Pre D Day battleground Training Area.

[Whitehunter]

Good job with the clean up again!

How long are you finding the vinegar will last? I've just brought another 4 bottles from Tesco and payed for them in 2p's

I lke the Mortar shrapnel and the smoke bursting 2inch Great stuff

John

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Hi John,
Im finding there's no hard and fast rule about how long the vinegar remains useful it seems to be down to how corroded the items are that go in. But I have noticed once its colour has changed from clear white to a dark malted vinegar colour (made of disolved rust) and often also gets a frothy head, then its lost the rapid cleaning properties and needs replacing. Each clean is a little trial and error but great results are had.
2p's I like that
Cheers
LS

[davejb]

Hi guys, I dont know if you've tried this but a few months ago i had to clean some rust from one of my tools, I knew about vinegar anyway but didnt apply it to cleaning relics, i used some ordinary vinegar and added some bi-carb of soda to see what would happen, obviously a pretty reactive result but it really cleaned the rust off in a very short time ie minutes, but i left the tool in the solution for longer and it came out sparkling, it might be a way of shortening the immersion time , just a thought

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for this it sounds an interesting innovation. On paper you'd think it wouldn't work with the vinegars acid being nulified by the bi carbs alkali.
It must have been a little volcano when they mixed and it probably generated a bit of heat too, perhaps some of the tiny bubbles were formed under the rust lifting it quickly and cleanly away. Certainly sounds worth a go if not to speed up the cleaning than to watch the violent reaction .
Cheers
LS

[davejb]

Oh it was a bit violent but fun to watch, just dont overdo both ingredients, vesuvius isnt the word

[dangermouse]

Oh those mortar fins with the tab that you said is different is off an 81mm mortar. Its helps stabilize the mortar in its flight and decent. No idea on why some had it and some didn't Jay has one from Monti Casino that has these tabs also. I took some pics but they are on my phone and I'm recovering from two mental digging sessions, so I can post later if need me... oh I did take a pic of his .30 cal handle he got on one of our group digs to the ammo dump.

[tiffy]

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Ive been itching to get out for a few months since moving house and have finally got around to it. I returned to an old site but a different area. Ive been trying to find where the mortars of which Ive found plenty of shrapnel were originally fired from? Although I still cant confirm the position I may be getting nearer due to one of the finds.
This is what I found in a 2 hour search, a good mix of US .30cal and British .303.



Perhaps this is the relic that's helping to narrow down the mortar fire positions?, But what is it? Im guessing the bottom section of a mortar/artillery shell carry frame. I appears to have held 3 cardboard tubes containing the mortars. But I have been unable to find confirmation of the type can you help. It seems to be able to carry tubes up to 16cm/6 inch+.



When dug this is what I saw, my immediate thought was just an old rusted tin with crown cap beer stopper.



But turning it over showed this.



Cleaned up nice, I believe its the top of a British smoke grenade that was much used in training, although it could have been a No 80 WP (Phosphorous)





A relic used fuse from US pineapple grenade showing only minor damage from use, there were lots of small peices of rusted shrapnel all over the site that appeared to be parts of exploded grenades.



As found and pleased to get this an inert and completely empty Practice rifle grenade either US M9 or British No 85.





Other finds from the next visit. I wouldn't normally keep a horse shoe but it's an early key hole style so probably several hundred years old.



British Trip Wire Flare manufactured Aug 1943.



Found four of these vintage tins in the same hole but only kept one best condition, its probably post war but as the site was used until the 1960s I could just imagine troops using this on exercise before burying them.



This was found to the side of an old slit trench, I dont know what its from? could it be military or just fly tipped junk



45 cal but interesting that the one on the left was made of steel.



Thats it for now, thanks for any help.
LUCKYSTRIKE

[Whitehunter]

Good work LS! some great stuff found

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Thanks John, Good finds so far I cant wait to get back asap.
LS