What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Mortar? What is it?

Shell Shifter

Well-Known Member
Picked this up at a tag sale ($2!!!). It was a bubba job so I got the glue off, polished and reassembled.
anyway, looks like the tail end of a mortar. Thoughts?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6277.JPG
    IMG_6277.JPG
    4.6 MB · Views: 37
  • IMG_6278.JPG
    IMG_6278.JPG
    4.4 MB · Views: 36
  • IMG_6279.JPG
    IMG_6279.JPG
    5.6 MB · Views: 37
At a guess an M4A1 fin assembly which was commonly fitted with the M34 percussion primer (I'm not sure this one is an M34). M4A1 sectional diagram is from a sectional diagram of the M57A1 (see later text).

M4A1 Fin Assembly Sectional Diagram.png
M34 Percussion Primer.png

As such it may have come from these 81 mm US mortar bombs, or clones thereof: M56A1 high explosive; M57A1 smoke; and M301A1 illuminating. Earlier and later models commonly used different tail assemblies, such as the M4 (M56) and M158 (M301A3).
 
Last edited:
Top