Shell case experts?

[curranl]

Hello All,

I have been asked to check the origins of a shell case owned by a colleague. The shell case is 83mm (3 1/4 inch) in diameter. Stamped on the base is RS L 39 13 S Ln 75 DEC.

Any ideas?

Regards,

Liam.

[Peter B]

Liam

Have you looked at this site it has quite a lot of info on WW1 shell case markings

http://home.hetnet.nl/~supersmit/ww1/stamp...#identification

I have a case at home with 75 DEC but also USA so assume may be Americian the case is 350mm high 75mm at top and is approx 85mm at the bottom

hope this is of some help

Peter

[DirtyDick]

Not totally sure, but it could be of far more recent manufacture.

'75 DEC' is likely(?) to be a batch designation for munitions produced in Dec., 1975.

Also, I recall from somewhere that the 'L39' is a foreign gun/SPG.

As I say, not totally sure but it may help if you look for modern ordnance as well as old. (As you are in Ireland, perhaps it is/was in service with the Irish DF or else brought back from abroad as a souvenir by an Irish UN soldier ... or else bought in a shop etc.)

Richard

[Peter B]

The case I have, I am almost sure dates from WW1.

The Americians were issued with the french 75mm field gun and many were made under license in the states so may be a shell case for that gun.

Peter

[curranl]

Peter and Richard,

Thanks for your replies. The case is straight and rimmed, if that helps. It was bought in London, probably prior to 1975, so it is almost certainly not one used by our Defence Forces. I don't have the full length of the case as it has been cut and converted into a "coal scuttle" ashtray.

Regards,

Liam.

[redbarchetta]

Liam,

This is WW1 vintage, it is a standard casing for the French 75mm guns, also used by the US forces, but your shell is French, the US ones have the makers name on the base. I'm afraid I never figured out what all the other numbers mean, but the 'DEC 75' is fairly standard. I suspect the '13' is the year, i.e. 1913.

Jim

[curranl]

Hi Redbarchetta,

Thanks for that.

Regards,

Liam.

[Guest private, 2nd worch. btn.]

the 75 is the calibre. Everyone must have heard of the famous French 'soixante-quinze'. That is the equivalent of the British 18pdr, and the German 77mm Whizz Bangs.

The 13 means indeed the year of manufacturing, same as on other ww1 shells, mostly abbreviated by putting just the two last nominals of the year on the shell.

what the other marking are, don't know. But will look in my books if I could find any other info on this one.

hope to be a little help

Ramses

[curranl]

Thanks Ramses,

I knew there had to be a few people out there who knew it's origins!

Regards,

Liam.