Italian Explosive Ordnance - Cartridge Cases

Italian Explosive Ordnance

Cartridge Cases



 It is the Italian practice to have more than one weight for the normal charge for a particular equipment.  These are referred to as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd normal charge.  In terms of weight, these represent decreasing values.  The charge may be a flashless type or nonflashless.  A flashless charge is obtained by the inclusion of bags containing potassium chloride.  Two types of marking and coloring systems were used.

The Old System had:

A. Colored rings on the base of the cartridge to refer to the propellent charge.

Red ---------- 1st normal charge
Blue ---------- 2nd normal charge
2 black rings ---------- 3rd normal charge
Red and White ----------- 1st flashless charge
Blue and White ----------- 2nd flashless charge
2 black half rings ---------- 3rd flashless charge
Green and White ----------- Special charge for star shells


B. Colored triangles on the base.

Black ---- 1st class condition
Green ---- Near end of its life
Yellow ---- Practice



C. Other marks

Green circle ---- AA
White ----- Star Shell
C.L. ----- Tracer fitted


On 76/17 and smaller calibers, there is insufficient space for complete rings and so color letters give details.

D. On the bags are the following general markings relating to propellent.

1. Initial of manufacturer
2. Lot and date of manufacture
3. Place and date of proof
4. Place and date of filling





The New System:

The type of charge is indicated by a number in brackets, as follows:

[1] - 1st normal charge
[2] - 2nd normal charge
[3] - 3rd normal charge

If the charge is flashless, there is a half black ring on the base.  A complete black ring indicates a special charge for light projectiles, usually a 3rd normal charge.

The following signs have indicated significance:

Black circle ----- AA
Black triangle ----- 1st class condition
Black square ----- 2nd class condition
Black diamond ----- Near end of life
Black star ----- Star shell
C.L. ----- Tracer fitted

75/13mm Mountain Gun Cartridge Case

Overall length: 129 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 77.2 mm
Width of rim: 4 mm
Diameter at rim: 85 mm
Weight of empty case: 0.67 kilograms
Igniter: 10 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35








75/18mm Mountain Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 185 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 78.5 mm
Width of rim: Unknown
Diameter at rim: 90.2 mm
Weight of empty case: 0.83 kilograms
Igniter: 10 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35

  

75/27mm Field Gun Cartridge Case

Overall length: 185.4 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 78.5 mm
Width of rim: 3.6 mm
Diameter at rim: 90.2 mm
Weight of empty case: 0.835 kilograms
Igniter: 10 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35









75/32mm Light Field Gun Cartridge Case

Overall length: 334.1 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 78.5 mm
Width of rim: 3.6 mm
Diameter at rim: 90.2 mm
Weight of empty case: 1.4 kilograms
Igniter: 10 g black powder










77/28mm Field Gun Cartridge Case

Igniter: 10 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer MO8 P.B. 29 or 35











100/17mm Light Field Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 132 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 103.6 mm
Width of rim: 4 mm
Diameter at rim: 115 mm
Weight of empty case: 1.21 kilograms
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35

Remarks: This cartridge case and loadings are also used for the 100/17mm Mountain Howitzer.

105/14mm Light Field Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 135 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 110.9 mm
Diameter at rim: 122 mm
Weight of empty case: 1.76 kilograms
Igniter: 25 grams black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35





105/28mm Gun Cartridge Case
 

Overall length: 135 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 110.9 mm
Diameter at rim: 122 mm
Weight of empty case: 1.76 kilograms
Igniter: 25 or 30 grams black powder with 5 grams of lead foil as a de-coppering charge
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35

Remarks: Most cases for 105mm caliber guns are the same, but the propellent loading varies.  This same type of case and loading is used for the 105/32mm gun.







149/12mm Heavy Field Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 100 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 157.2 mm
Diameter at rim: 171 mm
Weight of empty case: 1.8 kilograms
Igniter: 25 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35

149/13mm Heavy Field Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 221 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 151.9 mm
Width of rim: 6 mm
Diameter at rim: 164.7 mm
Igniter: 25 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M29 or M35








152/37mm Gun Cartridge Case

Overall length: 767 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: Unknown
Width of rim: Unknown
Diameter at rim: 180 mm
Weight of empty case: 9.72 kilograms
Igniter: 50 g black powder
Primer: Percussion Primer M35

Remarks: The charge of the propellent varies with the type of projectile used.










380/15mm Heavy Howitzer Cartridge Case

Overall length: 855 mm
Overall diameter at mouth: 390 mm
Width of rim: Unknown
Diameter at rim: 420 mm
Weight of empty case: 44 kilograms

Next Time: Italian Hand and Mortar Grenades

Italian Explosive Ordnance - 100mm and 105mm Projectiles

Italian Explosive Ordnance

  

100mm HE

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10 or Guerritore I.M35, I.M38, or I.M40

Overall length (w/ fuze): 386 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 372 mm
Diameter at base: 99 mm
Distance base to band: 15 mm
Width of band: 13 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 1.285 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 12.7 kilograms
Booster used: No.3 M38






100/17mm HE M32

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10

Overall length (w/ fuze): 454 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 440 mm
Diameter at base: 86 mm
Distance base to band: 55 mm
Width of band: 16 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 2.218 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 13.49 kilograms
Booster used: No.2 M38

  

100mm ADE HE

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Nose Fuze A.D.E. M12

Overall length (w/ fuze): 399 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 341 mm
Diameter at base: 99 mm
Distance base to band: 40 mm
Width of band: 13 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT, MBT, MAT, or Pertite
Weight of filling: 1.312 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 12.93 kilograms
Booster used: No.3 M38

Remarks: This projectile is fuzed for aerial burst or impact.




100/17mm ADE HE M32 and M36

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing:
-M32: Nose Fuze ADE M32
-M36: Nose Fuze ADE M36

Overall length (w/o fuze): 379.7 mm
Overall length (w/ fuze):
-M32: 474.7 mm
-M36: 479.9 mm

Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: 55 mm
Width of band: 16 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 1.57 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 13.375 kilograms
Booster used: No.3 M38





100mm EP (Hollow Charge)

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Base Fuze E.P. M36

Overall length (w/o fuze): 377 mm
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: Unknown
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: RDX/TNT
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: 12.5 kilograms





100mm EPS (Hollow Charge)

Guns used in: 100/17mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: I.E.P.M.

Overall length: Unknown
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: Unknown
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: 99.7 mm

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: 12.5 kilograms

105/28mm HE (Practice and Incendiary)

105mm HE

Guns used in: 105/28mm Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10

Overall length (w/ fuze): 418.2 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 404.2 mm
Diameter at base: 104 mm
Distance base to band: 31.5 mm
Width of band: 15 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 104.6 mm

Weight of filling: 1.24 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 15.55 kilograms

105mm Practice
Fuzing: Nose Percussion M35 p.c.
 Weight of filling: 0.3 kilograms

105mm Incendiary
Fuzing: Nose Percussion M35 p.c.
Filling:
-Phosphorus: 1.7 kg
-TNT: 0.09 kg
-Gasoline 1.? kg (Could be a 6 or a 0 due to the quality of the print)
-TNT: 0.07

Note: The print for the "Filling" section is very hard to read.  Apologies.

Remarks: The projectiles differ only in filling and fuzing.  Another modification is cast in one piece instead of having an adapter.

105/28mm HE M32

Guns used in: 105/28mm Light Field Gun, 105/14mm Gun, 105/32mm Gun
Fuzing: Nose Percussion Fuze M10

Overall length (w/ fuze): 469 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 455 mm
Diameter at base: 90 mm
Distance base to band: 58 mm
Width of band: 14.8 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 104.6 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 2.35 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 16.3 kilograms
Booster used: No.2 M38

105/28mm ADE M32

Guns used in: 105/28mm Light Field Gun, 105/14mm Gun, 105/32mm Gun
Fuzing: Nose Fuze ADE M32 or ADE M36

Overall length (w/ fuze): 510 mm
Overall length (w/o fuze): 415 mm
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: 68 mm
Width of band: 14.8 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 104.6 mm

Type of filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 1.76 kilograms
Weight of loaded projectile: 16.125 kilograms
Booster used: No.2 M38

105mm AP

Guns used in: 105/14mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Unknown

Overall length: 300.5 mm
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: 59.5 mm
Width of band: 18 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: Unknown

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: 15.65 kilograms

105/25mm EP (Hollow Charge)

Guns used in: 105/25mm Gun
Fuzing: Unknown

Overall length: Unknown
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: Unknown
Width of band: 18 mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 104.3 mm

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: 14 kilograms

Remarks: Little is known about this projectile except that it is a fixed round and is one of the latest types since it was used in 1944.  The cap is 230 mm long.  The rotating band is soft iron instead of copper.

105mm (Hollow Charge) M43

Guns used in: 105/14mm Light Field Gun
Fuzing: Unknown

Overall length: Unknown
Diameter at base: Unknown
Distance base to band: Unknown
Width of band: Unknown
Diameter at bourrelet: Unknown

Type of filling: Unknown
Weight of filling: Unknown
Weight of loaded projectile: 14 kilograms

Remarks: Little information is available on this projectile since it was one of the latest designs.

Next Time: Italian 120mm Projectiles