ww2 German Projectile question

[waffenamt]

Hi Chaps,

I have a question regarding a `Long` Solurthern 20mm round.
The bottom of case has the stamps P , 33 ,waff stamp and a star.
Now i understand the star as im sure it represents that the round was made for export. Im also sure the P is for `Polte`?
The big question is why is the projectile coloured chocolate brown with a white stripe around the proj,just above the driveband?
Also,there are the numbers 40/10 in black ink?
A pic can be seen with the fuze in the other thread.
Is this round made for export to the Italian forces before ww2?

regards


waff

 

[Weasel]

Hi Waff,
Could you post a link to the picture of this round, Thanks Weasel.

 

[fert]

ciao
according with labett & brown the brown code was used by the solothurn AG on commercial ammunition, intended for heavy "massive" shell, designed for attack on concrete etc.
best regards

 

[waffenamt]

Hi Chaps,
Sorry Weasel as my links education isnt sorted yet.
Thank you Fert for the info,but what this one exported to Italy pre-war?

best

waff

 

[fert]

ciao waff
not only for italy, but for all the client.the color code was listed by solothurn commercial catalogue.
best regards

 

[waffenamt]

ciao waff
not only for italy, but for all the client.the color code was listed by solothurn commercial catalogue.
best regards

Thats the winner!

Thank you fert.

best

waff

 

[Rrickoshae]

chocolate flak shells - hmmm!

try this weasel - its fully German marked and probably had a yellow band just below the fuze. The camera is struggling to show the colour and the stencils. Dave

 

[GermanMilitariaUK]

Hi Waff...

Headstamp markings 1937-1945

Mostly all cartridges manufactured during the war have four different codes stamped on the case head. It was reported that two different codes were also found during the war, but this was very rare. Until 1940, 'P' codes were used on the cartridges to mainly conceal the manufacturers identity. From the end of 1940, 'P' codes changed to alphabetic codes. Alphabetic codes were mostly made up of three letters to identify the manufacturer, sometimes two and rarely one letter codes. Many different types of cartridge cases were manufactured, and the different cases could be identified by the different headstamps as follows:​

• St indicates a plated steel cartridge case
• St+ indicates a lacquered steel cartridge case
• * or S* indicates a brass cartridge case
• An arc or curved line, between the manufactures code and cartridge case material code, indicated that the 'Berdan' primer pocket had one flash hole rather than two holes.

The code combinations below was only used to identify copper plated steel cartridge cases as follows:
​

• Roman numerals I-XXII indicates the steel mill cartridge case supplier.
• The lower case alphabetic code e.g. a, b, c, d, e indicates the cartridge case plating firm.
• Numbers after the lower case alphabetic code, indicates the steel analysis code e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 or 17.

e.g. head stamp codes can be identified as follows:
​

• The manufactures code is located at 12 o'clock P 'Polte Armaturen-u. Maschinenfabrik A.G., Werk Magdeburg, Sachsen'
• The cartridge case material code is located at 3 o'clock S* '* or S* indicates a brass case'
• The batch number is located at 6 o'clock 37
• The date of manufacture is located at 9 o'clock 38 '1938'

​

• The manufactures code is located at 12 o'clock P25 'Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbritzen GmbH, Werk Sebaldushof'
• The cartridge case material code is located at 3 o'clock IXc1 'IX August-Thyssen-Htte A.G., Franz-Lenze-Str. 3, Duisburg- Hamborn / c Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke A.G., Witte & Co., Werk Schwerte/Ruhr, Westfalen / 1 Steel analysis number
• The batch number is located at 6 o'clock 110
• The date of manufacture is located at 9 o'clock 40 '1940'