another day on the beach

[gemby26]

a couple of hours today on my same beach, the wind/tide has washed away some of the sand revealing these little monster i got all excited when i found the first one thinking they was a ring! i found loads of them even one still attached. any ideas? also whats the other bits in the picture?

thank you

[RRPG]

Well, the rings are all drive bands from 20mm projectiles. The two rusty objects on the left appear to be spent 20mm projectiles and also hollow, which is lucky for you ! If they weren't hollow, you could very well have taken home the equivalent of two small but quite lethal grenades. If you find any complete ones of these, PLEASE leave them alone. High explosive (HE) 20mm projectiles are notoriously bad tempered.

As for the brass item on the bottom, this is the top cover from a 2inch mortar nose fuze. I have attached a picture of a sectioned fuze for you to see. Just to explain the fuze 'action', when the bomb is fired, the force exerted on the rod and spring to the right forces the rod down. This allows the ball to travel down the little slope and thus 'arms' the bomb. The firing pin is now forced against the inside of the brass cover under action of its spring and, when the bomb hits an ojbect, the brass cap is crushed against the firing pin which hence detonates the bomb. The cap you found clearly shows the impression left by the top of the firing pin.



Be careful on the site as you will surely find live ordnance. If you find a complete mortar bomb with the fuze attached, DO NOT MOVE IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE$. Call the authorities straight away.

2 inch fuze.jpg

[gemby26]

thanks again rrpg the only reason i took these was because i could see they was completly hollow! i have come across complete ones which are still in the same place i have found them

Theres loads of pieces of metal with the thread including the ball bearing with one flat edge, now i finally no what they are thankyou


i appreciate theres lots of bad things still burried in this spot unless i can see througth them or i know what they are they stay where they are. im just glad you can recognise these odd bits and pieces as im getting a nice little collection

[RRPG]

Pleasure to be of assistance

[william holmes]

nice one keep it up