Shell ID please

[Guybrush]

Found this on the beach earlier. Is it an anti-aircraft shell? I'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.

Cheers

[pippy96]

yes it is
20mm

[Hunterkate]

Guybrush Threepwood, did you find it on Monkey Island???

[Guybrush]

Thanks. Naah, Dorset. There's too many tourists on monkey island these days.

[king arthur]

Hi , I spotted your post whilst looking on my sons forum on his computer I hope he does not mind me replying on his behalf.
My son has found many of these near our home in whiteparish WILTS near some pill boxes, we researched the head stamps and they are WW2 20mm cannon. Mainly used for AA most commonly from a Polsten gun. Google Polsten gun you'll find quite a bit of info.

ATB Arthurs dad

[Guybrush]

Those are horrible looking things those Polsten Guns, they look like insects or something. It's hard to imagine one or more of them down on the beach. I don't know if there was much action round there although I know there was an army base nearby so it probably was a target.

[Chopper]

I don't know if there was much action round there...

Just a bit mate. This area took a hammerering during the Battle of Britain.

I had the very great pleasure of meeting an RAF airman from Weymouth in Normandy last year. I was there with my Great-Uncle Joe (who is also a Normandy veteran). Joe and Peter spent the whole week together, walking the battlefields, and reminiscing. I followed closey, listening to their stories. One particular afternoon, we were sat in the harbour at Ouistreham (near Pegasus Bridge). I bought a large tray of chips, and the three of us sat and shared them. It was a moment that I'll never forget! It was a lovely sunny day, and the fishermen were chugging in the harbour, and cleaning their boats after a morning out at sea (where 66 years earlier, thousands of Allied battleships were pounding the Normandy coastline, and bringing troop ashore). We sat silently enjoying the serenity, looking across the harbour. Those 20 or so minutes will stay with me forever.

Anyway, Peter told me about an aircraft that was shot down in, or close to Weymouth. If I recall correctly it was a Junkers JU88. Peter and another serviceman was first on the scene. They said the wreckage was strewn everywhere, and they did their level best to find, and help any of the enemy survivers. Unfortunately it soon become clear that no one had survived the crash. Peter picked something up off the ground, only to realise that it was a human body part!! He recoiled in horror, and dropped what he had found!

He also went on to talk about the numerous bombings raids suffered by the town and it's people.

In the later years of the war, this area was swarming with Allied Troops preparing for the invasion of occupied France - D-Day! I've interviewed another veteran (whos sadly no longer with us). He told me how they used to invade Hayling Island in preperation for landing in Normandy. They would storm the beach on the island, and practice getting ashore quickly with their full kit. He went on to say that no matter how many times they practiced, it didn't prepare them for the real thing in Normandy.

There's tonnes of WW2 history around your local area mate. I'm sure there's lots of places where you could detect and find some great items.

Cheers,
Chopper

[RRPG]

This is a great thread as it clearly shows a fine example of a 20mm OERLIKON cartridge. These differ from the normal 20mm cartridge case in that the rim has a smaller diameter than the body of the cartridge, and the shoulder is 'sloped' rather than 'stepped'. A 20mm Hispano cartridge, as used in many British and American aircraft, have a rim of the same diameter as the body of the cartridge and a clear 'step' in the shoulder.

You may not think the difference is important ....... but it is !!! Oerlikon's were ground based weapons, Hispano-Suiza's were air based. So, if you find a 20mm case and can differentiate between the two, you can immediately say if it was fired on the ground or in the air.

Hope that helps

RRPG