Help please identifying a 25 pdr shell

hutchster

hutchster

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25pdrprojectile_zps6c124006.jpg


I know it's not firearms related but I figured you guy's would probably be the best resource to ask this.

I bought a 25 pounder projectile today and was curious what the markings actually mean as I initially assumed it to be a practice round as it doesn't have a removable fuze, but it does have a 1/2" or so diameter hole in the center of the base.

It is painted black, but the paint looks fairly fresh and it has a brass rifling strip about an inch from the base, i just want to make sure I actually bought a dummy or training round

The markings go something like this 25 PR IX T, then there is a B on the left and across from it is an S then underneath it has C-8 21/10/43
 
Look for stampings on the base or the side of the projectile. If you find any it may lead you in the right direction.
 
I'm not too familiar with 25 lbr rounds, but my guess would be a Target Practice Tracer round. It was a solid shot to practice firing at tanks. In the base was a tracer so you could follow the shot.
 
the hole was for tracer compound, it sure looks like a plain solid AP round, are you sure its not more like 75mm in diameter, maybe a 17 pounder AP round, or a 20 pounder?

the 25 pounder was a low velocity gun meant to fire HE
 
I shined some light on the side and could see traces of letters so I took some sand paper, gently sanded away the black spray paint and was rewarded with all sorts of info
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One side says 25 PDR INERT the other says 25 PDR INERT APT as well as some stamped numbers and about 5 or 6 "birdfoot" arrows
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I also rubbed some white paint on the base to make the stamps stand out more
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I will have to dig my caliper out as its too hard to tell the exact diameter with my crappy worn tape measures

Also, its not visible in the pic where I sanded it to bare metal but there are a few more of those birdfoot arrows with 27 stamped twice between them
 
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Yours is much nicer than the one I had but I was never able to confirm what it was with 100% certainty. It is a 25 Pounder Mark 9 Tracer. The only manual I could find ended at Mk 8T Armour Piercing Shot. The white stencilled marking on yours are not original markings. Those are typical stencil markings found on a piece of ordnance that has been used as a research project by military personnel.

CS 21 10/43 is the batch or lot number and date of manufacture, October 1943. P maybe Practice but I can't confirm this. BS if I recall correctly is the manufacturers monogram.

The AP Shot and Practice Shot were virtually the same but manufactured from different steel, the AP Shot being much harder. When left in the ground for a long period the AP Shot tends to corrode evenly on the surface where the Practice Shot tends to develop deep pits in the body. It is difficult to find good info on the shot projectiles.

I posted photos of the one I had on British Ordnance Collector Network to try to confirm the meaning of the P and confirm if the Mk 9 was AP or Practice but I never received a response.

I have some notes on this somewhere. I will see if I can dig them up.

Ok, now time for Garand to debate what I said.
 
Top notch info guy's, much appreciated :)

I picked it up at a local antique shop today when I had a few minutes to kill and couldn't find any safety razors but still felt the need to buy something.

I think it will make an excellent paperweight on my desk, would it be considered sacrilege to buff it all to bare metal except for the blue tip and red band ?

I was also thinking I would get the white stenciled parts redone in vinyl after I polish it.
 
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hutchster said:
Top notch info guy's, much appreciated :)

I picked it up at a local antique shop today when I had a few minutes to kill and couldn't find any safety razors but still felt the need to buy something.

I think it will make an excellent paperweight on my desk, would it be considered sacrilege to buff it all to bare metal except for the blue tip and red band ?

I was also thinking I would get the white stenciled parts redone in vinyl after I polish it.
Click to expand...

You gonna Bubba an artillery shell? :confused:

Grizz
 
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Stampings indicate it was manufactured in 1943 and probably repainted sometime between 1948 and 1951

Shot AP/T and APC/T.

All 25 Pdr AP and APC shot are manufactured from bar or
forged steel and are recessed at the base to receive either an integral tracer filling
or a screwed internal tracer. The various marks of shot differ from each
other.

Shot APC/T Mk 7 is similar to shot AP/T Mk 6, but is fitted
with a penetrative cap which is monolized to the shot.

Projectile, Practice, Streamline

This type of projectile is the practice equivalent of the HE
shell. The Mk 1 projectile is weighted with 4 oz. 4 dr. of sand to bring it
including plug, to an overall weight of 20 lb.

The Mk 2 projectile differs in that while it has no filling,
the over all weight is brought to 20 lb by the inclusion of a combined base
plate and external tracer socket.

Shot, Practice/T

Shot, Practice/T are designed to give the same ballistics as
AP/T Shot, but are normally made of cast iron. Shot, Practice/T Mk 1 is the
only exception, being made of mild steel.

The Mks 1 and 2 Shot are fitted with Internal Tracer No. 2,
Mk 7, all other Shot being recessed to receive an integral tracer filling which
may produce a red or white trace according to the design.
 
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