WW II Steel Cased Tank Gun Shell SOLD Pending Payment

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printzpic
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WW II Steel Cased Tank Gun Shell SOLD Pending Payment

Post by printzpic » Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:54 am

Extremely rare. Steel cased 75mm steel cased shell as used in the main gun of the M3 Grant and M4 Sherman 75mm main gun. Brass shortages in the early stages of WW II forced the US Army to explore alternatives for casings for ammo. The steel cased .45 Cal ammo is but one example. Early problems with transporting this ammo across the ocean included the formation of rust from the salt air. The solution was to coat these casings with shellac. Once in action, a major problem occurred when the round was fired and the shellac melted in the breach. After two or three rounds fired, so much shellac had accumulated in the breach that subsequent rounds could not be loaded. This was the experience my dad related to me that he went thru in N. Africa as a gunner on a Grant and later a Sherman. You just don't see these particular casings offered for sale anywhere. $225.00 plus S&H
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Last edited by printzpic on Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:26 am, edited 1 time in total.


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artillerydan
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Re: WW II Steel Cased Tank Gun Shell FS

Post by artillerydan » Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:02 pm

Really neat piece, wish I was willing to spend that much. If nothing else thanks for the info and pictures.
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Re: WW II Steel Cased Tank Gun Shell FS

Post by supertsar » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:24 am

Wow - That is in fantastic shape. I had no idea they even made those in steel.
Did your dad happen to ever mention if they used M72 (uncapped) projectiles in North Africa - or if they had the capped (M61 APCBC) projectiles right from the start?
Sounds like he was in real early. Glad he made it through for you!
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printzpic
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Re: WW II Steel Cased Tank Gun Shell FS

Post by printzpic » Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:35 am

Thanks for your reply and question. My dad never got into the details of fuzes etc. He related the story of the steel shell casings and the fact that they had to literally use a ball peen hammer to try and pound subsequent rounds into the breach due to shellac residue fowling the breach. I wish I spent more time with him prior to his passing.....so many things to ask him and so much more to say to him.


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