Found in the jungles of Guam

[reddirt]

Found this in the jungle. I'm sure its from WW2 but I'm not exactly sure what it is. Any ideas?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

well it's part of an artillery projectile, you would have to post accurate measurements of the length and diameter, as well as some shots of both ends to really id it. It looks to not have a fuse on the tip so it should be safe to move around.

 

[ivan salis]

yep looks like a WW2 era artiilary shell warhead seems there is no nose (fuse) upon it * so it should be unarmed and thus safe to move however please note ***** the WW2 era japanese had a bad habit of booby trapping stuff - so I'd think twice about moving and if I still wanted to move it I'd look at it very very very carefully before even thinking of touching it

 

[diggummup]

Possibly something similar to this when fully intact.



The dark section in the middle.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I don't think it is an artillery projectile, because those don't have a threaded iron body. (I do see threading on it, not simple ridges/rings.) It could be the explosive head of a rocket or bazooka-round. Or it might not be a military item.

Precise measurements are needed.

Also, we need to see more photos -- particularly, close-up views of its base, and the front, to see if it has a fuzehole, which would be threaded.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I don't think it is an artillery projectile, because those don't have a threaded iron body. (I do see threading on it, not simple ridges/rings.) It could be the explosive head of a rocket or bazooka-round. Or it might not be a military item.

Precise measurements are needed.

Also, we need to see more photos -- particularly, close-up views of its base, and the front, to see if it has a fuzehole, which would be threaded.

I was wondering about those threads as well, rocket makes sense, I couldn't find any mortar rounds to match, I'll look a bit more when I get a chance.

 

[Retired Sarge]

I was thinking a 2.75 rocket (Willie Pete). Look at the last picture on this page of the link, can't copy the picture. Looks pretty damn close to me.

http://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraf...ck-Lake-Air-Force-Range/4434834_LB5npn#P-3-10

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Very good research, Mike! The photo shows the large iron threading visible through the cracked outer casing of the rocket's fuel-section, below the explosive head. Unscrew the fuze in the nose, and that 2.75" rocket warhead would be a very close match to the Guam mystery-object. Not quite an exact match, but very close. The slight difference could be due to the Guam specimen presumably being from 1944, and the Cuddleback Lake Air Force Range specimen being from some decades later.

Perhaps the Guam finder can supply exact measurements and other photos which will confirm (or cancel) the ID.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Figured out the picture.

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[ivan salis]

it might be the warhead (minus the fuse part which it used the same fuse as a mortor round ) to a japanese WW2 era type 4 * 70 mm (2.7559 inches) japanese anti tank rocket gun (similar somewhat to a us bazooka )

or a 60 mm (2.36 inches) american bozooka type warhead minus the fuse

 

[MilitaryCollector]

Artillery projectile that has it's fuse and rotating bands missing (looks more japanese than american)

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

If it turns out to be a Bazooka round, and once some measurements are established, the following Wikipedia link has some interesting information and various specs that could prove helpful.

SBB

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka

 

[timekiller]

I'd say that is part of the fuse.......for a artillery shell might be naval.But looks to have it's high explosive part blown off or missing.
Take Care,
Pete,
Some sites.............
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/Gun_Data_p2.htm
http://cartridgecollectors.org/introtoartyammo/introtoarty.htm

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Maybe U.S.N. Radioman George Tweed knows what it is. He may even have been there at the time it was used ...

"Return To Guam"

18+ minute video w/sound showing actual live action during WWII.

George Tweed hid from the Japanese on Guam for 31 months ... (Dec 1941 to July 1944)

Link: http://www.archive.org/details/ReturntoGuam

 

[Kieth-Tx]

Flamethrower nozzle maybe?
Just saw your post ffuries...I think you got it!

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Together for comparison. I missed seeing ffuries "threads" the first time around ... and its lookin' good in the neighborhood. But exactly "What Is It?" ... again.

SBB

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

As I said way back in post #4 in this discussion, the Guam object is either a rocket's explosive head, or a bazooka's, because artillery projectiles don't have a threaded body. I've now done some research, which indicates it is indeed a rocket's warhead. Check the diagrams of rocket warheads at the following website, which show they have threading at the top of the rebated section on the warhead's rear, just like the Guam object. The warhead's rear area is rebated and threaded so it can be screwed into the rocket's tubular main body, which contains the fuel and rocket-motor.