Light Weight 1945 German 8,8cm High Explosive Shell with Special Fuse Thread

[M8owner]

I thought I had purchased a normal 88mm HE shell at auction in the US. The first thing I noticed about the box was the light weight. When tried to fit it with a standard AZ 23/28 ground impact fuse, I noticed the mouth was too wide for that fuse, and the thread was too fine. What do I have here, and what fuse should this use? Am I missing an adapter ring of some kind? I have had my hands on many 88mm HE shells, but I have never seen this type before. Thank you for your help.

 

[pzgr40]

Its a brandschrapnel , and yes, you are missing a ring. I will make a cad drawing for you as soon as I have time.
With the "normal" Brandspreng, you have rings of invendiary pellets with an exploder stick in the centre, with this type you have a central core of 90 degrees ring segments surrounded by explosives.
And it'sn not meant to be fuzes with a AZ23/28 as it's anti aircraft only
Regards, DJH

 

[MINENAZ16]

Hello,

For sure this shell needs an adapter to fit the fuze. I don't know lot of 8.8 with this shape fitted with an external head adapter.
Light body seems to be for a special filling.
I have pictures of a 8.8cm Brandsprenggranate with adapter an light body (filled with incendiary segments). No more info about official nomenclature (no doc).

Regards




Oups, at same time DJH

 

[TimG]

The attached is presumably a later model.

TimG

 

[pzgr40]

Thanks MINENAZ, I lost that picture when my computer crased.
@ Tim G, no, it's a different type, the one M8 owner asks about is the brandspreng, the one you depict is the brrandschrappnel. See picture below for the difference