My Uncle James was a Chief in the submarine force of the United States Navy "Silent Service" during WW-II. I would call this trench-art, except he was Navy and never served in the trenches. He brought this home after one of his war patrols, and it sat in his den in New Orleans having a 2nd life as an ashtray. I'm sure it killed 10,000 Chesterfields, and the Chesterfields finally got Uncle James. This is the base of a 3in, 50cal shell which was fired from the Drum's deck gun. He served on the USS Drum (SS-228) for 4 patrols, and I can only guess who was on the receiving end of this shell. The Drum has been a static display in Mobile Bay for decades, and when he was alive we went on board and he showed me the gun. I'm up in years, I'd like to see this with someone who can appreciate its lineage.
My Uncle James was a Chief in the submarine force of the United States Navy "Silent Service" during WW-II. I would call this trench-art, except he was Navy and never served in the trenches. He brought this home after one of his war patrols, and it sat in his den in New Orleans having a 2nd life as an ashtray. I'm sure it killed 10,000 Chesterfields, and the Chesterfields finally got Uncle James. This is the base of a 3in, 50cal shell which was fired from the Drum's deck gun. He served on the USS Drum (SS-228) for 4 patrols, and I can only guess who was on the receiving end of this shell. The Drum has been a static display in Mobile Bay for decades, and when he was alive we went on board and he showed me the gun. I'm up in years, I'd like to see this with someone who can appreciate its lineage.