British Ordnance Collectors Network
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British 15" Naval Projectiles
- Thread starter Weasel
- Start date
Good morning all, I am a new member from down under and my name related only to my first post.
While understanding that this is a necro thread, I am hoping that the participants may still be around, as well as anyone else who can assist.
The gist is that two 15 inch projectiles have been recovered from an old RN ordnance depot. Thet were "garden gnomes" standing upright with the bases set in concrete. The concrete was concealing their overall length and the drive band configuration.
The associated sign stated that they were German, so the APCBC shape looked very much like the 38cm L4,4. Maybe brought back by after WW2 Allied EO types for a trophy or tech intel analysis? What did not look right was the lack of a seams between the ballistic cap and the main body.
When the projectiles were removed from their concrete footings, the items were shorter than expected, being exactly L4 (60 inches) rather than L4,4 (66 inches). Also, the drive band was missing, but it was a nice and wide single band rather than two narrow bands.
The base on one was completely featureless, having no base plug or fuze pocket - just flat. The other was similar, but had a small 5/8 inch hole in the centre for a lifting eye perhaps.
The projectile bodies are still covered in old paint and no markings are visible on either sides or base, but they will be strategically cleaned to see what can be found. The base definitely does not have the classic deep engraving of other Brit projectiles I have seen.
The photo attached has a size 10 boot included for scale.
Lifting equipment used indicates a weight of approx 900kg.
I have scanned the internet, but nothing either Brit of German seems to fit the L4 dimensions. I would also say that it looks like a solid practice round to replicate the APCBC ballistics perhaps? Hence googling "15 inch practice projectile" brought me to this thread.
Are the handbook descriptions of 15in practice rounds mentioned in previous posts still available? I would be very interested in formally identifying these two projectiles.
I would have joined this forum a while back but did not know it existed. I do have an eclectic artillery inert EO collection covering all Boer War, WW1 and WW2 combatants.
cheers, D.
While understanding that this is a necro thread, I am hoping that the participants may still be around, as well as anyone else who can assist.
The gist is that two 15 inch projectiles have been recovered from an old RN ordnance depot. Thet were "garden gnomes" standing upright with the bases set in concrete. The concrete was concealing their overall length and the drive band configuration.
The associated sign stated that they were German, so the APCBC shape looked very much like the 38cm L4,4. Maybe brought back by after WW2 Allied EO types for a trophy or tech intel analysis? What did not look right was the lack of a seams between the ballistic cap and the main body.
When the projectiles were removed from their concrete footings, the items were shorter than expected, being exactly L4 (60 inches) rather than L4,4 (66 inches). Also, the drive band was missing, but it was a nice and wide single band rather than two narrow bands.
The base on one was completely featureless, having no base plug or fuze pocket - just flat. The other was similar, but had a small 5/8 inch hole in the centre for a lifting eye perhaps.
The projectile bodies are still covered in old paint and no markings are visible on either sides or base, but they will be strategically cleaned to see what can be found. The base definitely does not have the classic deep engraving of other Brit projectiles I have seen.
The photo attached has a size 10 boot included for scale.
Lifting equipment used indicates a weight of approx 900kg.
I have scanned the internet, but nothing either Brit of German seems to fit the L4 dimensions. I would also say that it looks like a solid practice round to replicate the APCBC ballistics perhaps? Hence googling "15 inch practice projectile" brought me to this thread.
Are the handbook descriptions of 15in practice rounds mentioned in previous posts still available? I would be very interested in formally identifying these two projectiles.
I would have joined this forum a while back but did not know it existed. I do have an eclectic artillery inert EO collection covering all Boer War, WW1 and WW2 combatants.
cheers, D.
