ID Project 11

[US-Subs]

At 39.5mm diameter I first thought that this was just possibly a larger variant of a French Losfeld subcaliber. Unscrewing the fuze however makes me think that this is a fully functiong item. Anyone recognize it? The fuze looks UK, but not the markings.

 

[MINENAZ16]

As far as I know AN marking (for the fuze) is for Australian Navy.

 

[TimG]

2274/5/6. Whilst on first appearance it appears to be a No. 117 or direct descendant. However, the threaded portion appears too short (might be angle of photo) to be a detonating fuze. If it is an igniferous fuze, it's most likely to be a No. 230.

As Minenaz16 states "AN" in the right context would be Australian Navy, however the markings here don't follow accepted practice. No. xxx Mk xx N (if Naval). With the exception of Bofors fuzes I don't recall ever seeing any Australian Navy fuzes, if Ron or Graeme have any in their collection I would be interested to know if the Mark Number is suffixed with just an "N" or "AN"

@US-Subs - could we have a photo of the base and also, of all the markings?

TimG

 

[US-Subs]

Certainly

 

[TimG]

Thanks.
It would appear to have been manufactured by "MF" Footscray, Melbourne. The length of the threaded section is indicative of an igniferous 'British' fuze, such as a No. 230. I would think this is a 230 or an Australian variant. To the best of my knowledge the 230 was only for naval service, this would confirm Minenaz16 comment of "AN" being Australian Navy. I assume by 1974 Australia was breaking away from the regulations set by Woolwich, hence the format of the markings. @pedro might be able to shed more light on the matter.

TimG

p.s. The 230/230P were apparently obsolete in British service by 1959. They were used on the larger calibre naval guns. If this is a 230 replacement, presumably the Australian Navy still had some large warships in its fleet in the 1970s.

 

[TimG]

Having done some more research it transpires that nothwithstanding the 230 had a short intrusion, the same as a igniferous fuze in was in fact a detonating fuze but had to be used over a gaine! The only reference I can find to an Australian AN2 fuze, which was a proximity fuze is here https://navalinstitute.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/headmark-033-9-3-Aug-1983.pdf (page 39 onwards) interesting article on the Australian Proof and Experimental Establishment at Port Wakefied.

TimG

 

[ron3350]

Hi TimG and US-Subs
Yes it is Australian as already stated. I find our Navy fuzes are very hard to find. Most Navy fuzes I find are just PRF in steel.
I have a similar brass fuze stamped: DA MK AN/2 MF 4/75 LOT 8.

Later fuzes are stamped : DA MK AN/2 MOD2 and are aluminium.
These are either plain aluminium or annodized in gold or gray finish. A lot of these do not have maker stamps and all seem to have come from MO factory when they closed down.
Few have the caps or gaines.
I show a group of the aluminium finishes.
I also show one in FUZE ADAPTER MK AN. MF 83 to fit 2" x14 thread fuzes in the larger 2.375" x 10 tpi projectiles like the 5" 54 cal.

 

[TimG]

@ron3350 - Ron,

Presumably, these were intended for use on the RAN 'Perth' Class destroyers?

TimG

 

[pat]

bonjour, pour le projectile , ça me fait penser à un projectile de mortier russe de 37mm mais sans plus de précision