Unless anyone can tell me otherwise, I believe this to be the fuse head of a
WWI AA Shell. I found this a few years ago in a field at Billericay in Essex.
If it is an AA fuse head, the date of 1917, would be too late to have been
shot at a Zeppelin, but possibly fired at a Gotha German bomber ?
It’s about 2.5 inches in diameter.
By: AlanR - 4th February 2013 at 17:27
Thanks for the info.
The lettering on this reads: LOI 408 1917
By: Rlangham - 4th February 2013 at 15:29
This looks like part of a No 85 fuse – which could also be the variants, the No 85/44 or No 185, without a striking mechanism, which was used for anti-aircraft incendiary and shrapnel rounds according to the google translation of this page;
http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/fusees_collection_gb.html
The relevant section, translated, says;
At least two important variants are identified
the rockets fusantes No. 85/44 , without striking mechanism, were intended for explosive shells to explode in flight (eg for anti-aircraft use) and requiring the addition of a series of powerful rocket No. 44/85 acting detonator. Graduations 0-2 of these rockets were hidden, and a mark ‘T’ was painted blue on the shoulder,
the rockets fusantes No. 185 , without striking mechanism, were used with incendiary shells and shrapnel in combat anti-air. A ‘T’ blue was painted on their nose.
http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/ImagesDecouvertes/collfus/Type85_2et3_02.jpg
http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/ImagesDecouvertes/collfus/EngFusen85i.jpg
A very, very nice find, and i’m very, very jealous!
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February 4, 2013 at 2:35 pm