8,8cm practice/test shells for flak 18,36/37

[PzGr40]

Cutaway models of four types of German 8,8cm practice shells and one test shell for the flak 18, 36/37.

From top to bottom:

8,8 cm Sprgr. Patr.L/4,5 (Kz.) L.S. (Leuchtsatz-Sprengladung), meaning 8,8cm high explosive shell, projectile length 4,5 calibres (short), Illuminating explosive charge.
This projectile is a practice projectile, giving a clear visable bright flash on explosion. The flash is created by mixing aluminium powder in the pressed TNT charge (Presskorper Fp.02 + Al- pyroschliff 60:40). The lower part of the projectile body was filled with a pressed white powder substance, leaving a white cloud where the shell exploded.
The entire charge is packed in a hard cartboard container.
The colour of the projectile is yellow, with a 50 mm high stenceling LS in white on the side.

8,8cm Sprgr. Patr. L/4,5 (Kz.) Pr.Zugz. Ub.W. (Ubung Weiss), meaning 8,8cm high explosive shell, L/4,5 (short), Pressed and rolled , Practice white smoke.
This projectile is a practice projectile, giving a clear visable white cloud of smoke on explosion. The projectile uses the Mundlochbuchse 12 (Booster housing No.12) and the Zdlg. 36F (Booster type 36 F), a more powerfull booster charge than the Zdlg. C98 normally used in the 8,8cm projectiles. Below the booster charge a 18 mm dia. stick of Fp02 (TNT) is placed, packed in a cartboard container.
The smoke charge exists of a mixture of 80% phospor –paraffin (mixture TL3014), mixed with 20 % of white table paraffin(?)(mixture 6302) with a melting point between 50/52 degr. Celcius.
The colour of the projectile is yellow, witha 60 mm high stenceling UbW in white on the side.

8,8cm Sprgr. Patr. L/4,5 (Kz.) Bl. (Blind) with Ersst. (Ersatsstuck) f. Az.23/28 (dummy piece for impact fuze 23/28). The body of the projectile is filled with tar to bring it up to the weight of a normal projectile. The projectile was mainly used “fur Vo beschuss” or speed test.

8,8cm Sprgr. Patr. L/4,5 Pr.Zugz. Bl (Blind) with Ersst. f. Zt.Z. S30 (dummy piece for Time fuze S30) The body of the projectile is filled with tar to bring it up to the weight of a normal projectile. The projectile was mainly used “fur Vo beschuss” or speed test.

8,8cm Sprgr. Patr. L/4,5 (Kz.) mit hemmplatte (brake disc). A projectile with a brake disc screwed in top. These projectiles typically have no filling. Used for testing the gun on short ranges.

Regards, DJH

[albrown]

very nice as usual ,thank you for sharing them

[blu-97]

great cutaways, Thanks

[megatron]

Great!!!

[x]

DJ, you mentioned the:
"-8,8cm Anschiessgeschoss, (high pressure test)"

The "Anschieß" is no HPT but a zeroing round or a "balistic standard".

[zünder]

Excellent, as always.

"8,8cm Sprgr. Patr. L/4,5 (Kz.) mit hemmplatte (brake disc). A projectile with a brake disc screwed in top. These projectiles typically have no filling. Used for testing the gun on short ranges."

One small remark though: there seem to have been no standard when it came to filling the shells with Hemmplatte.
Some were empty, some had a "Mundlochbüchse", some were filled with tar, others with tar and all kinds of scrapmetal.
Apperently even specimens filled with half tar half explosives and some entirely filled with explosives have been found.

[PzGr40]

@ X, thanks, I will change it.
@ Zünder, thanks for the extra info. I was told these were normally empty, exeptions filled.

I got some info about another type of 8,8cm (experimental) existing; a projectile with a long (base ejected) wire on a parachute, supposedly something like the Brittish wire barages that were meant to make a cable run into the propeller of an enemy aircraft.
Does anybody have any info about this projectile?

Is there a toolmakers cartridge for the flak 18, 36/37 cartridge? Like the ones used in weapon factory's to check good/reject machining tolerances for the chamber of the barrel.

I was told there is also a "abkomm" or salute shell. This would exist of a plm. halved shellcase with a rimmed edge to hold a cartboard washer. Does anybody know if it exists?

Regards DJH

[zünder]

@D.J.: the experimental shell you're talking about is the 8,8 cm Draht Geschoss, it's featured in one of the last Waffen Revue's.

To my knowledge, there was no such thing as a toolmakers cartridge, well.. not in the same shape as the ones for 20x138B that is.
But maybe somebody else knows more.

The "Abkomm" round is a different kind of round for a different gun; it uses a shell not fired by 8,8 cm Flak 18,36 or 37 and used the 8,8 cm C/35 shellcase.

There is a halved 8,8 cm salute shellcase, but considering the dimensions of the base, that one was probably meant for the 8,8 cm Abkomm.K.

[PzGr40]

I thought salute was the British translation of the German word "abkomm".
Do you have a picture or drawing if this 8,8cm parachute wire projectile . I am afraid I do not have this waffen revue. (or send it by E-mail)
Regards DJH

[zünder]

No, the Abkomm Kanonen were subcaliber devices, used practice shooting without the need to fire full caliber (more expensive) shots.

I think the 8,8 cm Abkomm.K. was used for 20,3 cm S.K. C/34 and 28 cm S.K. C/34 for instance.
There were HE shells for this guns, practice shots (tar filled), Salut and Manöver, so assumption that this was merely a salut gun seems a bit far fetched

[rigby]

(or send it by E-mail)
Regards DJH

Check your mails. ;)

[PzGr40]

Thanks a lot! ;)

[x]

Is there a toolmakers cartridge for the flak 18, 36/37 cartridge? Like the ones used in weapon factory's to check good/reject machining tolerances for the chamber of the barrel.



DJ, please do not mix a tool cartridge (Werkzeugpatrone) which is basically a better drill cartridge with a go/no go gauge (Lehre).
Gauges for a 88mm will certainly not even look cartridge-like.

[x]

Some were empty, some had a "Mundlochbüchse", some were filled with tar, others with tar and all kinds of scrapmetal.


Zünder, it is actually "Mundlochbuchse" (fuze well). A "Buchse" is a bushing while a "Büchse" is a can.
Sorry for being "smart assish" but we should watch correct terminology in order not to confuse less experienced people or provide language which once translated by someone will lead to cranky and wrong interpretations obscuring the sense of the written.

[PzGr40]

@ Zunder, thanks for the info, so abbkomm is wat in Dutch would be called a " subkaliber insteekloop".
@ X, so a go/no go gauge is called a Lehre in the German language?

[x]

@ X, so a go/no go gauge is called a Lehre in the German language?

Correct DJ.