Offered here is a steel shell casing for the German 88mm flak and anti-tank cannon (the dreaded “Eighty-eight”), with electrical primer for tanks and AFVs.
I am a very long way from being an expert in this area, but my assessment is as follows. This case began life in 1941, perhaps as a Flak round with a percussion primer. Later, in 1944, it was recycled as a round for tanks and AFVs, whose 8,8cm guns used only the electrical primer.
For reference, a page from the German wartime technical manual H.Dv. 481/60 Merkblatt für die Munition der 8,8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 (Data Sheet for Ammunition for the 88mm Fighting Vehicle Cannon Model 36) is attached. This page shows details of an armour-piercing round. Notations highlighted in yellow indicate use of Patrh. (casing) 6347St and Zdschr. (primer) C/22St. Compare with stampings noted below, and as shown on attached photos. The St suffix in both cases indicate the use of steel, as opposed to the brass used earlier in the war.
STAMPINGS: CASE: bzs-?
192
aue 41
6347St
8,8cm Flak 18
PRIMER: dbk
44 384
C/22 St
In addition, there is a tiny Waffenamt acceptance stamp (Wa plus eagle) on the base, to the right of the 6347St stamp.
DIMENSIONS: Length 56.5 cm, base diameter 11.0 cm
WEIGHT: 2.6 kilos
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
I am a very long way from being an expert in this area, but my assessment is as follows. This case began life in 1941, perhaps as a Flak round with a percussion primer. Later, in 1944, it was recycled as a round for tanks and AFVs, whose 8,8cm guns used only the electrical primer.
For reference, a page from the German wartime technical manual H.Dv. 481/60 Merkblatt für die Munition der 8,8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 (Data Sheet for Ammunition for the 88mm Fighting Vehicle Cannon Model 36) is attached. This page shows details of an armour-piercing round. Notations highlighted in yellow indicate use of Patrh. (casing) 6347St and Zdschr. (primer) C/22St. Compare with stampings noted below, and as shown on attached photos. The St suffix in both cases indicate the use of steel, as opposed to the brass used earlier in the war.
STAMPINGS: CASE: bzs-?
192
aue 41
6347St
8,8cm Flak 18
PRIMER: dbk
44 384
C/22 St
In addition, there is a tiny Waffenamt acceptance stamp (Wa plus eagle) on the base, to the right of the 6347St stamp.
DIMENSIONS: Length 56.5 cm, base diameter 11.0 cm
WEIGHT: 2.6 kilos
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3