Soviet Satellite Country Ammunition - Czechoslovakia (Part 6)

          

Examination of Czechoslovakian Ammunition Production/Inventory

Artillery Ammunition

 

The multiplicity of models and calibers of artillery weapons in the Czech Army in the past made an almost intolerable situation as regards ammunition supply, although ammunition for nearly all the available pieces is being produced in Czechoslovakia.  It is presumed that the artillery ammunition reserve stocks are approaching a safe level at present.

Projectiles manufactured in Czechoslovakia for the Czech Army are unpainted (color of machined metal).  On their surface are various stenciled markings which are usually in red.  A typical arrangement of the markings, reading from nose to base of the projectile, is as follows:

Vertical red line on shell body at junction with fuze --- Fuze index mark, for combination fuze

A group of 2 to 4 letters --- Relates to filler

Red band, around center of shell body --- Indicates a projectile fitted with a combination fuze

Letters and/or symbol --- Trademark and location of manufacturer

Letter and fraction or Roman numeral --- Lot number and year of manufacture

The meanings of some of the letters relating to projectile fillers have been determined as:

TP --- Bursting charge of Cast TNT and booster fitted with a safety device.

TTR --- Bursting charge of Pressed TNT and booster.

TTRP or TTP --- Bursting charge of Pressed TNT and booster with a safety device.


Cartridge cases bear stenciled and stamped markings on the base.  The stenciled markings are black and are arranged in a curved line along the rim.  Typical stenciled markings, and their meanings, might be:

14 x 4.3/970-mm  --- Size of propellant in mm.

Vz 38 trp --- Type of propellent

S 1/36 --- Series and year of manufacture

The stamped markings are arranged in straight lines on the base of the case.  An example of the stampings on a case might be:

a symbol --- Trademark of firm

1920 --- Year of manufacture

3 --- Lot of series

21 cm Vz 16 --- Using weapon

Detailed information on Czech artillery ammunition packaging is not available.  It is known that both wooden and metal packing boxes of conventional construction are used.  Czech packing may be expected to be of approximately equal quality with that of the larger industrial nations.  Identifying markings apparently are stenciled on the boxes, but details of their arrangement and precise meaning are not found.

75mm Complete Round, Fixed, HE, OCG Model ?
(7.5-cm OCG Vz. ?)

This high-explosive round is fired from the Czech 75-mm anti-aircraft gun M1932 (Skoda) with a time fuze of a model as yet unidentified.  The M1932 (Skoda) is to be found also in the Albanian and Rumanian Armies.  Czech ammunition for the weapon, therefore, may be encountered in these two Satellite countries.

The steel projectile is unpainted, with red markings.  A red band around the center of the projectile indicates the use of a combination fuze.  The groove between the two rotating bands is packed with a heavy grease.  The cartridge case is made of brass; stamped and stenciled markings appear on the base of the cartridge case.

Characteristics
Caliber: 75mm (2.95 in)
Weight of complete round: 11.87kg (26.38 lb)

Weight of projectile, as fired: ? kg (? lb)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: ? kg (? lb)

Type of projectile filler: Cast TNT

Weight of projectile filler: ? kg (? lb)

Packaging

No photo available

Information on packaging of this round is not available.

75mm Complete Round, Semi-Fixed, HE, OCG Model 14/14a
(7.5-cm OCG Vz. 14/14a)

No photo available

 This round, for the Czech 75-mm mountain howitzer M15, is known to exist, and its Czech nomenclature indicates that it uses a combination fuze, but further data on the round is not available.

Characteristics

Caliber: 75mm (2.95 in)
Weight of complete round: ? kg (? lb)

Weight of projectile, as fired: ? kg (? lb)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: ? kg (? lb)

Type of projectile filler: ?

Weight of projectile filler: ? kg (? lb)

Packaging

No photo available

Information on packaging of this round is not available.

76.5mm Complete Round, Fixed, HE, OCG Model ?
(7.65-cm OCG Vz. ?)

This high-explosive round is fired from the Czech 76.5mm anti-aircraft gun model 1928.  This weapon is also used by Bulgaria, and accordingly Czech-manufactured ammunition for the weapon may be encountered in Bulgaria.  The round uses a combination fuze of an unidentified model.

The steel projectile is unpainted, with red markings.  A red band around the center of the projectile indicates the use of a combination fuze.  The cartridge case is made of brass.  It is believed that propellent and manufacturing data are stamped and stenciled on the cartridge case base, in accordance with the practice commonly followed for other Czech artillery rounds.

Characteristics
Caliber: 76.5mm (3.19 in)
Weight of complete round: ? kg (? lb)

Weight of projectile, as fired: ? kg (? lb)

Weight of propellant, w/o igniter: ? kg (? lb)

Type of projectile filler: ?

Weight of projectile filler: ? kg (? lb)

Packaging

No photo available

Information on packaging of this round is not available.

Next Time: Soviet Satellite Country Ammunition - Czechoslovakia (Part 7)

Source: Original US-supplied Canadian Manual on Soviet & Soviet Satellite Explosives (No. 30-14-2)