105 mm Howitzer M84 B1 Smoke Projectile

A 105 mm HC SMOKE M84B1 projectile for use in 105 mm howitzers. The projectile case is 385 mm long and has a diameter of 105 mm with a 40 mm diameter threaded nose fuse insertion hole. There is a M529 nose fuze inserted with a time scale graduated from 0-75. The fuze is made of both aluminium and brass sections and was produced in 1970. The overall projectile length with the nose fuze is 480 mm. The outside of the projectile is painted pale green with a 24 mm wide brown band 180 mm from the nose. There is a 20 mm copper driving band located 80 mm above the base. Both paint and stamp markings contain the term SMOKE. (The M84B1 American classification on the projectile is for a leaflet filling projectile). There is no base plate inserted in the projectile.

The 105 mm howitzer developed in the USA was adopted by Australia and used by their forces in Vietnam. Ammunition for the howitzers was produced in the USA and Australia. This specimen is a type example of an Australian made Vietnam War munition. From the collection of munitions originally held by the Maribyrnong Explosives Factory in Victoria.