Unknown 30mm Ordnance

[Montagu]

My colleague obtained these 30mm shells some years ago. He has no idea as to their origin. Can anybody help?

 

[bdgreen]

Montagu,

Any chance of a photo of the cartridge heads or a listing of any headstamps; case length measurement; a picture better showing the belt links or markings on the links? More pictures would be helpful and very interesting.

Could be Hispano Suiza 30 x 136mm ???????

Example: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/30309-30x136-Titanium-case-for-HS-825

 

[Montagu]

Hi bdgreen
Many thanks for your reply! I will need to borrow this from my colleague again to take more photos. I can say that the only markings we could find were 30mm on each case. Measuring the photo, I think the case measurements will be nearer 30 x 162mm than 30 x 136mm. It's a heavy piece!
Cheers
Paul

 

[MissingLink]

Interesting! Tagged for more information...

-WRM

 

[bdgreen]

Maybe a 30 x 158mm, French experimental. Headstamp from example case = "30 - H.S. I 1-51 SF". No further information.

Source = Notes on Small and Medium Caliber Military Cartridges, Vol. 1

 

[Charlie]

Hi Montagu,
Using the rule you have in the photo they look like standard 30x170mm cases in KGB links. They could brass HS 30x170mm or more common over here people put RARDEN 30x170mm cases in KCB links as there are loads of RARDEN cases about. Would need a headstamp to give you any further definate information.
Regards, Charlie

 

[Montagu]

Many thanks Charlie and bdgreen. I'm hoping to see the cases again in the next couple of days. I'll take more photos and measurements and look for more markings.
Cheers
Paul

 

[Montagu]

Here are more photos. I hope these help! These 30mm cartridges are 170mm long. The markings read:

30mmAFV
RG
HE L13 43D

Any comments will be welcome.

 

[bdgreen]

Great photos and measurements. Just as Charlie said, 30x170mm Rarden cases. Royal Ordnance Factory Radway Green, Radway Green, 1982.

Perhaps someone else can identify the link maker markings.

 

[Tony Williams]

Just to clarify, Rarden ammo never comes in belts, only in three-round clips.

The dimensions of the Rarden ammo are the same as the Hispano HS 831 (later renamed Oerlikon KCB) as already mentioned, but apart from early versions the Oerlikon ammo uses steel cases. The Royal Navy has used the Oerlikon KCB since just after the Falklands War (it is now being replaced by the ATK MK44 Chain Gun using 30x173 ammo, which is very similar but not interchangeable). On a visit to Radway Green some years ago I asked whether or not the Rarden ammo could be fired in an Oerlikon and vice versa. The answer was that in practice they could, but had never been qualified to do so.

 

[gravelbelly]

Here are more photos. I hope these help! These 30mm cartridges are 170mm long. The markings read:

30mmAFV
RG
HE L13 43D

Any comments will be welcome.


View attachment 104263View attachment 104264View attachment 104265View attachment 104266View attachment 104267View attachment 104268

AFV= Armoured Fighting Vehicle

gravelbelly

 

[MissingLink]

Wish I could help with the link manufacturer codes, but I'm not up to speed on non-US items. I'm interested in finding out though!

-WRM

 

[Montagu]

Thanks very much indeed guys for identifying the cartridges! Fingers crossed that somebody will recognise the link manufacturer codes.........

 

[orpheus72]

The BLM on one of your links can be "Barry L. Miller Engineering Inc., Irvine, CA, USA".
They made clips for the Garand rifle during WW II (see http://www.ammogarand.com/m1gaclco.html) but not sure they also made these links

 

[Montagu]

Many thanks orpheus72. It's a possibility.

I've been trying to find the LS SA logo in Google searches. Is there any chance this could be Lone Star (San Antonio)???

 

[bdgreen]

SA = Suomen Armeija or Finnish Army ????