Vasco Da Gama
Well-Known Member
The pictured case turned up recently and I would appreciate your thoughts on what it may be. The research I have completed leads me to think it is from a Royal Navy project in the late 1940s and early 1950's to develop a 5in automatic gun, potentially to arm destroyers, which used separate loading ammunition. As far as I can tell the project was cancelled and the Royal Navy went on to develop various models of 4.5in guns. The case does have a number of features which point towards the Royal Navy, not least the screw fitting at the mouth for a closing cup. Confirmation of my identification would be great and any other information on he project would be welcome. The case is 834mm long, rim 193mm and mouth 138mm, pictured alongside a standard 4.5in Mk8 case for comparison.