn't bargained for the fact that for every service round there are loads of experimental varieties........so now I've ended up with boxes of the stuff. I guess half the battle is recognising it in the first place.
Its all good fun though!!
Dave.

If there is anything you have duplicates of and want to sell, I would be very interested, even the very common stuff.

 

[SG500]

Hi I've sent you a PM, I'd be pleased to.
Dave.

 

[SG500]

Thanks for the additional info Tony, the case is quite a lot smaller than the Elswick.
Dave.

I have a note from the Ordnance Committee Minutes (25/11/31) concerning some correspondence in 1930 with Vickers-Armstrong over their 0.8 inch gun.

It is said to be almost identical to the Elswick gun although it fires a slightly smaller cartridge. Projectile weight is 0.2833 lb and MV 2,900 fps (128 g at 884 m/s in new money), either API or HE, with a chamber pressure of 20 tons. The gun is said to use the Colt long-recoil system with a cross strip feed (5 or 10 rounds), similar to the Elswick. A hopper feed was being tested. The gun weighs 152 lb (air-cooled) or 168 lb (water cooled) and fires at c.120 rpm.

A field carriage had not been devised at that time, but drawings had been prepared for HA tripod and cone mountings. AA and anti-tank applications were both being considered.

 

[Falcon]

Really nice round, what is the headstamp on it?

 

[SG500]

Elswick .8 headstamp

Hi, Falcon, the headstamp is:

.8
RL
B
DDL3468

Its not got a primer in it so can't give you details on that.

Dave