Peter a question regarding bomb projector 2 in. mark 1 star

[breakeyp]

I found this at a local show. It is a bit off topic but British. I assume it is for mounting inside a tank turret to launch No. 80 smoke grenades. I see a lever for range positions marked short, intermediate and long. I don't know how you cock it. What is a air fitting mounted on its side?

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Any help form anyone is appreciated.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I bet you thought that I'd be struggling with this didn't you Paul? Almost......... I looked through an old 1950 EMER and lo and behold, a version of it is included!

In the next week or so I'll slowly photocopy the EMER for you. It is quite detailed and answers your questions of course, but basically, tyhere were 3 types in service. The Mk1*, the Mk1A* and Mk2
Mk1* is the same as the US made M3 mortar. Mk1A* and is similar to the Mk1* but is simplified for wartime production

[breakeyp]

I will keep trying to find something to challenge you. The only reference I could find for it was a line drawing from Lander's book on Grenades. Many thanks, p

[Topfmine]

What you have is a 2 inch mortar bomb thrower and as you correctly mention its fitted in the turret of a tank. It doesn't use a No;80 Grenade it uses a 2 inch smoke mortar bomb that has a short delay than the normal 2 inch smoke round that emits smoke after it reaches 200-300 yards on its decent. These tank mortar rounds also use a 18 grain 28 bore balistite cartridge over the normal 47-50 55 grain cartridges that can throw the bomb to 500 yards using a normal 2 inch mortar. These bomb throwers are only for short range use just in front of the tank for cover.

[Topfmine]

As you can see the top of a Sherman turret where the bomb fires out from. Nice find.

[Peter Laidler]

Can't get better than that Paul!

[breakeyp]

Thank you all for the wonderful response and information. Landers' book says the round is a No 80---the pictures here seem to match so it may be tomato vs. tomato. This picture of the launcher is much better than the one I found.

I guess I am a lousy engineer as I have yet to reverse engineering on how it fires the bomb. I don't see a firing pin in the bottom of the thing and there appears to be no means of cocking one. The trigger moves freely with nothing clicking. The air fitting is puzzling--is it gas propelled or is it a vent for altering the range? I need to know these things before I mount it on my Honda Element car. Tailgaters beware!

[Peter Laidler]

'air vent' to enable the gunner to alter the range.