DEACTIVATED INERT. Italian, WW2 Era, 1938 Dated, BPD (Italian Arsenal) made .5 Inch Ball Round for the Vickers Contract Anti Aircraft Gun used by the Italian Navy. - O 2288 DEACTIVATED INERT. Italian, WW2 Era, 1938 Dated, BPD (Italian Arsenal) made .5 Inch Ball Round for the Vickers Contract Anti Aircraft Gun used by the Italian Navy. - O 2288 Various Other Ammunition

INERT DEACTIVATED. The Vickers .5 machine gun, also known as the Vickers .5 was similar to the .303 inches (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun but enlarged to use a larger-calibre .5 inch round. The gun saw British use in some tanks and other fighting vehicles but was more commonly used as a close-in anti aircraft gun during World War 2 on Royal Navy ships, in a four gun mounting. During the Second World War the gun was also mounted in power operated turrets in smaller craft such as motor gunboats and motor torpedo boats. Prior to the Second World War, Vickers supplied these guns under contract to the Italian navy for anti aircraft defence on board ships. The round was identical to the British .5 inch Vickers but they were manufactured by the Italians at the Bombrini Parodi-Delfino, a commercial ammunition manufactory for the Italian government. This is an Italian made Vickers .5 inch gun ball round for the Italian navy. The round has a brass cartridge which is headstamped BPD (Bombrini Parodi-Delfino) 8 38 (August 1938 date). The brass cartridge case is fitted with a large copper percussion primer. The solid ball projectile is sheathed in a nickel jacket and is held in the cartridge case by 3 stab crimps. The price includes UK delivery and no licence is required to possess inert rounds in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. O 2288