An howitzer shell

[fernando]

With a 14,8 cms. diameter, this beast fits the 6" howitzer, used (for one) in the Peninsular War. Some field regiments had one of those. The interior looks very neat; might have never been loaded (?). This material must have been made in the end of the 18th century.
It weighs 7,3 Kgs; should it be a massive ball, it would weigh 11,8 Kgs and used in 24 pounder cannon.
The fuze hole measures 24 m/m. Taking some measurements, i find that the wall in the fuze hole área is thicker than in the opposite side (bottom); i wonder whether this is intentional, or just an irregularity.

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[adrian]

An interesting projectile, it raises a few questions:
Any idea of its provenance or origins?
Does it have a rivet hole at its base - directly opposite the fuze hole - a picture of this area perhaps?
Is the fuze hole properly threaded or just "roughed" - any chance of a close up looking side on at the fuze hole?
Regards, Adrian

PS in British military use a 6 inch shell would be for a 32pr. (5 1/2 inch being 24pr)

[fernando]

Originally Posted by adrian

An interesting projectile, it raises a few questions:
Any idea of its provenance or origins?
Does it have a rivet hole at its base - directly opposite the fuze hole - a picture of this area perhaps?
Is the fuze hole properly threaded or just "roughed" - any chance of a close up looking side on at the fuze hole?
Regards, Adrian

PS in British military use a 6 inch shell would be for a 32pr. (5 1/2 inch being 24pr)

Thanks a lot for your input,Adrian.
The guy who sold it to me told me the provenance was a street fair in Lisbon. For this and other reasons, i conclude (?) it is Portuguese. During the Peninsular war, forts and redoubts were equiped with 5 1/2" howitzers, whereas Campaign (field) Regiments were equiped with the 6". We know that massive quantities of material were provided by the Brits for the purpose, but also some artillery came from the Portuguese arsenals, made during the realm of King Dom José (end 1777) and Queen Dona Maria (1777-1799). There are examples of both (identical) howitzer versions in Oporto Military Museum ... and most naturally in Lisbon.
No relevant traces at its base, as per picture included.
The fuze hole is plain ... not threaded, also as per picture.


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[adrian]

If it had those features, rivet holes or threaded fuze hole, then it would post date the 1850s. So it is earlier than that but therefore very difficult to date as shells followed a simple design for very many decades. Likewise it is difficult to state what type of ordnance it was for, as guns, howitzers, carronades & mortars all fired shells. Though British mortars were not 6 inch so that one could be ruled out. It would have been strapped to a wood bottom to keep it properly orientated in the bore - fuze up.

[Matchlock]

Hi Adrian,


As this item of yours seems to consist of iron I define it as an 18th c. grenade.

Please refer to my thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ndiary+grenade

Attached find images of a perfectly preserved, and quite heavy, specimen in
The Michael Trömner Collection.


Best,
Michael

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Adrian,

As this item of yours ...

???

[Matchlock]

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