British 12 Pdr Practise Projectile

[Vasco Da Gama]

I thought that a few pictures of a 12pdr practise projectile with all original paint would be useful for those renovating similar British projectiles. The white cap extends downward by 1.75in from the nose and the yellow band is 0.5in wide, the projectile is stamped on the base 12pdr QF II P VSM 5/04. This is correct for a separate loading projectile and I think it would have been used in both the 12pdr 12cwt and the 12pdr 8cwt landing gun (possibly also the 12pdr 4cwt). It is my understanding that although these guns used cartridge cases of different lengths the projectiles were the same.

 

[Gspragge]

12 pr Practice

I'm no expert on these, but I would read yours with the sharp point as a Steel Penetrating Shot firstly then marked for practice use the yellow practice band indicating inert fill or no filling. Without the yellow band it would be a non explosive AP shot. A shot made initially for practice would have a flat tip, (I had an early 6 pr like that once) This 1942 example has a flat tip with only a yellow band, practice shot are cast iron originally or at least a non hardened metal, yours has a hardened tip I believe. This one has a removable plug for a tracer for night practice, they are also made without this feature. I'm sure others can add to this.

 

[kahu1]

Just muddying the waters here.
12 &14pr proj.
This was chromed,i got it stripped off and then phosphated and painted in my understanding of 'lead' colour,fortunately available in a spray can!.
Very sharp point (as I dropped it,i now have a hole in the carpet!) and unusual base stamping.


Bob

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Thanks gents, good pictures to add to the knowledge base. Looking at the official diagrams in the manuals does not always tell the full story as to what was happening on the production line. I assumed that the example I had was always meant for practice as it has a P stamped in the metal on the base.

 

[spotter]

Heres another two from an earlier post, The scabby one is from me and the clean ww2 one is from member Quatermass

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

I thought to add some pictures of the 12pdr cartridges that I have. Two 201mm length from the 8cwt and two 393mm length from the 12cwt. All 4 are very well marked and so I hope you can read from the pictures as it will take me all afternoon to type in! Smaller cases are dated 1894/97 with adapter and 1900 without, fitted with a Royal Marines cap badge. Larger cases dated 1901, with adapter and 1912 without (well used case CF and then 3 uses with a reduced charge).

If anybody could tell me what the case length for the 12pdr 18cwt QF is I would be most grateful.

 

[2pounder]

12pr 18cwt case is about 498mm. might be worth looking in the search facility as there have been a few posts on 12pr cases.

 

[Gspragge]

Maybe the P stamp does mean practice, can any one clear this up. Interesting with a white sharp tip presuming this means AP or does it just indicate Steel as apposed to cast iron. Is it possible that cast iron practice shot are blunt nosed and steel ones are not ? Though earlier cast iron shot have a hardened tip because of the casting process used.

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

I had a search and found a copy of the official post WW1 painting guide. The projectile at the start of this thread is marked as a practise shot (pointed). The guide indicates that the white tip should be 1in wide and the yellow band should be 1in wide, which is interesting as the widths are different on the actual example! Hope this helps