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Anyone help me out with this case?
- Thread starter SteveM
- Start date
One of these
forum.cartridgecollectors.org
Dave
Vent tube (primer) for tank main gun
According to my info this is an CHIEFTAIN IGNITIAN STARTER cartridge the question is what stuck out of the business end of this case any ideas Sherryl
forum.cartridgecollectors.org
Eggburt1969
Well-Known Member
Just in case you don't want to wade through the entire IAA (International Ammunition Association) Forum post string, your item is, in UK military parlance, a 'Tube Vent Electric .625 In. L3A1'.
A Tube Vent Electric (TVE) is an electrically-fired igniter cartridge for rounds fired by the L11-series of 120 mm tank guns. It is used with propellant charges contained within a combustible bag, or contained within a combustible cartridge case.
I presume the production codes mean it was produced by Radway Green (RG) in 1986 (86), the lot (batch) 276.
A Tube Vent Electric (TVE) is an electrically-fired igniter cartridge for rounds fired by the L11-series of 120 mm tank guns. It is used with propellant charges contained within a combustible bag, or contained within a combustible cartridge case.
I presume the production codes mean it was produced by Radway Green (RG) in 1986 (86), the lot (batch) 276.
Adding a little more info here, the L1 and L3 series of Tubes Vent Electric (TVE) .625 Inch used for the 120 mm L11 tank gun were superseded by the L4 TVE for the L30 120 mm tank gun. The L4A1 TVE was introduced in 1990 when L30 guns were retrofitted to Challenger main battle tanks (MBTs), just in time for the Gulf War. The L1 and L3 TVEs were a one piece brass body. The L4A1 TVE had a two piece body: brass in the forward portion and Berylium in the rear portion. Berylium is better able to withstand the greater chamber pressures experienced with the propellants used in the L30 gun. Berylium Oxide is classed as toxic but Berylium / Copper was stated to have no toxicity hazard. As a precaution you should wash your hands after handling an L4 series TVE. The L4A1 is not interchangeable with the L3 TVE in the L11 gun. The L4A1 TVE and L30 Gun combination were, in 1990, approved for use with:
Projectiles
Shot 120 mm Tank APFSDS XL26E1
Shell 120 mm Tank HESH L31
Shell 120 mm Tank Smoke WP L34
Shell 120 mm Tank Practice SH L32
Shot 120 mm Tank Practice DS L20
Shot 120 mm Tank APFSDS L23
Propelling charges
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank APFSDS XL12E1
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank HESH L3
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank Practice DS L1 and L5
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank APFSDS L8
Charge Blank 120 mm Tank L7
I imagine that the XL26E1 APFSDS and APFSDS propelling charge XL12E1, if accepted into service, had their model numbers changed from the experimental ones to L26A1 and L12A1.
No doubt the model numbers of most of the above will have advanced somewhat by now.
Projectiles
Shot 120 mm Tank APFSDS XL26E1
Shell 120 mm Tank HESH L31
Shell 120 mm Tank Smoke WP L34
Shell 120 mm Tank Practice SH L32
Shot 120 mm Tank Practice DS L20
Shot 120 mm Tank APFSDS L23
Propelling charges
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank APFSDS XL12E1
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank HESH L3
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank Practice DS L1 and L5
Charge Propelling 120 mm Tank APFSDS L8
Charge Blank 120 mm Tank L7
I imagine that the XL26E1 APFSDS and APFSDS propelling charge XL12E1, if accepted into service, had their model numbers changed from the experimental ones to L26A1 and L12A1.
No doubt the model numbers of most of the above will have advanced somewhat by now.
glevum
Well-Known Member
You also should not polish or grind anything made of Beryllium Copper.
Fine particles of Beryllium are very toxic.
Quite often you see polished Telcon non sparking tools that have been polished before sale. They are made from Beryllium Copper.
It is a very bad idea to polish them, especially on a buffing wheel. You will contaminate your workshop. The risk from Beryllium is higher than Asbestos.
Problems may take up to 30 years to become apparent.
There is little risk if you don't polish Beryllium Copper
Fine particles of Beryllium are very toxic.
Quite often you see polished Telcon non sparking tools that have been polished before sale. They are made from Beryllium Copper.
It is a very bad idea to polish them, especially on a buffing wheel. You will contaminate your workshop. The risk from Beryllium is higher than Asbestos.
Problems may take up to 30 years to become apparent.
There is little risk if you don't polish Beryllium Copper