Projectile(?) ID req'd, please.

[Cirus]

Hi all,

With reference to the picture below, can anyone ID this projectile? Well it looks like a projectile, it measures 13" x 3" (330mm x 76mm). It's hollow and appears to be machined from one piece of metal. The base is welded to the outer case and there are no signs of stamps etc. As you can see it has been turned into a display piece, unofficially I would say. The drive band is intact and there is a groove cut just below it, hope you can help.

Regs
Cirus.

 

[hicky1300]

A few mor pics inc one of `weld` would be good.
Is drive band coper?
Looks like a 75- 77mm proj.
If the inside is hollow hen probably a tracer or base fuzed HE? - hence the cut & shut job?

 

[ammocat]

It looks like a projectile from a 76mm armoured car, in Canada the Grizzly and in the UK the Scorpian. As I recall both vehicles had the same basic turret, but a different chassis, the Canadian vehicle being wheeling and the British vehicle being tracked. The 76mm ammunition was fixed ammunition, hence the groove behind the driving band that you mentioned.

There are two types of projectile that match the profile of the projectile you have. The high explosive squash head (HESH) and the squash head practice (SH/Prac). The HESH projectile would contain a high explosive filling and a base detonating fuze. It would also have a tracer that would protrude from the base 2 to 3 inches. The SH/Prac would have an inert filling and plug representing a fuze and the same tracer.

The HESH was available with two different colour codes, the first was a black overall body colour with a yellow ogive and yellow markings. The second was olive drab overall with yellow markings and a black band. The SH/Prac was light blue overall and had white markings.

Although the projectile is rusted, you should be able to find stamped markings in the body. The caliber is usually about 2 inches above the driving band.

Some more photos of the rear of the projectile might help as well.

 

[Cirus]

Hi,

Here is a picture of the base. Unfortunately, a while ago this projectile has had its body polished and lost all of its stamps. Although it would appear that the head was painted black.

Regs
Cirus