Unusual 2" Mortar Bomb

[oktato]

Hi,
Can anyone help to explain the purpose of this 2" mortar bomb?
It has great markings:

2 MOR.I
BAR 20/80
RL 2/41
8821
6

But it has some other interesting features:

1. the tail fin has 4 holes rather than the usual 3

2. the "fuze" and fuze cover are made of brass - the edge of the fuze is engraved with the letters EXCSB NR 170

Was it simply a display model or did it have some manufacturing purpose?

Any suggestions welcome!

Thanks,

Gary

 

[BMG50]

The purpose of the extra holes in the fin, 4 rather than 3 was that this fin is the earlier version, made of a silica aluminum material similar to Mazak but not as strong. The early Balistite cartridges were a bit too strong for these early fins that originally had three holes. the fins usually split now and then on firing making the round fall short, so extra holes were made to relive the pressure. I think these modified fins were marked in red on one side of a fin ( i don't have my paper work and notes to hand so not sure at the time of writing) as the new Mazak fins were. The Mazak fins although stronger did have their problems in that they split when exposed to extreme temperatures, hence the change to steel fins. The earlier cartridges had a design that made them a bit stronger than the later design even though they had the same charge. Maybe some members could clarify the details.
As with the fuze, i have never seen this before but the EX marking would denote it, i think as an experimental fuze.

 

[blu97]

I think somebody assembled it from different parts, the bomb is second world war but the fuze is a dummy fuze in the Netherlands after ww II

 

[BMG50]

So the EXCSB NR, NR denoting the Netherlands?

 

[oktato]

Thanks for the ID on the fuze. Solid brass is an expensive material for a dummy fuze and cover!

I wonder if the markings on the launch cartridge give any other clues to its origin?

It is a red dummy with the following markings:

2"IN MORTER
SMOKELESS
50 GR BAL M9/1
MK 12 GMF

I have a standard British cartridge which is marked:

2 in MORTAR
SMOKELESS
50 GR. BAL B
MK 1/1 IMI

Does the spelling on the dummy cartridge indicate it is simply a bad copy? Was there a MK 12 used by Britain or the Netherlands?

Thanks again for any info.

Gary

 

[blu97]

NR donates nummer which is No. Before the war all our fuzes where brass, after the war when we produced ammunition again they went on making a lot of fuzes in brass.