Tony N Posted 21 November , 2015 Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Hello, I have what I believe is some kind of transport safety plug for the French 75mm shell, after searching online I’ve only found explanations in French so, is anyone able to explain where a 'Bouchon obturateur pour gaine d‘obus de 75' belongs and if its a kind of safety cap or not? One is pictured here http://humanbonb.free.fr/indexAccobus.html It’s the 6th picture from the top. Thanks Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genegwf Posted 21 November , 2015 Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Tony, Google translate says " blanking plug for shell jacket 75". I think you are correct that it is some type of shipping or carrying plug. I am sure someone can be more exact than I. Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted 21 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Thanks for checking Gene, I just can't think of what it fits into, it's not exactly a sturdy little item. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petwes Posted 21 November , 2015 Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Tony This is a bit of educated speculation but I would assume it is a protection blanking plug that fits into a high explosive shell in place of the fuze during transit and storage. The fuze contains the detonator which then explodes the gaine which is pre-assembled into the high explosive filling of the shell. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted 21 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Ahhhh, I always think of the 75 having one of those beehive fuzes but if those little nipple type fuzes were used as well then yes Peter, your educated speculation may well be correct. Thanks. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey McLean Posted 21 November , 2015 Share Posted 21 November , 2015 Hello, Tony - Years ago while walking on Cote 304 near Verdun, I found a live French 75mm shell that had been fired. It had one of these transit plugs, bent but otherwise undamaged, in the fuse-hole. [Obviously, the lack of a fuse prevented it from detonating.] Both the shell and the plug It were in excellent shape and there was no doubt as to what the plug was or its purpose. Sorry, I do not have a photo available to attach. Regards, Torrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted 22 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 22 November , 2015 Hello Torrey, sounds like you've nailed it and confirmed Peter's thoughts. Thanks very much. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 22 November , 2015 Share Posted 22 November , 2015 ... it's not exactly a sturdy little item. Translation of the description certainly confirms the consensus of opinion as to what this object is. If it's 'not exactly a sturdy little item', though, is it actually strong enough to be used as a lifting eye for a complete French 75mm QF round, which was supplied to the artillery in one piece (projectile seated in the filled cartridge case)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony N Posted 22 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 22 November , 2015 No, it can't be used to lift the shell, to do so it would need to be threaded I'd have thought. A pic of it in hand for size and flimsyness comparison Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 22 November , 2015 Share Posted 22 November , 2015 Well you live and learn, I've had one of those in a box of bits for ages. I always assumed it was a bottle stopper of some description, which in a way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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