WW1 18 pdr

[Ravenhook]

Hi guys, am I correct in my assumption that this is an 18 pounder 1917 shrapnel timed fuse??
marked inside...V.S.M 8/17 905 H 80 IVA
would that be, fuse type 80 mark 4
any ideas on the other marks and the "A" bit please.
I got a pair of these for a fiver a piece...is that about right...first fuses I've ever had.
Is there a diagramme on how they would have worked and a cut away please.
Thanks
Duncan

 

[jayteepee_1999]

I think I have this correct

 

[Ravenhook]

Great, thanks for that, although theres no wooden plug in these.
:tinysmile_grin_t:

 

[spotter]

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/no-80-fuse-t3867.html?t=3867&highlight=no80

 

[doctor]

80 Mk IV & IVA

hi
Fuze T&P N80 IV for Shrapnel shell 13 an 18 Pr
The different is in Mk IV A is the nose and corps in alunimium, selected plate an other ring plates in brass
On Mk IV you have only the graduate ring in brass

 

[Ravenhook]

Thanks Doctor, my collecting is mainly uniforms and ww2 weapons, but as these were only a fiver each I decided to buy them, my great grand father on my grandmothers side was killed at the Faversham explosive loading factorys works during the first world war, the factory blew up killing hundreds, it would be nice to think that these may have come from there but I doubt it...still it will always remind me of him when I look at them.

 

[Andysarmoury]

Hi Ravenhook, This is one i cut a while ago i have been looking for one for years for my 13pdr i think they are getting harder to find you were lucky too find two at once
Andy

 

[jayteepee_1999]

N80 fuse Revolving time and percussion fuse
Double effect fuse, entirely made of brass, graduated from 0 to 22 seconds and with a roman cross sign for impact percussion function. The time system is classical, with an axial concutor setting fire at departure time to graduated discs filled with fusing composition. The percussion system is also classical, based on an inertia block and a staple arming the shell at its departure.

First dedicated to the shells of the:

13 pdr field guns (3 inches - 76 mm),
18 pdr field guns (3.3 inches - 84 mm),

It was afterwards adapted on most of the equivalent existing calibers, for the shrapnel shells:

10 pdr and 2.7-in mountain guns (2.75 inches - 70 mm),
2,95 in mountain guns (2.95 inches - 75 mm),
15 pdr field guns (3 inches - 76 mm),

This is the classical British fuse of WW1, declined onto 16 different marks during the war. There is a strange but real story, feeding the thesis demonstrating that the war was intentionally created by the international of the weapons industrials : the design of this piece have been made by Krupp (Germany). after the end of the war, Vickers, the British society that manufactured those fuses, paid to Krupp royalties for an amount of 40.000 ...

 

[Ravenhook]

Thanks guys, thats a lot of info for such a small item.:tinysmile_grin_t:

 

[TimG]

There is a bit more to the Krupp, Vickers story;
This was a Krupp designed fuze that the British made under license. The contract commenced in 1902 for a period of 15 years (if I remember correctly a royalty of one shilling for every fuze) Obviously the contract covered the first three years of the Great War and naturally we didn't pay the Royalties to Krupp. However, post war (~ 1926) Krupp sued Vickers for lost royalties (from memory ~350K), which was eventually settled out of court.

Tim.G.

 

[ananab]

Hi guys, am I correct in my assumption that this is an 18 pounder 1917 shrapnel timed fuse??
marked inside...V.S.M 8/17 905 H 80 IVA
would that be, fuse type 80 mark 4
any ideas on the other marks and the "A" bit please.
I got a pair of these for a fiver a piece...is that about right...first fuses I've ever had.
Is there a diagramme on how they would have worked and a cut away please.
Thanks
Duncan

Hi, I have one of these fuses, sat on my aunties mantle piece for years and now my mother has it (VSM 6/16 856B 80.IVA ). We also have 2 No.85-1 fuses and another No 80 (80 Mk VI 10/17). Her father & step father brought them back from WW1 where they served with 2nd Lifeguards. We think they all came from around Ypres, possibly vicinity of Zillebecke/ Zwartleen, or Shrewsbury Forest (mums a bit vague about their story).

 

[Dronic69]

Well, in addition the fuse shown came with the much harder to find fuse adaptor......well done for a fiver!

Cheers
Drew