Which 6 Pounder Projectile is this ?

[Andy Naude]

What 6 pounder projectile is this ? And what would the original colour code have been ?

I received it in a case marked : "6 Pr 7 CWT I RL 1942", does the projectile match the case ?

I asume that the "R L" would be for Royal Laboratories and the "N" for Navy and the date of manuafacture September 1938.



Length : 220 mm

Weight : 2.4 kg



Imprint on shell :

6 PR

P

R L

9 / 38


On the revers is :

III

K


Aswell as :


N



The shell is empty with a threaded hole in the base.

The entire shell is empty i.e. no solid metal, just a void.

 

[Falcon]

This projectile is for the 6 Pounder Hotchkiss naval gun. The 6 Pounder 7 CWT was a land-based anti-tank gun, therefore this projectile is in the wrong case.

The correct case for this shell is shorter and narrower than the 6 Pounder 7 CWT.

The round on the left in this photo (from the website of BOCN Member Tony Williams) is the correct case type for your projectile. The 7 CWT case is shown on the right.

 

[Weasel]

Hi Andy,
Here is a link to one I had in my collection, Falcon is correct with the case type you will need.
http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/59295-WW1-6pr-Round

Best regards Weasel

 

[Andy Naude]

Thank you all. What type of shell is this? Practice or AP or HE ?


A

 

[bacarnal]

I would venture that it is a 6pdr Common. Usually filled with black powder and with an base concussion (igniting) fuze. Cheers, Bruce.

 

[Gspragge]

I am surprized to see one dated this late in this style. But then the same thing in 3 pr was still hanging in.
These powder filled projectiles seem rather dated by is time. Though the original intent was not to blow anything
apart so much as penetrate explode and let the fragments to the work.

 

[ydnum303]

I strongly suspect that the "P" stamped on this indicates that it is a practice projectile. Although solid Practice projectiles were made, they also used Common Pointed types which were then filled with sand or salt, and a solid plug fuze then fitted. It would have been painted black, with a yellow band around the middle, and "SAND" or "SALT" stencilled on it to indicate what the filling was.

Roger.

 

[2pounder]

the cases do turn up dated WWII period and recall a thread on them, I have a MK V case dated 1940 by RL.

 

[ozziammo]

Fairly common cart case here in Australia, one on Flea-Bay @ moment 1938 dated, up to $76AU so far.

Used as sub cal trainers here during WWII, then cut down for use as anti submarine launch cart.

 

[Andy Naude]

South Africa had five Navy Ships (Hector Class) which were fitted with the 6 pounder gun. These were in operation from 1940 until 1944. The 6 pounder shell was most probably intended for use on one of these.

 

[BMG50]

Cases are no problem, its finding the projectile. Anyone know of any.

 

[Andy Naude]

Hi Rodger,

Do you have any idea of the measurements of the yellow band, i.e. height and width ?

Andy

 

[ydnum303]

Hi Andy,

According to the textbooks I have seen, the band is about 1/2" wide, and situated midway between the top of the driving band and the tip.

Regards,
Roger