French WW1 Aerial Bomb ID please

[Millsman]

Have obtained this as part of a French collection. I'm told there is one in a cabinet at the Hooge Crater Museum in Ypres.

It has a 1914 Ball grenade Fuze mounted on a large artillery fuze with a large gaine. So it would appear that a string was attached to the brass ring in the wooden top mount, which actioned the friction fuze when it was dropped.

Here's some photos, ruler for scale.

Is this airship period?

 

[MINENAZ16]

Hello,
WW1 French HE frag projectile with time fuze for trench mechanical device "Fronde mécanique B".
One of strange inventions of trench war. Not very common projectile.
Regards

 

[Millsman]

Outstanding; thanks very much. It certainly does not look like a trench mortar.

John

 

[nachtwuenscher]

Hi! I had the same question some time ago : http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/89964-Unknown-OLD-grenade

 

[Millsman]

How do we classify this item?

Trench mortar or grenade?

 

[nachtwuenscher]

It's more like a hand grenade ;-).

 

[MINENAZ16]

It's more like a hand grenade ;-).

yes, grenade

 

[Millsman]

Here's a couple of pictures of the igniter, body and gaine and gaine cover.