Italian Explosive Ordnance - 57mm to 70mm Projectiles

Italian Explosive Ordnance

  

57/43mm A.P. (Without Cap)

 
Guns used in: 57/43mm Anti-Tank Gun
Fuzing: Base Percussion Fuze M09

Overall length of round: 222mm
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: 36mm
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: Unknown

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 0.135 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 2.912 kilograms

Remarks: This projectile is part of a fixed round which weighs 5.06 kilograms and has a propellent charge of ballistite.  The propellant weighs 0.46 kg and is compressed of grains 2mm x 2mm x 300mm.






57/43mm A.P. (With Cap)

Guns used in: 57/43mm Anti-Tank Gun
Fuzing: Base Percussion Fuze M09

Overall length of round: 252.5mm
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: 36mm
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: Unknown

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 0.105 kilograms (The book states 105 kg)
Weight of loaded projectile: 5.083 kilograms

Remarks: This projectile is almost identical to the 57mm A.P. (without cap) except that a ballistic cap is added.  The propellent charge weighs 0.55 kg and consists of powder C2 in grains 3.3mm x 1.1mm x 205mm and 102mm.

  

65/17mm HE

Guns used in: 65/17mm Mountain Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10

Overall length (w/ fuze): 214 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 234 mm
Diameter at base: 64.5 mm
Distance base to band: 23 mm
Width of band: 7 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 64.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT or MNDT
Weight of filling: 0.23 kg
Weight of loaded projectile: 4.15 kg
Total length of round: 394 mm
Weight of complete round: 5 kg
Booster used: No.5 M38

Remarks: The projectile is thought also to have been fuzed with the Nose Fuze A.D.E. M06 17 (My copy is blurred here).  This fuze requires the removal of the nose adapter and also changes the length and weight of the projectile.





65/17mm AP

Guns used in: 65/17mm Mountain Gun
Fuzing: Base Percussion Fuze M10

Overall length: 280 mm
Diameter at base: 64.5 mm (Manual states 645)
Distance base to band: 23 mm
Width of band: 7 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 64.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 0.16 kg
Weight of loaded projectile: 4.23 kg

Remarks: The projectile is part of a fixed round.  The propellent charge weighs 5.13 kg






65/17mm EP (Hollow Charge)

Guns used in: 65/17mm Mountain Gun
Fuzing: Base Percussion Fuze EP M44

Overall length: 243.4 mm
Diameter at base: 64.6 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 64.7 mm

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: Unknown

Remarks: The projectile with its cartridge case makes up a fixed round of ammunition, the length of which is 412.6 mm.

65/17mm EPS (Hollow Charge)

Guns used in: 65/17mm Mountain Gun
Fuzing: Base Percussion Fuze IEPM

Overall length: 248.7 mm
Diameter at base: 64.6 mm
Distance base to band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: 64.7 mm

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: Unknown

Remarks: The projectile is used in a fixed round, the overall length of which is 418.2 mm.

70/15mm HE

Guns used in: 70/15mm Pack Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10 or Nose Fuze M (Guerritore)

Overall length without fuze: 229mm
Diameter at base: 69.3mm (approx) (Manual states 6.93, with no measurement)
Distance base to band: Unknown
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: 69.5 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 0.275 kg
Weight of loaded projectile: 4.75 kg

Next Time: Italian 75mm Projectiles (Part 1)