Eggburt1969
Well-Known Member
Hi, can anyone ID this (presumed) British shrapnel shell found in the Falkland Islands.


From the first image its base diameter is approximately 110 mm. The fuze fitted seems to be a No. 80 series, so a 2 inch fuze well.
I've had a look and the closest I could find was the 4.5 Inch Mark I shrapnel, a diagram below.

The one found seems to have a the later shorter 'Plain' driving band with a serrated edge, which is like a No 10, and not the Vavasseur No. 3 its supposed to have. It may be that on firing the grooves have on the No. 3 band have closed up, but I'd expect to at least see some evidence of they prior format. Anyway, images of various driving bands below and their source.

Treatise on Ammunition (1915)

O.U. 5267 - Ammunition Pocket Book (1924)
Also, the 4.5-inch model should have been fitted with a No. 82 series fuze and this would seem to have an aforementioned No. 80 series.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
PS: does anyone know if the books on British Artillery Ammunition and Fuzes by David J Ibbetson are still purchasable?


From the first image its base diameter is approximately 110 mm. The fuze fitted seems to be a No. 80 series, so a 2 inch fuze well.
I've had a look and the closest I could find was the 4.5 Inch Mark I shrapnel, a diagram below.

The one found seems to have a the later shorter 'Plain' driving band with a serrated edge, which is like a No 10, and not the Vavasseur No. 3 its supposed to have. It may be that on firing the grooves have on the No. 3 band have closed up, but I'd expect to at least see some evidence of they prior format. Anyway, images of various driving bands below and their source.

Treatise on Ammunition (1915)

O.U. 5267 - Ammunition Pocket Book (1924)
Also, the 4.5-inch model should have been fitted with a No. 82 series fuze and this would seem to have an aforementioned No. 80 series.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
PS: does anyone know if the books on British Artillery Ammunition and Fuzes by David J Ibbetson are still purchasable?
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