This auction has been won.
View other items offered by Malw342
Leading
Shawnhefer3204
1 ×
R1,210.00
31 Aug 21:01
Naval 2 Pounder No1 Mk2 Shells 1918 & 1941 (complete pair inert)
1 was
available
/ secondhand
Shipping
Standard courier shipping from R30
R30 Standard shipping using one of our trusted couriers applies to most areas in South Africa. Some areas may attract a R30 surcharge. This will be calculated at checkout if applicable.
Check my rate
Check my rate
Free collection from
Manors, Pinetown
The seller allows collection for this item and will be in contact with the full collection address once the order is ready.
Ready for collection by Friday, 26 April.
Ready to ship in
The seller has indicated that they will usually have this item
ready to ship within 1 business day. Shipping time depends on your delivery address. The most
accurate delivery time will be calculated at checkout, but in
general, the following shipping times apply:
Standard Delivery
| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Buyer Protection
How you're covered
Product information
Rare pair of inert British navy 2 pounder shells complete and in excellent condition. One brass case is marked 1918 and the other 1941.40mm x 158mm. Overall length is 280mm
They have extensive markings and inspection stamps.
Both projectiles have almost identical markings and inspection stamps as per the pictures below.
The Flat Aluminum impact fuse is marked PLUG I.N. LOT 243 B&S 1941
The B&S stamp most likely indicates that both fuses were made by Briggs & Stratton.
The steel body is marked 2PR IT/N BS PB &Co 2/41 AA Lot111
P.B & Co. are the manufacturers, Platt Bros. of Oldham.
The first 37mm gun was the French Hotchkiss rotary cannon of the 1870s., inspired by the manually cranked Gatling (although using a different mechanism) which saw extensive international service, particularly in warships, but did not seem to be much favoured by the UK. The next significant development was the 1 PR Maxim "pom-pom", a belt-fed automatic weapon (basically a scaled-up Maxim machine gun) which used the same low-powered 37x94R ammunition as the Hotchkiss. Ammunition loadings varied but typically consisted of a 555g shell fired at a muzzle velocity of 367 m/s. This came out at the end of the 19th Century and the British first experienced it the hard way, being on the receiving end of the weapons acquired by the Boers.
The gun was subsequently used by the British but suffered from the lack of an obvious role; it was too small to harm naval vessels and on land was outranged by the new quick-firing artillery pieces firing shrapnel shells, which were just as mobile. It acquired a new lease of life in WW1 as an answer to low-flying aircraft, and was employed in this role by the British as well as many other armies.
It soon became obvious that the low velocity of the 1 PR was a handicap in dealing with aircraft, so more powerful versions were developed. Vickers, who made Maxim guns, produced first the 1¼ PDR and then the 1½ PDR Mk 1 naval guns, both firing a much more powerful 37x123R cartridge (the 1¼ PDR was loaded with the shells from the 1 PR, the 1½ PDR had heavier shells). These saw very little use, however, before being replaced by the 2 PR No.1, basically the same but with the case necked out and extended to 40x158R. Although primarily designed for naval use, it was employed in land service as well during WW1.
http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/37-40mm.htm