Large caliber US shell

[Jean-Loup]

I was messing around with my metal detector the other day and saw a depression in the ground. I though, yummy, if I was a soldier, that is where I would lie down to hide.
Bu then in the middle of the depression I found this large caliber shell "head" from a US shell, probably something fired by the navy. The depression must have been a left over from the crater.
Can anybody identify the caliber, model, and any interesting trivia?
I cleaned it with a toothbrush and vinagre. It looks horrible now but in a couple of years the color will look natural again.

[Jean-Loup]

othr side

[Jean-Loup]

And at the same time, for your viewing pleasure and identification, some German shell heads, in various states of destruction; some with Waffan Ampt's still visible.

[jawasinger]

I see its a Mech time fuze and has the time ring what is the diameter or can you post a photo of it next to a ruler NICE FINDS

[Jean-Loup]

Yeah, I should get in the habit of always using a scale. The diameter of the US head is about 9cm.
So since it has a fuze it would have exploded before hitting the ground, or was using the fuse optional?

JL

[jawasinger]

without seeing it in person I cant give 100% ID but I would say you have the fuze end of a US either 105mm or 155mm the mech time fuze would suggest an air burst but those fuzes usually have a back up and will function apon impact again great find you dont happen to ever come across any med size projectiles that have mushroomed from impacting armour do I have been trying to add something like that to my collection for some time

[jawasinger]

sorry I forgot about the navy you could also have the fuze end of around a 5in

[Jean-Loup]

Here are some fragments found near the shell head. The copper driving band fragments are the biggest ones I have ever found, and are much longer then on a 155mm shell I have. So I would think the shell was fired by the navy, and was something much bigger then a 155.

[Jean-Loup]

There wasnt much armour involved in southern France, so I dont have any mushroomed heads. But here are a few others I have found. Do you know what the middle one is, and also the small one. The middle one is american, and I am quite sure it was also fired by the navy.

[jawasinger]

here is a photo of a 14in rotating band 4in or around 102mm wide sorry about the fuzzy photo I was trying to get the stamping
detail as for the fuzes I would almost say the fuze in the center is the same as the smashed one you have

[Jean-Loup]

"I would almost say the fuze in the center is the same as the smashed one you have"

I thought you were jocking, but I compared the two fuzes, and they indeed seem identical, with the same numbers and holes at the same places!
What about the small fuse, is it from a mortar?

[jawasinger]

Im thinking the sm one might be the very edge tip of a PD fuze but not sure all of those I have seen were made out of allum. yours looks to be brass or steel