U.S. 37mm Auto Gun Round

[Weasel]

I have recently added this lovely round to my collection following a great trade with Gspragge, thank you Gordon.
This round is marked inert and is sand filled and came complete with its packing tube, original paint and the fuze is stamped PD M56 headstamp on the case is 37mm M17 BB-1-51 1943
Can anyone add any info on this for me...







Best regards Weasel.

 

[Lou]

Awesome round.

Heres a closeup of the fuze internals for you.

Oh,and and just so you know,Im still holding the blue one for you.

 

[SG500]

Weasel - very nice.
Lou - very nice.
The fuzes for these seem to be particularly to find over this side of the pond.
Dave.

 

[Lou]

Weasel - very nice.
Lou - very nice.
The fuzes for these seem to be particularly to find over this side of the pond.
Dave.

Over here too.I dont even want to quote what I paid for just the fuze. Its embarassing.

 

[HAZORD]

From the "Bullet Bible" TM 1901 Artillery ammunition 1944

 

[Lou]

One of my favorite books.Would like to have the original someday.

 

[Weasel]

Hi Lou,
Thanks for the picture of the sectioned M56 fuze and thanks to you Hazord for the pages of info that helps out alot. Lou do you know why your blue projectile has no groove in the driving band unlike most others that i have seen ?
Best regards Weasel.

 

[Lou]

My guess would be that with this model, M63 MOD 1,its an early design. Later models having different or improved designs,that would,1.offer better ballistics 2.use less copper during production.3. maybe have different effects on barrel wear,fouling?
And theres the possibility that it being a practice round,the demands were on the manufacturer to pump these out as fast as possible,hence the less complicated design.

Just guessing mind you:xd:

 

[Gspragge]

Blue M63

What you have is an M63 for subcaliber use. It is loaded into the 37x92r
U.S. case, brass or steel. This was substitute standard for the M92 subcaliber
projectile. These replaced the MKll subcaliber projectile.
What are the markings on the band.
The HE M63 projectiles (yellow or green)
have the groove. Your example looks to be extremely fine. Generally any M63 with out the groove in the band
is for subcal use (if the blue paint is gone this is how you can identify one) The first lots painted blue for subcal might have the groove as they are the same as the regular kind, but will be dated 1943, later higher 43 & 44 lots won't have the groove.

The groove in rounds for the Airacobra (M54,M55A1, M80,etc) are to allow the feed links or endless belt position properly on the round. other wise it just seems to be a design feature.
I notice that my VSM MKlV 6 Pr. has such a groove, so there must be a reason for it in the function of the band. Some body with Ordnance technical knowlege might help us out on that one. Maybe it helps the copper flow in higher velocity loadings ?

 

[Lou]

What you have is an M63 for subcaliber use. It is loaded into the 37x92r
U.S. case, brass or steel. This was substitute standard for the M92 subcaliber
projectile. These replaced the MKll subcaliber projectile.
What are the markings on the band. The HE M63 projectiles (yellow or green)
have the groove. Your example looks to be extremely fine.

The markings on my M63 are,,
AH 3-1943-37MM-M63-MOD.1

The bottom is threaded to accept tracer/base fuze and has the black interior lining.