Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
SHELL CASES
Unique ID: MAS-F100104
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
The shell case measures 660 mm long and is 152 mm in diameter at the base, and 116 mm in diameter at the neck though this has been buckled and stretched. The shell case appears to have been either constructed without a base, or it has been removed at some point in the past. The diameter of the neck and its overall size point to it being a 4.5-inch or possibly a 4.7-inch shell case. Without the base with the details of type, manufacturer and date of manufacture, the history and origin of this case is not clear. It would have been part of a fixed round, i.e. the shell was attached to the shell case like a large rifle round. The maximum weight of these rounds was around 36 kg (80 lbs), which was the weight considered to be sustainable for loading manually loaded fixed ammunition. The 4.5-inch gun has been the standard medium-gun calibre of the Royal Navy for use against surface, aircraft and shore targets since 1938, and in the case of the 4.7-inch gun since 1916.
The history of this shell case is unknown, however, based on the damage it has sustained and the degree of corrosion, it appears that the shell was pried out of it and the base cut off with a lathe at some point in the past, before the remainder was lost or discarded.
Class:
ARMOUR AND WEAPONS
Sub class: AMMUNITION
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: With finder
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted as wreck to the Receiver of Wreck
Wreck details
Droit number: 221/17
Chronology
Broad period: MODERN
Period from: MODERN
Period to: MODERN
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 660 mm
Diameter: 152 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 23rd August 2017
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: A BB
Identified by: Mr Trevor Parker
Secondary identifier: V L
Other reference numbers
Droit ID: 221/17
Materials and construction
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ4400
Four figure Latitude: 50.78170298
Four figure longitude: 0.04126088
1:25K map: TQ4400
1:10K map: TQ40SW
Display four figure position on What3Words
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: MAS-100009
Object type: SHOT
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
This is an assemblage of six round cast iron and stone projectiles of varying sizes. Due to the ubiquitous nature of their design, it is diffi…
Workflow: Published
Find number: MAS-D100115
Object type: CARTRIDGE
Broadperiod: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Images of this find were sent to Trevor Parker of the Ordnance Society. He confirmed that these three shell cases belong to a six-pounder Hotc…
Workflow: Published
Find number: MAS-F100172
Object type: AIRCRAFT COMPONENT
Broadperiod: MODERN
Rolls Royce Merlin 45 gear unit, serial number GU 69 677, with a truncated, heavily damaged and corroded, three bladed propeller. All three pr…
Workflow: Published
About us
About our site
Data labs
Find us
Wessex Archaeology
Portway House, Old Sarum Park
Salisbury SP4 6EB
T: +44(0) 1722 326867
E: