Drawings of Japanese 30mm and German 55mm rounds

[Tony Williams]

I try to maintain a reference collection of typical examples of automatic cannon ammunition, which I use a lot for photography for my website, books, magazine articles, Jane's etc. However, there are some items which are more or less impossible to get hold of. So I had the idea a year or so ago to have exact replicas made to serve this purpose. The first two I had made (thanks Mick!) were two current Chinese rounds - the 25x183B and the 37x240. You can see what they look like below. They are made from solid aluminium with a smooth base (no primer pocket). They look very convincing, and have encouraged me to get some similar replicas made of other very scarce rounds - but to ensure that they are accurate I need measured drawings.

What I'm looking for are drawings of the three Japanese 30mm aircraft gun rounds: the 30x92RB (Navy Type 2), 30x114 (Army Ho-155) and 30x122 (Navy Type 5). Also the experimental German 55x175 RB round for the RhB MK112 aircraft cannon. If anyone can help I will be most grateful.

 

[ogreve]

Hi Tony,

At this very moment a 30x115 Ho-155 casing is in transit from Japan to me. I hope to have it in hands on April 22nd. I realise this isn't a complete round, but at least it's a good start, as for the casing. Would it help you to get the precise dimensions from that casing at least?
Also: I have a further nearly equally rare Japanese casing over here (which I can measure anytime you like), it's for the 37x145 Ho-204 cannon. This is another beast that's about equally rare as the 30mm ones.
Please let me know if you need any measurements from either.

Cheers,
Olafo

 

[Tony Williams]

Thanks Olafo, I'd appreciate that.