105 mm Howitzer M2 ammunition

RB Kit # 72P05

The M2 howitzer was one of the mainstays of the US forces in WW2. It armed SPGs like the Priest and in modified form (as the M4) it was also fitted to the Sherman. The gun saw widespread service in many countries after the war, while its ammunition type also became the standard for many foreign countries' later models [3].

In this set you get 12 (hollow) cartridges and 8 separate projectiles of two types, even though the difference between the two types is very subtle. According to the RB Model website these are meant to represent HE and HEAT, and my references [1,2] would agree with that. As I didn't find any difference between the HE and the chemical HE or smoke rounds, I guess they could double for those as well, provided they are painted as such.
A far better picture of these rounds can be found at RB Model's webpage, by the way.

The empty shells in the set have a length of 4.84 mm while the complete rounds are 10.90mm. This would mean that the casings are 6% short, while the complete round is spot on. Diameter-wise they fall short by about 4% [2].
The shape of the cartridge and projectile are very close to the one in the drawings found in [2].

The technical quality of the parts is beyond compare.

References

[1] Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII

[2] Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII

[3] Wikipedia

Sample bought with author's pocket money.

This model can be purchased from

Article Last Updated: 27 December 2016