Shell Casings 40mm Shell Casings found over the years whist Diving, all in the same area of The North Mole Fremantle. The Navys cleared the area a couple of times as some live ammo has been found. Can anyone tell me about the markings on the base of the shell? Also pics of my big shell casing and some small bore casings that I own. Cheers Paul
Paul, You appear to have a nice collection of shell cases and thanks for sharing your photographs. Regards Tom
Mitch I beleive that there is a date of manufacture on the bottom and also should be the actual place of manufacture eg arsenal or munitions factory plus in some cases the contents. To be able to properly identify them you may need to find an ordanance guide to either Australian, American or UK naval ammunition. Great photos by the way Oldman
i cant help much with these myself other than what you already know 40mm bofors all 1944 dated..picture no4 is stamped EOC which is the Elswick Ordnance Co (UK)
The last two are 4.5inch, 12lb 10oz is the weight of the brass without the charge, the shell was 56lb. I humped enough of them to know. HE, AAP, Starshell. It looks like the cartridge is engraved 4,5 Mk 5. When unused the top of the cartridge had a sort of lead looking cap to keep the cordite in. The primer has been removed. I cant remember what all the other stuff meant, but I was told once. I did hear that cordite was used, if eaten in small quantities, to feign sickness. I remember seeing stuff manufactured in the late 1930s, in the 1980s. Half of the empties went over the side after a firing and the other half returned to the magazine. Could always get a few pints out of the senior rates for bunging them an empty so they could turn it down into an ash tray, spoilt it really, Acroynm STOCKFULL ?
4.5" Mk 6 M.E.R AA 7000yds M.E.R Surface 18000yds M.E.R Starshell 16500yds M.R 22000yds Ricohet Range 24000yds There was also an open fire range predicted by the AA or Surface predictor which calculated the range future, where the aircraft or surface contact would be when the shell reached it. Mk 5s (single gun,open mounting) where still in use, with the RN, up till the early eighties on Ashanti class frigates. A lot of old British ships went off to the India and Pakistan navies so probably saw even more use with them Ask me my mobile pnone no and I dont have a clue, all this stuff is over 20 years old and I can still remember it.
