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Cut-down 3 pounder Case.
- Thread starter ben2000
- Start date
highlandotter
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
US 3 pdrs were cut to 91/2" and used for blanks. Possibly this was the case here?
I suspect the 5 1/2 is for the no. of grains of powder in the primer. but why its on the cae is anybodies guess. The primer in your case is a special for blanks in that the two recesses are for a type of screw driver that turns the primer not in a thread but with a pin travelling in a spiral groove, there is a thin plate over the cap, this primer was certainly used up to and incl. MkIV which I have a primerless example and is 9.75ins. Even if the case as a blank has been cut short you have a nice primer there.
Ben, it's actually a quite scarce torpedo launching cartridge, officially "Cartridge, Impulse, Torpedo, 5.1/2oz." of WWI vintage. There were other lengths, with different 'charges', made for different sizes of torpedoes: 10oz, 9oz, 8.1/2oz, 7.1/2oz, 6oz, 5.1/2oz and 4.1/2oz. Regards, Depotman.
ben2000
Well-Known Member
That's great. Pleased to know it was officially cut to that length. I'd not seen this marking on a 3pdr case before so even though I knew it had been cut down bought it anyway. Glad I bought it now.
Hi Depotman,
Very interesting - could you possibly advise where this was documented as most of the early torpedo launching systems appear to be compressed air /pneumatic based?
The limited manuals I have covering between 1894 up to 1915 do not indicate any cartridge based launching assisting system.
Thanks
Cheers
Drew
Dronic,
The charges are mentioned here, with a pic of the documentation: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/3889-Cartridges-Impulse-Torpedo-c-1915
Geert.
The charges are mentioned here, with a pic of the documentation: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/3889-Cartridges-Impulse-Torpedo-c-1915
Geert.
Thanks Geert,
Must have been still quite a lot of 14" torpedoes around WW1 (1915) as according to Spotter's post, as it mentions a cartridge launch system for them. Most manufactures moved away from the 14'" during the late 1890s /early 1900 towards the 18" and 21" sizes.
Curiosity got the better of me today and I located this reference which illustrates how the cartridge was used:
http://maritime.org/doc/destroyer/ddtubes/part2.htm
Perhaps I should "expand" my narrow focus on torpedo pistols.........................nah!
Cheers
Drew
Must have been still quite a lot of 14" torpedoes around WW1 (1915) as according to Spotter's post, as it mentions a cartridge launch system for them. Most manufactures moved away from the 14'" during the late 1890s /early 1900 towards the 18" and 21" sizes.
Curiosity got the better of me today and I located this reference which illustrates how the cartridge was used:
http://maritime.org/doc/destroyer/ddtubes/part2.htm
Perhaps I should "expand" my narrow focus on torpedo pistols.........................nah!
Cheers
Drew
Last edited:
ben2000
Well-Known Member
Having re-read that document in the 1915 Treatise - the illustration is indicated as full size and the case length measures circa 7 3/4 inches. In the description it says that they "are all similar in construction, differing only in the weight of the propellant and minor details". So it appears that it has been cut down further at some point which is a shame :-(
ben2000
Well-Known Member
Well I went back to where I bought the other case and had another good look through everything and found another! Though this one seems at odd's to the list in the treatise since it is marked as 12Oz whereas the list only goes as far as a 10Oz? At least this one is the full length
Ben, these various cases ARE different lengths and NOT cut down from a standard length - no shame!
Depotman
Hi all,I have recently acquired one of these cases, but it is only 68mm long. Rim diameter is 64mm, and outside diameter at mouth is 56.4mm. It has a brass disc at the mouth, under which is a wooden disc, about 18mm thick. Through the brass and wood are 6 regularly spaced holes about 8mm diameter. The edges of the case at the mouth are neatly turned over the brass disc. Is this how it should be, or has the case been cut down and "trench-arted"? Only 4 ozs of black-powder used, so wouldn't need such a long case as some of the others.
The primer is headstamped R^L III, and appears to be electric.
Any information gratefully received.
Roger.
a1brassansteel
Active Member
Hi Ben ......empty your inbox......it is full.....Regards