Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

Anyone know whats this is?

Discussion in 'Weapons used During WWII' started by geetar_freek, Sep 22, 2017.

  1. geetar_freek

    geetar_freek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1

    I'm looking for any information on this. I got it from my grandpa who allegedly says this was a torpedo that was dropped by airplanes. He was in the navy during WW2. I can't seem to find anything online. It's tough to search for information on it when I have no clue what it really is. It also appears to have a 3 digit serial number or number stamped into the shaft portion.
     
  2. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    9,503
    Likes Received:
    3,037
    My total guess is a flare...
     
  3. geetar_freek

    geetar_freek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1
    I thought mortar, but then I ran across a M9A1 rifle fired grenade. It looks like exactly the same minus the base but the dimensions I find online for those are a fair amount smaller then this thing.
     
  4. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    9,503
    Likes Received:
    3,037
    It looks like a rocket...but that base keeps throwing me...
     
  5. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Messages:
    18,246
    Likes Received:
    5,669
    Hedgehog rocket?
     
  6. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    6,300
    Likes Received:
    1,919
    Location:
    Perfidious Albion
    Reminiscent of mousetrap anti submarine rockets.
    Suspect 'anti-submarine projector' might be a worthwhile starting point.

    Do you mind if I ask elsewhere?
     
  7. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Messages:
    6,329
    Likes Received:
    1,712
    Location:
    The Arid Zone
    Dimensions would be useful.
     
  8. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Messages:
    18,246
    Likes Received:
    5,669
    "'Bout this big by this big."
     
  9. geetar_freek

    geetar_freek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1
    It is 58.7mm diameter at the largest portion and aprox. 476mm. (18 3/4 in.) tall.

    Von poop I don't mind. I'd just like to find out whatever I can about it.
     
  10. geetar_freek

    geetar_freek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1
    This is one of the M9A1 grenades I've stumbled across. This is the most similar looking thing I have found. But according to dimensions online they are quite a bit smaller
     

    Attached Files:

    CAC likes this.
  11. R Leonard

    R Leonard Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2003
    Messages:
    1,128
    Likes Received:
    780
    Location:
    The Old Dominion
    Not an M9 nor even an M11, both are a good bit shorter. My guess is a gussied up M6A3 . . . a 2.36 inch HEAT rocket fired from a bazooka type tube . . . or maybe more likely the practice round for same, the M7A3 . . . in either case not something generally carried in or on a USN airplane and obviously not a torpedo.
     
    geetar_freek likes this.
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    6,300
    Likes Received:
    1,919
    Location:
    Perfidious Albion
    Suggestion from a very strong player in Ordnance ID that it's a bazooka lamp.
    Andy Holcombe on Twitter (Follow him for some fine WW2 ex-exploding things.)

    Capture.JPG
     
  13. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    6,300
    Likes Received:
    1,919
    Location:
    Perfidious Albion
  14. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Messages:
    18,246
    Likes Received:
    5,669
    The base puts it out of real use, so the lamp thing would be reasonable. Probably somebody's shop class project. I've seen five inch shells used as floor lamp bases. (And somebody always asks "Is that thing live?")
     
  15. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    6,300
    Likes Received:
    1,919
    Location:
    Perfidious Albion
    If it proves there is space for a cable & 'lamp' fits, I would definitely be rewiring that.
    Maybe after a repaint...
     
  16. geetar_freek

    geetar_freek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thanks for all the info. Yeah lamp was kinda my plan. The wife wants me to leave the color, "it's vintage", but I honestly don't want the ugly ass thing around, hahha Repaint it is.
    Thanks again.
     
  17. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Messages:
    18,246
    Likes Received:
    5,669
    Match the color. Take it to a paint shop and they can recreate the original colors. But if you want it to look "vintage" you need to go with olive drab, not '50s kitsch.
     

Share This Page