Hi all, I was wondering wether any of you can identify some items I found in the woods near Manhay a couple of years ago. I know some heavy fighting took place there during christmas of '44. 1. Some kind of fuse? 2. It looks like the base of a tripod or something... 3. This thing is really heavy and looks like a cap of some sort (threading on the sides) but with some kind of mechanism on the inside?... 3. Closeup of the back. Any ideas? Cheers, Pumpupthebbq
Welcome BBQ!! Those are some interesting item! I don't know what they are but I can tell you we have many member here that I'm sure can help you! you might want to go to the "New Members" section just to introduce yourself, so we can get to know you a little better! Good luck on your research and again welcome!!
Hello, pumpupthebbq.... The first item - if the nose is made from brass, looks like part of the fuze from a US shell. The second item, I cannot identify. The third item is interesting ; it's identical to one I found two weeks ago at le Bas Aubry wood in the Falaise Gap. German artillery was sited in the wood and there were artillery-related relics lying about. As you say, the item is very heavy, and if you look closely at the one I have, it has a small brass ( adjusting ? ) screw let into one side of it..... Someone out there must know....?
Hi Bigfun and Martin! @bigfun: Just introduced myself, thanks for taking a look! @Martin: Bang on! It's got a screw on the side: You think its artillery related? I thought i'd post one more find found in the same area, It's a piece of aluminium-ish plate with which looks like some kind of emblem on the front and a latch on the back... front approx. 6 inches long: back: Would love to get some more information! Cheers, Pumpupthebbq
It is absolutely a 'double' of the one I found. At first I thought it may be a radiator cap ( the screw possibly being to relieve pressure and the base is threaded ) but it seems far too heavy for that. I guessed at artillery only because I knew that German guns fired from Aubry wood. I really don't know - part of a vehicle ? Half-track, maybe ? Very frustrating..... This will be one of those items which I'll see in a museum or militaria fair and think.....AH - HAH !
Items 1 and 3 belong together. US detonator used on many kind of shells, 75mm/76mm/105mm/155mm etc. Used on different types of detonators, like the M51, M57 etc... You find these often on battle fields.
272VGD - what can I say ? Superb identification work ! So that's another 'first' for me - a US relic of Falaise.....but logical when you think of it. Le Bas Aubry wood was being used to shelter German forces before the final dash to the river ; and as an artillery position to cover the crossing. It would have been under heavy bombardment from the US forces approaching toward Chambois ; the remains of shell holes could clearly been seen in the woods.
The M57 etc. (item 3.) was also made from copper/brass, on a small scale. Very rare to find! I only have one yet.. which is not complete.
We (my friend) dugup quite a few of these detonators some weeks ago in the German Eifel, some still in the metal containers, in very good condition!
wow what a find are they mortor bombs like you sat some are still in good con what are the little pellet things and thankyou for showing us your good time cheers krieg
Once again, nice find! I'm learning every day here. Could the cap be related to a hydraulic system? A could be a lid for the aiming and steering device. Just a guess , nothing positive.