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British 4 inch AP
- Thread starter Rafail
- Start date
Think this must have been for the Royal Navy, as I think they were the only ones to use 4" guns by 1939. The Textbook of Ammunition 1936 indicates that SAP shells were painted yellow But I think that this had been changed to Middle Buff by 1939. It shows a drawing of a SAP shell with a thin white band just down from the tip, immediately below which is a red band. Around the middle of the shell is a light green band with TROTYL stencilled on in black.
In addition there would have been other info stencilled on the body, indicating the date it was filled, and the place/depot that did the filling, plus lot numbers, and various other info, including the letter N to indicate Naval use. From the groove below where the driving band was it looks like this was for fixed ammunition, so it would not have had the calibre stencilled on it.
Hope this is useful.
Regards,
Roger.
In addition there would have been other info stencilled on the body, indicating the date it was filled, and the place/depot that did the filling, plus lot numbers, and various other info, including the letter N to indicate Naval use. From the groove below where the driving band was it looks like this was for fixed ammunition, so it would not have had the calibre stencilled on it.
Hope this is useful.
Regards,
Roger.
The colouring depends whats in the shell, solid AP is black body with bands, if hollow and therefore would have an HE filling is Buff with bands. If your projectile has a small hole around 15mm dia in the base it is a solid with tracer, hole bigger at around 50mm then its HE, if bigger then the adaptor in the base has been removed. Some naval practice solid had an external tracer.
would have had an HE filling and base fuze, I do note the ballistic cap is missing that would have crimped into the indents around the nose. If you can make a band I'm sure you can do a cap. The 1945 naval ammo. hand book has SAP illustrations but not the 4in. Lovely item, wish I could find one, it would soon be restored.
Rafail, my comment it would soon be restored was not meant as a criticism in any way, I'm lucky I've had the training and got a lathe at home. Please have a look at the picture of my 4in rounds and 4.5in to the left. The solid practice ones black with only a yellow band both had the missing copper band replaced, it takes a while but is well worth the effort.
Hi Raf,
I don't have the type of projectile in 4 inch calibre, but thought you might like to see one in 4.5 inch. The driving band on the 4 inch may be slightly different as there were different types but it might give you an idea of what it should look like.
Best
D
I don't have the type of projectile in 4 inch calibre, but thought you might like to see one in 4.5 inch. The driving band on the 4 inch may be slightly different as there were different types but it might give you an idea of what it should look like.
Best
D
