Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent original U.S. WWII 37mm M55A1 Practice complete round for the M1A2 Antiaircraft Gun, fitted with an inert M50 Dummy Fuze and accompanied by its original cardboard shipping tube bearing the same ammunition lot number as the cartridge case. The round is currently completely inert and contains no explosive material, in compliance with current BATF regulations governing inert ordnance. Although the M55A1 projectile itself contained no high-explosive filler, this type was originally designed as live-fired practice ammunition and, when issued, used a propelling charge and red tracer to reproduce the ballistic characteristics of the service M54 high-explosive shell.

Not Available For Export

These projectiles are similar in ballistic properties to service projectiles and are used for practice firing and training in marksmanship. They may be made from service projectiles or from components similar in shape to service projectiles. This round was designed to simulate the M54 HE shell for practice firing.

The fuze is stamped FUZE, DUMMY, M50. The projectile is stamped:

37G
SHELL
M55A1

The driving band is stamped LOT 2104-18 1941 E.M. 37MM, M55A1-R.L.B. (ORDNANCE PROOF). The bottom of the casing is stamped:

37MM, M17
LOT 6175-64 F.A. 1941
AMM. LOT. 15371-21P.A.

The projectile is made up of three parts. The body has no filler, but is made the same size as the HE, M54. A tracer cavity is machined into the base. Since no filler is used, the tracer does not have shell-destroying qualities. The tracer consists of red tracer composition and igniting compound closed into the tracer cavity with a celluloid cup which is sealed with adhesive compound. The fuze, dummy, M50, is entirely inert and is made in one piece of cast aluminum. It is the same size, shape, and weight as the M56 fuze. The original cardboard tube is stenciled:

37MM. AUTO. GUN, M1A2
COMPLETE ROUND
SHELL, M55A1, PRACTICE
LOT 15371-21 PACKED 10-41
P.A.

This means the round and cardboard tube are entirely matching and have always been together since 1941! What a rarity!

This example is particularly noteworthy for retaining the M55A1 practice projectile, inert M50 dummy fuze, 1941-dated M17 cartridge case, and original cardboard tube carrying the matching ammunition lot number 15371-21 P.A. The matching lot information substantially strengthens the association between the round and its packaging, while the surviving markings clearly identify the ammunition type, manufacturer or loading information, and October 1941 packing date. As an intact inert display example, it provides an unusually complete representation of the 37mm practice ammunition used with the U.S. M1A2 Antiaircraft Gun immediately before and during WWII.

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).