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Hi Leonard,
It looks very much like a British WW2 era 3.7" AA projectile. Are there any markings visible stamped into the shell body or any more markings in paint ?
Best regards Weasel.
Yes, its a 3.7" Heavy AA projectile dated 1939. HE filled with TNT, fitted with a No. 199 time fuze.
Some of the markings are G 11 1.2 (Gaine No. 11 Mark 1, No. 2), and 8029, being the drawing number for the filling method.
Not shown, but will also have written on it "EXPR C.E." for Exploder CE (a pellet of Composition Exploding to ignite the gaine), together with the filling station monogram.
These are very hard to obtain and rare to find with original markings.
I am currently restoring a similar projectile.
Cases are obtainable for these and turn up from time-to-time.
I should add that it's an unfired shell, but as the fuze looks loose I presume it is no longer filled with TNT?
The fuze still has the original copper asbestos washer underneath, a nice touch.
The painted red crosses signify that it is suitable for use in tropical areas, and the green circle indicates that a smoke box is fitted - a puff of smoke on explosion as a sighting aid.
Please try to keep it in this original condition - don't strip the original paint or repaint it - it's so rare to find projectiles with this much original paint.
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