Ordinance Identification

[Biggunsarebetter]

Hi all. I obtained this ordinance and am having a hard time identifying it. It measures 6" across and is 23.75 inches long not including the tip. (Which I don't have. I have the loop that screws in for lifting.) It weighs 75 pounds. There is no hole in the bottom for a tracer function. It's flat and solid. Could it be from a Howitzer?

Information

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[Biggunsarebetter]

It is 152.4mm and is hollowed out for explosives I presume.

[browningautorifle]

Sounds about right...152 or 155...hard for me to tell without having it in hand. Looks about right.

[Flying10uk]

It is 152.4mm

If you convert this size to an imperial dimension it works out at 6" exactly. I wonder if it could be naval because I believe it was a common calibre for cruisers of the Royal Navy during the WW2 period and beyond?

[CINDERS]

I would say it is a 155mm M101 just looking at the driving band set up on the web one and the OP's.

[browningautorifle]

I would say it is a 155mm

My thoughts too, I had one for a spell, found out in the firing area and an obvious base ejecting projectile that was obviously empty...it was in my collection for a couple years until it's sheer size demanded it move out. I'd love to have it now though...that I'm done moving.

[old tanker]

My thoughts too, I had one for a spell, found out in the firing area and an obvious base ejecting projectile that was obviously empty...it was in my collection for a couple years until it's sheer size demanded it move out. I'd love to have it now though...that I'm done moving.

That empty shell is quite likely from an illumination round. They make a funny whoop whoop sound as they tumble after the flare is ejected. An M48A3 tank turret rings like a freaking church bell when hit by one!!! A 155 battery was providing flares for some fire base and our company was in "area C" where the empties came down. 105 Howitzer and 4.2 mortar flares do much the same. Our battalion mortar guys, at least, had the courtesy to call and let us know to button up first if the flare canisters were likely to hit around us.

[browningautorifle]

an illumination round

Yes, it even still had the VT fuze attached, ruined of course. I was infantry for 35 years and saw lots. Just not the 155mm. I was 81 mm mortar pl for a while so we fired lots of Illum...

[Flying10uk]

Cinders, are you able to explain how the shell can be for a 155mm gun when it only measures up as 152.4mm in diameter? To quote a precise dimension such as this (152.4mm) I assume that Biggunsarebetter has measured the shell accurately with vernier callipers or a micrometer, unless he has extremely good eyesight. I recognised the figure of 152.4mm as equating to 6" as soon as I read it but it is easy to check/convert by dividing 152.4 by 25.4 which gives 6 in this example.

The reason that I suggested naval is because it was a commonly used calibre of gun used on cruisers of the Royal Navy and Commonwealth navies during WW2 and beyond. A good example of this is HMS Belfast, now a museum ship, which was originally part of the "Town class" of cruisers and their main armaments consisted of 12X 6" guns mounted in 4 triple turrets. After hitting a magnetic mine in 1939 and nearly being lost, HMS Belfast was substantially rebuilt into a class of her own (improved), featuring many alterations and improvements but still retaining her main armament of 12X 6" guns that she has to this day.

[browningautorifle]

I assume that Biggunsarebetter has measured the shell accurately

I'm wondering...there should actually be stampings on it to disclose what it is.