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Swiss meldepatrone (message cartridge) Kaliber 4, 1948

pzgr40

Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of a Swiss 'meldepatrone' (message cartridge) from 1948. This cartridge was used in a Kaliber 4 (26,5mm) signal gun to send messages over a short distance when the use of radio or walkie talkie was unsafe or unavailable.

The brass cartridge case is 62,5 mm long. The projectile consists of a black laquered cartboard outer tube where a cartboard disc is glued to the inside. A string is connected to the disc, and a long red-white ribbon is connected to the string. To the other side of the ribbon a string is tied which is connected to a cartboard disc that tightly fits the inside of the shellcase and locks up the powder charge. In the outer tube a black laquered cartboard inner tube is placed where the paper message can be placed in.

When the projectile is fired, the lower disc will form a gastight seal when traveling through the shellcase. After leaving the barrel, wind will catch the disc and it will pull the red-white ribbon out which makes it easier to find the message tube back after landing.

Complete cartridge length :185 mm
Projectile length : 169 mm
Diameter outer tube: 24,5 mm
Length message tube : 127 mm
Diameter message tube : 20 mm

Regards, DJH.
 

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  • Kaliber 4 Meldepatrone , Swiss 1948.jpg
    Kaliber 4 Meldepatrone , Swiss 1948.jpg
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