This is to follow up on the previous thread regarding this round that I purchased (along with the ever faithful 37x120 Winchester Hotchkiss which
needs no discussion) .
This discussion is going to be as expected not diffintive~
The case is slightly worn on the base (slightly polished?) and I suspect a Robertson screwdriver style firing pin.
The primer is the typical longish internal tube American style.
The projectile has been slightly polished, but not enough to have removed any VSM type markings on the body had there been any.
The base has the Vikers V on it and remaining black finiish. The fuze is converted to a plug marked P. These fuzes are usually
found on tracers, practice firing and drill types.
Have these been together since 1915-16 , well who knows, we all know the issues of mix and match, but I'm keeping this
one together as it's correct one way or another as far as I know. In the event of the use of these on some ships or gun boats, there would have been
some sort of order given that would list the amunition amounts and types to be issued, a useful document if one could but find it.
According to A Gun for All Nations, volume two page 259; 12 L50 Bethlehem 37mm guns were sold to Britian in 1915. Several were damaged and those were
converted to 37x95 (94) subcalibre tubes for the 6inchMklV gun. So that leaves the rest of them , it is stated that they were intended for Insect class Gunboats.
This is where we stand with these 1915 cases - I am not aware of any other use of this cartridge by Britian any where. Maybe some one else knows something.
In this situation my round would be a practice shot for training with these guns where ever they ended up. If the two captured guns in my other post were of this purchase then these guns were not quite like the Bethlehem 37x136 U.S. Navy subcalber guns with a recoil cylinder over the barrel as also sold to the French on a field carriage. It would appear that the ammunition , empty or (loaded cases with no projectiles, unless primers were supplied loose) were not supplied by B.S.C. unless they subcontracted this out to U.M.C. for some reason. I say this because other wise in the UK B.S.C. cases would turn up instead of the U.M.C. cases do and they don't. (correct me if I am wrong or if more clarification can be made as to these few guns and thier use)
37x136 P.E.&M.Co cases/rounds went to Russia 1916 & 17
37x136 B.S.C. cases/rounds went to France 1917
37x136 U.M.C. cases went to Britian 1915
(is there a spelll checque on this siite damned if I can find it ~):tinysmile_cry_t2:
needs no discussion) .
This discussion is going to be as expected not diffintive~
The case is slightly worn on the base (slightly polished?) and I suspect a Robertson screwdriver style firing pin.
The primer is the typical longish internal tube American style.
The projectile has been slightly polished, but not enough to have removed any VSM type markings on the body had there been any.
The base has the Vikers V on it and remaining black finiish. The fuze is converted to a plug marked P. These fuzes are usually
found on tracers, practice firing and drill types.
Have these been together since 1915-16 , well who knows, we all know the issues of mix and match, but I'm keeping this
one together as it's correct one way or another as far as I know. In the event of the use of these on some ships or gun boats, there would have been
some sort of order given that would list the amunition amounts and types to be issued, a useful document if one could but find it.
According to A Gun for All Nations, volume two page 259; 12 L50 Bethlehem 37mm guns were sold to Britian in 1915. Several were damaged and those were
converted to 37x95 (94) subcalibre tubes for the 6inchMklV gun. So that leaves the rest of them , it is stated that they were intended for Insect class Gunboats.
This is where we stand with these 1915 cases - I am not aware of any other use of this cartridge by Britian any where. Maybe some one else knows something.
In this situation my round would be a practice shot for training with these guns where ever they ended up. If the two captured guns in my other post were of this purchase then these guns were not quite like the Bethlehem 37x136 U.S. Navy subcalber guns with a recoil cylinder over the barrel as also sold to the French on a field carriage. It would appear that the ammunition , empty or (loaded cases with no projectiles, unless primers were supplied loose) were not supplied by B.S.C. unless they subcontracted this out to U.M.C. for some reason. I say this because other wise in the UK B.S.C. cases would turn up instead of the U.M.C. cases do and they don't. (correct me if I am wrong or if more clarification can be made as to these few guns and thier use)
37x136 P.E.&M.Co cases/rounds went to Russia 1916 & 17
37x136 B.S.C. cases/rounds went to France 1917
37x136 U.M.C. cases went to Britian 1915
(is there a spelll checque on this siite damned if I can find it ~):tinysmile_cry_t2:
Attachments
Last edited: