Pete Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 Hi all, I found this item on one of my local beaches (Hornsea, East Yorkshire) and I thought at first it was just an old .303 round. Then I thought it could some kind of tracer round but again, due to size, I don't think it is. I just wondered if anyone could educate me to what it actually is? There are no numbered markings on it that I can make out and the rear of the object looks like no bullet I have ever seen. Please have a scan at the photos - any help on the subject most welcome - no rush, I'm just curious - I know this beach had a lot of activity during ww2 (Think it was a bombing range) but that's about all I do know. Cheers! Pete 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 no idea I'm afraid, perhaps Gildwiller will know? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 Sorry Kenny, is Gildwiller a user on here and if so do I need to send him this post direct or will he just see it and respond if and when he can??? Thanks, Pete 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Hello Pete, sorry the for delay. I am no expert by any means, but you might have a WW2 German MG 151 15mm projectile. The rear of the round with the knurled band, this is where the driving ring/band would go, it looks like some of the round after wards is missing as what is shown would not be enough to seat/seal the round to the casing, might have been damaged upon impact or over time, hard to say. Looks like a armor piercing round as well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Thanks Gilwiller, that makes sense, in fact we have an MG15 round in stock at the moment. So do you think the round was fired by the Luftwaffe on a raid in East Yorkshire? Here is our 15 MM inert Luftwaffe Round complete with fuse, projectile and case. Maker stamped including Luftwaffe acceptance stamps and both projectile and shell casing are wartime dated 44 . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 Hello Gildwiller & Kenny, Thanks for the identification (amazing to me!!!) I would just add that I doubt it was German (the beach was used by UK forces for training and I don't think it ever got attacked) - to this end I did a bit more searching and found this interesting link that you might want to check out: https://www.militaryhistories.co.uk/locations/view/23 Also, following up your 15mm identification, I would say that it was a British round from some type of Besa weapon - again more information can be found at:(you probably know all this stuff but just in case!) https://sites.google.com/site/britmilammo/15mm-besa Thanks again for the help - I will keep my eyes open for any other items (from what i've seen on the 1st link, I had better not pick up anything bigger than this or I might get blown to bits - still live items there!!!!) Cheers Pete 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Hello Pete, I did consider the Besa round as well when researching, but after comparing it to the round you posted the Besa looks similar to a US .50 cal round. I could be wrong though. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Interesting story about the RAF site. I did read that it was used for tank training as well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 27, 2023 Author Share Posted March 27, 2023 Hi Gildwiller, Sorry I've been a bit busy last few days.....Yeah I didn't know about the tank range either! You may well be correct by saying the round is of German origin but that makes finding it where I did even more odd - do you think due to the side damage that it was maybe in a batch that was 'destroyed' or do you think the damage has just been caused by natural erosion over the years? Also can you tell just by looking if this round had ever been fired - I assume that just because there was no casing means it was fired but this might not be the case? Any thoughts in your own time. Cheers! Pete 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Hello Pete, there are so many variables for this, it would be hard to nail it down. It could have been fired, as the driving band is missing, however it is highly corroded and might have gotten to its condition over time. It is really had to say and I wish I could give you a definite answer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 usmc Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Odd, I got two similar cartridges from a WW II US Air Corps pilot who flew Mustangs. My uncle. His kid said they are bf 109 off his first kill??? most likely bull... but the cartridges he was going to toss out are real. They are bigger than a USGI 50 cal round, I figure 20 mm?? These are steel tip bullets. The next one is The first aluminum tip has https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_151_cannon The first aluminium tip is marked 1943 2cm Kpr 2.2 eri.Fg-eox 119 The second pictured cartridge's tip is marked AZ 1?02 F eeo 1153 43 with a triangular double stamped maker's mark with some small letter inside . It is too small to tell. here is a photo of that maker's mark: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 usmc Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Those U.S. Air corps pilots always kept remembrance souvenirs if they lived long enough to bring them back- flying was a dangerous serious business in WW II. More stuff from a local boy see https://rascal2.discussion.community/post/1st-lt-henry-f-renard-pow-2938781 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Nice items USMC. The MG 151 was initially 15mm, then in 1941 it was redesigned to take a 20mm, becoming the MG 151/20 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 5, 2023 Author Share Posted April 5, 2023 Hi Gildwiller, No problem - thanks for all the information - if I find any other items, I'll be back!!!!!!!! Cheers! Pete 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 You are quite welcome Pete, sorry I could not be of more assistance. Looking forward to seeing more items. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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