PzGr40
13.01.2008, 17:53
Cutaway model of an unknown WW2 German 8,8cm nebel- or kampfstoff (smoke / chemical) shell.
Only a few of these experimental projectiles have been found. There are three theories of what the purpose of this projectile may have been:
1: A smoke shell, it resembles the build up of German WW2 smoke shells, the filling consisting of oleum (80%) impregnated in pumice (20%) (SO3 auf Bimskies);
see: http://blazeold.ath.cx/viewtopic.php?t=2165&highlight=
2: A poison gas shell; often the design of smoke shells and gas shells (with both Allied and Axis) is nearly exactly the same. As this projectile is completely welded it is completely gas tight.
3: A smoke shell used to train flak crews. The projectile would gave a clear visable puff of smoke high up in the sky that could be used by flak crews as a target to shoot at. This training system would have been copied from the Brittish. (Who has info on this?)
Description of the projectile body:
The body is made of a modified high explosive shell of the 8,8cm SprGr. PrZugz type of which the upper 25 mm has been machined off to receive the so called kammerhulseor burster charge. In this case, the burster charge also houses the thread to receive the fuze. The burster charge is connected to the projectile by means of a roundgoing weld. In the base of the exploder cavity, a recess is machined which acts as a centering device for the burster charge during welding.
A plugged off hole in the side of the projectile is used for filling of the liquid content.
It was not possible to place a replica booster charge in the cutaway model as no info about the booster (if ever one was available in the stage of the experiment) does exist. The booster charge would have to be 28 mm in dia. and 85 mm long; it does not fit any known German standard booster, nor in dia. or length (See Ringbuch zundladungen).
Most often the lower charge existed of a stick or tablets of pressed FP02 or penthrite, packed in a paper wrapper. This however is an educated guess.
As there is no further info about this projectile any info is welcome.
Regards , DJH
Only a few of these experimental projectiles have been found. There are three theories of what the purpose of this projectile may have been:
1: A smoke shell, it resembles the build up of German WW2 smoke shells, the filling consisting of oleum (80%) impregnated in pumice (20%) (SO3 auf Bimskies);
see: http://blazeold.ath.cx/viewtopic.php?t=2165&highlight=
2: A poison gas shell; often the design of smoke shells and gas shells (with both Allied and Axis) is nearly exactly the same. As this projectile is completely welded it is completely gas tight.
3: A smoke shell used to train flak crews. The projectile would gave a clear visable puff of smoke high up in the sky that could be used by flak crews as a target to shoot at. This training system would have been copied from the Brittish. (Who has info on this?)
Description of the projectile body:
The body is made of a modified high explosive shell of the 8,8cm SprGr. PrZugz type of which the upper 25 mm has been machined off to receive the so called kammerhulseor burster charge. In this case, the burster charge also houses the thread to receive the fuze. The burster charge is connected to the projectile by means of a roundgoing weld. In the base of the exploder cavity, a recess is machined which acts as a centering device for the burster charge during welding.
A plugged off hole in the side of the projectile is used for filling of the liquid content.
It was not possible to place a replica booster charge in the cutaway model as no info about the booster (if ever one was available in the stage of the experiment) does exist. The booster charge would have to be 28 mm in dia. and 85 mm long; it does not fit any known German standard booster, nor in dia. or length (See Ringbuch zundladungen).
Most often the lower charge existed of a stick or tablets of pressed FP02 or penthrite, packed in a paper wrapper. This however is an educated guess.
As there is no further info about this projectile any info is welcome.
Regards , DJH