CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! Lend-Lease 37MM tank shell casing found!!!

Slavdetect

Tenderfoot
Jul 19, 2016
9
36
Riga
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Garrett ACE 250
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Found this 37MM U.S. shell on a field by my country house in Latvia! I believe this one is from a M3 Stuart or M3 Lee as they both had served in the Soviet army during WW2 as part of the Lend-Lease program and both had 37MM guns. This is such an amazing find for me as I am 14 years old and started metal detecting about a week ago.

These are all the things my grandpa told me that he remembered that are associated with this house and WW2. Keep in mind that this happened in Latvia (the former WW2 Eastern Front).

So my grandpa said the previous owner of the house said that near the end of WW2 a couple U.S. tanks rolled up on to the field from a forest right next to the field and got shelled by German artillery about 3km away. It's known that one of the tanks took a direct hit from the artillery because the previous owner found a badly damaged tank generator on the field and I also knew the tanks were U.S. because the owner said that the plate with all the information about it was in English. When my grandpa's parents bought the house from that guy (around the 1950's) the house was a little bit damaged. A German artillery shell actually hit the house ,but didn't explode so they had to get it out. The main reason i actually thought about starting metal detecting was to find tank parts of these tanks that were by my house. The reasons as to why this shell is a bit damaged are: 1) This is the tank that took a direct hit from the German artillery or 2) This shell got mowed up by a plow. If anyone can help me find out more about this shell's lot that would be great!

IMG_1733[1].JPG IMG_1734[1].JPG IMG_1735[1].JPG

Here's a video of a similar generator starting up

 

Upvote 20

dirtdigginfool

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What a great find...and an even better back-story! I'm very impressed with the manner on which you have presented your finds, at 14 years old you certainly have great perspective for the hobby..AND history. Thanks very much for sharing, I'm waiting intently to see what all you find there...ddf
 

Westfront

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This shell probably comes off the blown tank. The damage is unusual for a plow and the primer only comes out when it's burst, not when fired in a cannon.
 

NOLA_Ken

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Definitely from the exploded tank, as the primer is unfired. Don't worry, the explosion and time in the ground mean it's completely inert. That's a pretty cool find with an amazing story behind it!
 

huntsman53

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Slavdetect... Congratulations on a super nice find and adding the history story behind the find! I hope you make more such finds and even greater finds in the future and share them with us as well! Just be careful because there could be some un-exploded ordinance (shells) in the area as well.


Frank
 

digger460

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Wow, great find. If your not addicted now, you never will be. Look forward to your future finds. Great back story!
 

Greastart

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Dec 29, 2014
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Slavdetect,

Great story and an awesome reason to start detecting. I know nothing of ordnance so I can't help. Please do continue to post your finds.
 

A2coins

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Dec 20, 2015
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Thanks for sharing that story and find amazing Great post
 

OP
OP
Slavdetect

Slavdetect

Tenderfoot
Jul 19, 2016
9
36
Riga
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Garrett ACE 250
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Thanks for all the positive replies!
 

Oct 5, 2014
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Thanks for sharing the video, nice to see old machinery restored! Congratualtions!
 

Aquila

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Jun 9, 2008
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that thank shell reminds me of my tank shells i dug from Estonia
 

ContactGSW

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Great story. Congratulations on the find, and your English. Your writing is probably better than mine.
 

baspinall

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What the hell are you talking about? How was that spam. Also, if you want to accuse me of something PM me.

Good for you, so do you want to keep spamming this kids thread or will you go start your own now?
 

OP
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Slavdetect

Slavdetect

Tenderfoot
Jul 19, 2016
9
36
Riga
Detector(s) used
Garrett ACE 250
Primary Interest:
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Oh wow thanks baspinall! This definitely confirms that this round came from a M3 AT gun ,the lot number even matches up. 9662 being the lot and -5 being the 5th round that they produced in that lot.
 

OP
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Slavdetect

Slavdetect

Tenderfoot
Jul 19, 2016
9
36
Riga
Detector(s) used
Garrett ACE 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Good for you, so do you want to keep spamming this kids thread or will you go start your own now?

That's a link related to the topic.
 

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