USA #480 Base Detonating Fuze and Cannister: Manufactured At Watertown MA Arsenal USA 1942

[ordnanceman]

Here is a treat i wanted to share with the British Ordnance guys. My grandfather worked at the Watertown Massachusetts Arsenal in the USA during WW2 manufacturing weapons. He kept a large fuze and inert bomb collection that was passed down to me. The Arsenal was a major war manufacturer for WW2. I finally identified this as the inerted US #480 base detonating fuze but could not find any USA examples. Just British and Australian versions that are identical as far as I can tell. So here is the USA verson of the #480. Now my question is was the USA manufacturing these for Europe during the war or were they using then too? Can anyone give me any history on the USA base #480? What do you think the USA used this for? The Americans in our US forums have no idea or yet to answer. Why does it have a green X painted on back?

 

[MINENAZ16]

No 480 is a British fuze for 6in and 9.2in APC navy shells (PDF page 243)

https://www.bulletpicker.com/pdf/RAOS-Vol-4-Pam-9-Part-1.pdf

 

[Dronic69]

@ordnanceman,

Are you basing that this is a US No. 480 as there is a "US" marking on the base?

In general, how common are the Bristish / Australian No 480s?

Thanks
Cheers
Drew