37mm Italian? can anyone help identify this projectile please

[Rrickoshae]

hi everyone, please see the attached. This is a 37mm projectile with what appears to be original paint. It is similar to a scaled down 2pdr common pointed projectile. It has been suggested to me that it might be Italian.

The colours are silver and black with a yellow band separating those 2 colours, then a blue band followed by another yellow band.

The base plug has a central hole which goes right through, it is not threaded so may be a tracer cavity rather than perhaps a hole to bolt it to a display base.

The only markings that I can see are on the base plug, there is a diamond, divided horizontally with '40' above the line and 'AO' below it, that is followed by 'MB and possibly a 'T' or a '7' then '93' and '4'.

Could it be Italian and what type of loading would it have had?

Many thanks for any suggestions, Dave

 

[EOD]

Definately Italian. As for details better the cracks on the subject do answer.

 

[Rrickoshae]

many thanks EOD, thats the first part sorted! regards, dave

 

[Gspragge]

This looks familiar - yes it is Italian, is it ww1 or ww2 that is the question. These don't use a fuze and the central hole in the base might be a demile ? The ww1 version has flat sides on the base.

Can some one translate the colour bands on this ?

 

[highlandotter]

Looks like WW2 issue for the 37/40 Italian gun, HE/AP. This is a carry over design from WW1 where the explosive is ballisite and has no fuze, the impact is supposed to produce enough heat to set off the ballisite. check Italian and French Explosive Ordnance TM9-1985-6

 

[highlandotter]

Is stuffed into 202mmR case based on the French version. Forgot to add this to previous post.

 

[Rrickoshae]

thank you Gordon, getting closer to the full story now!! Dave

 

[Rrickoshae]

thank you highlandotter, now to fins a copy of that manual!! regards, dave