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Any informed intel on the origins of this 30mm?

Kilroy

Well-Known Member
I would suppose it is a belted Aden variety, but I am far from an expert.

Any other opinions?

Thanks much,
Walt

30mm1.jpg30mm3.jpg30mm2.jpg
 
I can't see the base of the projectile. I believe the RG on the stamping is Radwell Green, which is UK. I'm guessing the projo is a TP and has a hemispherical base. When the U.S. Marines first purchased Harriers, they were armed with 30mm Aden guns, and of course there were quantities of UK manufactured ammo to go with the guns, that came into the states.
 
As you suggest it is a British 30mm Aden round.

Reaading the stamps, "J" is the case type, "RG 83" indicates manufacture at ROF Radway Green in 1983, "CY 84" that it was filled at ROF Chorley in 1984 as part of Lot 789.

It is probably a Mark 4z Practice round, in which case it should also be stamped "PRAC 4Z".

Regards
TonyE
 
Very interesting! Would this have been for the Harrier armament then?

Thanks both to you and Hazord for the info, greatly appreciated!

Walt
 
Yes, the Sea Harrier and earlier marks of the Harrier all carried the 30mm Aden, as did the USMC Harriers. The first aircraft armed with the Aden was the Hawker Hunter in 1954.

Is your round stamped "PRAC 4Z" or something else?

Regards
TonyE
 
Sorry Tony,

That round appeared at auction on Gunbroker.com and the seller had no good info on it, nor were there any other photos
except a head photo with NO markings on it!. I have a warm fuzzy spot for 30mm from the MK-108 of German fame to the Gau-8,
so I figured I would do some finding out amongst the well informed.

Thanks again for the info, I am the richer for it.

Now I will have to find where I can ask a question about how many Flak18-37 guns did the Allies press into service during the war?

I just read that with over 10,000 manufactured during the war, they were scattered like weed seed all over Europe and more than a few
were abandoned in usable condition. This led to an unofficial supply of excellent weapons just hanging out awaiting the next user. According to the
article I just read, there was more than a little "borrowing" of this very handy hardware, especially with Tigers and Panthers lurking
about with long sharp teeth, and we were in need of effective anti-tank everything.

I doubt there will be much documented on such use though, it would have been looked down on officially, and they could never
really be depended on as a reliable resource due to maintainence and ammo supply issues at the very least.

Walt
 
It would be interesting to know if they were put to good use. The Germans were well prepared to turn Flak guns into antiarmor guns, as they had AP rounds for the guns. The Germans also manufactured ammo for captured foreign guns. They assigned a number to each gun type, and the cartridge cases are lettered with that number stamped into the head of the case.
 
The Czechs definitely used the guns (and manufactured the ammunition) after the war.
 
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