155mm Nato rounds - stuck again!

[steve rb]

Hi folks...Google failing me in an epic way at the moment, seemingly useless for this kind of research.

Recently acquired a standard 155mm US practice round here :

now have purchased a couple of 'NATO' 155mm rounds, allegedly from the PZH2000.
Two different sizes and designations, one of each of these :

I must have gone through close to a million images on Google and have yet to find ONE other example of 155 shells with these dual driving bands. I'm obviously looking in the wrong place as these must be very common modern ordnance. Please can someone give me some info or point me in the right direction for where to look...?

cheers! (again..)
Steve

 

[US-Subs]

The upper band is not a driving band. These appear to be "exercise" or drill rounds, used for loading training. The upper band is softer and when it seats against the lands, which is easier on the crew and equipment, plus makes it easier to remove and do again. Typically these rounds also have a tapered hole in the base, for insertion of a hooked bar to pull the rounds back out.

 

[HAZORD]

The EX on the projectiles designates exercise (Training) and the DM means German model.

 

[steve rb]

Brills, thanks, that fits. So the top one is a practice round (to be fired...) the bottom are not to be fired and are drill only - fits that they are from the PZH2000

 

[tankbarrell]

Top one is not a practice projectile, it's just been emptied (presumeably) of its filling.

 

[steve rb]

Top one is not a practice projectile, it's just been emptied (presumeably) of its filling.

Giant P on the other side....?

 

[EOD]

The EX on the projectiles designates exercise (Training) and the DM means German manufacture and nomenclature.

The DM is not an indicator for German manufacture. Just the model is German and can be (in fact is) made by many.

 

[Gunnerwho?]

They should, of course, be painted Blue. One is basically M106 the other L15 (which entered GE service with FH70). Despite their different sizes there is hardly any difference in filled weight because L15 is a thin wall design whereas M106 is an antique.

 

[US-Subs]

They should, of course, be painted Blue. One is basically M106 the other L15 (which entered GE service with FH70). Despite their different sizes there is hardly any difference in filled weight because L15 is a thin wall design whereas M106 is an antique.

I'm not so sure about the color blue. I've seen a number of these, mostly US, but other NATO as well, and have never seen a blue one. Normally they are all the color shown, though I have seen a few gold ones as well. I'll see if I can dig out a photo of mine.

 

[US-Subs]

Here is a quick shot of mine, same paint scheme. 8-inch, 175mm and 155mm. I suspect that the reason that they are not painted blue is that they are not practice rounds, they are drill rounds. Subtle difference, but more than enough.

 

[Gunnerwho?]

Yes, blue is PRAC firing, non firing for training in handling etc should have a Bronze coloured body.

 

[steve rb]

Yes, blue is PRAC firing, non firing for training in handling etc should have a Bronze coloured body.

Oddly, he'd had some blue ones too, also marked EX and the two part design with the ejector mechanism like mine.

One of mine had pretty bad shape so I stripped it back, it's obviously been re-sprayed at some point for the German military as there was another coat underneath, this with the normal 155H marking on it and a lighter (US?) green rather than the darker 'British Racing' green seen on these German rounds.

Do you have any photos of this bronze colour? couldn't find any and I'm wondering what to repaint it, might just go with the US colour as I've some of that here already anyway.