Live ordnance

[McCDig]

Was on a hunt yesterday evening in Harford County, Maryland and was searching a slope just off a parking lot. I recovered a Lesney Porche and then my next target was this live ordnance. It's base is 29 mm in diameter and the casing is 107 mm long. The projectile appears to be iron but has deteriorated. The markings at the collar by the projectile reads "PPN 15-3 54 20 MM" and "T312E1". The pictures and details I found online show the one I dug to be similar. The reference projectile was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County. It could be that the person who owned the property had access to this through employment at APG and brought it home. My eldest son let me know that it is illegal to possess this type of ammunition. I have a friend who works for Baltimore County Hazardous Devices Team who can dispose of this properly.


Remarks:

The T221E2 round has the T312E2 projectile fitted, which has a Modified Nose-adapter Juncture. The Tracer cavity remained unfilled for testing. Tests for this round were conducted at Aberdeen proving ground, MD, USA

The ammo-code PPN was used by PANTEX MFG CORP in the late 50’s. Not to be mistaken by the current user of the PPN code “Penland Paper Converting Corp.- WASHINGTON PLANT

 

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[dirtdigginfool]

Dang McD!! What the heck!? I can see it coming from where it did, but how in the heck did it get in that dirt! Sheeesh...I bet you got pie-eyed for a second! Ddf.

 

[McCDig]

More or less straight up and down in the hole ddf. Good I didn't hit the primer with the shovel.

 

[A2coins]

Dang clean that bad boy up and display it on your mantle that's freaking cool

 

[cudamark]

More or less straight up and down in the hole ddf. Good I didn't hit the primer with the shovel.

Might have startled you, but, not likely to do any harm. Maybe it would have blown some dirt in your eye. Uncontained, it would act more like a small firecracker than a projectile. When I find live ordinance that isn't usable, I just grab the bullet with one pair of pliers and the casing with another and twist them apart. Dump the powder and recycle the brass and lead.

 

[alabama11]

Great find.
You might have saved two lives. One, yours and two an unknown person that would have found it and pryed it open. Wise humans dont dug in mine fields.

 

[McCDig]

My friend picked up the ordnance today. He is with the Baltimore County Hazardous Devices Unit and had some stories to tell of recovered military explosives in Maryland. Best story was intact British mortar from the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814; mortar fell short of the fort and did not exploded.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Looks like a 20mm shell

 

[cudamark]

Great find.
You might have saved two lives. One, yours and two an unknown person that would have found it and pryed it open. Wise humans dont dug in mine fields.

Sorry, but, an unfired round outside of a firearm is nowhere near that dangerous......especially one in this condition. Unless you hit the primer with significant force, it's not going to fire. You can pry it apart all you want.

 

[Inspector]

Cool recovery, congrats & better safe than sorry