The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 06/p4/007 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No 6 Adam Park Report No: Report No.20 Artifact Type: Ammunition Production Date: 2013-11-16 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: Not taken Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

This distinctive piece was found embedded at about a depth of 20cm in the front platform of No.6 Adam Park in area P4. It was hoped that this was an incoming Japanese mortar round but the cleaning process revealed the characteristic lightening holes about the central column and the figure ‘40’ embossed into the end fuse cap suggesting this is an allied 2” mortar round. The rest of the mortar round was not found.

Historic Context:

The British 2” Mortar was the standard platoon support weapon for the Cambridgeshire Regiment. The barrel was 21” long and weighed 19lbs4 (when fitted with the larger base plate). Each mortar round weighed a further 21/4lbs and had a maximum range of 500yds. The projectile was a simple high explosive bomb with an impact fuse in the nose and a die cast six finned tail carrying a single priming cartridge. Smoke bombs were also available.