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Unkown 37mm projectile .

1

1rubberduck

Member
G'day all from the land of OZ . Being a new member and my first post please excuse any mistakes as I am still finding my way around . I am trying to ID an unknown ( to me ) 37mm projectile . It has a OL of 142mm with no body marking but the base plug is marked with MBT I and a diamond with a line through the center and 4U above the line and EF below the line . The closest thing I can see to it is a US 37mm Hotchkiss sub-caliber but this is more pointed in the profile and the band is not the same . Any ideas ?
 

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Looks like an Italian Palla da 37/40-20.6 projectile WW1 toWW2. Uses a case202mmR like theFrench one.
 
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I was hurried in my first post by the cats who were demanding breakfast. Now having settled them, I can continue. This projectile has no fuze, is loaded with ballistite which theoretically ignites from heat of inpact.They are very rare in the US(I know of 1 WW1 example only) and I pressume even in Europe.Was used in both WW1 andWW2. The difference in the base plug makes me think that this is a WW2 example. Hope this helps.
 
I thank you very much for that , it has had me digging around for some time trying to ID it and even now I have found out what it is I'm still not finding that much on it . Any idea what the case looks like for it ? Are they hard to find ?
 
Howdy 1Rubberduck,

Cases turn up occasionally here in Oz, look very similar to 37mm M16 but slightly shorter neck & shape. Will have 37/40 & a 3 digit date (932) along with a makers initials like ANS or MB or BPD in the headstamp.

Happy Hunting,

Regards Ozzi.
 
G'day Ozziammo ,
Thanks for that , I will have to keep an eye out for one of them . Not that I have seen one in the last 30 odd years of collecting !
All the best , 1rubberduck
 
From US TM


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Now for a cosmetic question , what colour if any where these painted ? Is the bit of orange paint still on this one original ?
 
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