WW2 US Steel 75mm M18B1

[jeff w]

Recently picked up one of these hard to find steel us 75mm M18B1 cases made in 1943. Wondering if anyone else has one from WW2?
Would be interested in seeing photos of other M18B1 with their markings.

 

[fert]

Hello
quite common in Italy, unfortunely it's not easy find them in good condition
regards

 

[Hoeksel]

I agree with Fert when I talk about Netherlands, I owned 2 dated 1942 in good condition.

 

[greif]

Cartridge cases 3 IN MkII M2 B1 are also common in the Netherlands.

 

[jeff w]

Hello
quite common in Italy, unfortunely it's not easy find them in good condition
regards

Thanks Fert. Wonder who that B in a Circle manufacturer was....? Here in the US these are almost impossible to find. Interesting that they were common in Italy and found in the Netherlands. They were substitute standard for US forces (but not for our Allies). I suspect, but have never found any clear evidence, that most of the steel case 75mm rounds that were produced were used by the armies of Russia, Britain, Poland etc, or by the US for practice and proofing.

 

[ron3350]

Thanks Fert. Wonder who that B in a Circle manufacturer was....? Here in the US these are almost impossible to find. Interesting that they were common in Italy and found in the Netherlands. They were substitute standard for US forces (but not for our Allies). I suspect, but have never found any clear evidence, that most of the steel case 75mm rounds that were produced were used by the armies of Russia, Britain, Poland etc, or by the US for practice and proofing.

B in a circle is for Bridgeport Brass Co, Connecticut, USA. Also used in a diamond, BB or BBCo.
So it seems there were 4 headstamp codes for this company .(info from an old IAA post).
Also strange that it is a steel case. Did BBCo also make steel ammo cases?

 

[ThomasP]

Could the 'B' stand for the Bossert Company based in Utica NY ?

I know they made a lot of steel cartridge cases for artillery during WWII, along with steel oxygen cylinders for aircraft use.

No idea if they made 75mm cases.

 

[jeff w]

Lotta "B" possibilities.... and after doing some research here are a few more...
I believe the Buick Division of General Motors in Flint Michigan made 75mm steel cartridge cases.
And another possibility is the Briggs Manufacturing Company in Detroit Michigan.
Hopefully others will post their 75mm steel case markings to help narrow it down. But I don't have high hopes based on the scarcity.