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Can anyone help ID this German 15cm?

starshell

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Hello all,

Wondered if anyone could identify this German 15cm projectile?
It measures:

545mm Base to top of shell without fuse
565mm Base to top of shell with fuse fitted (fuse stands 20mm high when fitted in to shell)

147mm Diameter

15mm Driving band width

As you can see, the ogive unscrews, and this is the only 15cm in the collection which has this feature. I can't figure out the fuse arrangement either. What type of fuse would this have accepted. Obviously not a standard Gr Z04?
Thinking along the lines of a later gas shell?

As for markings, the body has, torwards the driving band: G (THICK CROSS) W

F S

And right above the driving band: C

The ogive has a thick cross symbol with a letter S and a monogram: LS (with a very small 2) in a circle. Makers mark? stecilled with 1918 VI, RO2-BROAD ARROW 9T. (Although I can't imagine the stecils are original). Broad arrow stencil on a German shell too?
I'd be very grateful for any info in identifying this shell, as to type and era/age.
Many thanks in advance!
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Hello,

Typical markings (cross) and colors (grey body and yellow head) of Swiss shell.
The black marking is not a broad arrow but a "4" = RO2-49T

Nice item !

Regards
 
Last edited:
Thanks Minenaz16 and Alpini for the information. I knew someone would know.
Is this a common round? Also, I'm guessing its a HE?

Minenaz16, do the painted stencil marks RO2-49T refer to type of shell or any other info?

Thanks again chaps!
D
 
Hello,

HE shell ("15cm Haubitze 16 Langgranate"), but I don't know what these black markings mean. I'll ask a friend from Switzerland.

Regards
 
Hello,

Thanks to my Swiss friend I have the answer : R stands for revision-control of projectile body. Made in February 1947 (02-47) in the ammunition factory of Thun (T).

 
Great stuff! Many thanks for your efforts Minenaz16, that answers a lot of questions.
And makes for an interesting shell...
Cheers!
 
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