Description
105mm M395 Blank Cartridge with M15 Brass Case
Item Overview
This 105mm M395 blank features the M15 brass case used in U.S.-pattern howitzer ammunition. Its short, wide profile belongs to a cartridge designed for salutes and simulated gunfire. The M395 had its own military designation and a clear role within the artillery ammunition supply. For a collection, this example adds the ammunition associated with formal military honors and training exercises.
Identification and Features
M395 identifies the blank cartridge, while M15 identifies its brass case. Military references list this case separately from the longer M14 brass case used with projectile-bearing 105mm howitzer rounds. That distinction helps collectors identify the correct case type when comparing ammunition, markings, and reference drawings.
- Caliber: 105mm
- Cartridge designation: M395 blank
- Case designation: M15
- Case material: Brass
- Configuration: Shortened howitzer blank cartridge
- Military reference code: C440 for the M395 cartridge family
Function
The original service-loaded M395 produced a loud report, flash, and smoke. Its shortened case held a black-powder charge and a primer, with a closure at the front to retain the contents. It carried no conventional artillery projectile. This design supplied the firing effect needed for ceremonial salutes and simulated artillery fire during military exercises.
Documented Applications
Army ammunition manuals list the M395 for the M2A1 and M2A2 guns of the M101 and M101A1 towed howitzers. They also name the M49 gun in the M52 and M52A1 self-propelled howitzers, the M103 gun in the M108, and the M137 gun in the M102. Later Army budget records include the M119. These references document the cartridge family's use across both towed and tracked artillery systems, with the gun designation and the complete weapon's designation often appearing together.
Product History
Army records date the M395's classification as a standard cartridge to 1962. The official case family included the brass M15, steel M15B1, and aluminum M15B2. Army manuals also record changes in internal charge packaging and closure materials between early and later production. Military specification MIL-C-46229C, dated June 29, 1979, replaced a 1972 edition and set requirements for M395 production, inspection, and packing. These records trace the design through years of Cold War supply and production.
Equipment History
The associated light-howitzer family traces its development to 1928. The M2A1 entered production in 1940 and became a major U.S. field artillery weapon during World War II. Production continued through 1953, and the gun later carried the M101 designation. The lighter M102 followed: prototypes were completed in 1962, and production began in 1964. Its lower weight suited helicopter transport and airborne operations, including service in Vietnam. The M119 entered U.S. service in 1989, extending the 105mm towed-howitzer line into another generation.
Weapon-System Background
As light field artillery, 105mm howitzers gave troops mobile fire support. They could deliver direct fire or send shells over terrain through indirect fire. A complete system included the gun, carriage, sights, recoil equipment, and ammunition supply. Service ammunition included high-explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds for different missions. Later M119 howitzers supported infantry units in Afghanistan and Iraq, while M119A3 upgrades added digital fire control. This wider weapon-system history explains the setting in which specialized ammunition such as the M395 served.
History of Use
Army budget records dated February 2000 list the M395 for training exercises, retreat ceremonies, VIP salutes, and military burial ceremonies. Funding supported annual training and reserve stocks, including ammunition set aside for honors following the deaths of former presidents. These records show that the blank remained part of Army supply decades after its standard classification. Its documented service centered on simulated firing and military honors, linking the cartridge to both routine training and public ceremonies of remembrance.
Condition
Inert collectible M15 brass case, intended for display and historical study.
Ideal For
Collectors can use this brass-case blank to round out a display of U.S. 105mm howitzer ammunition. It also suits exhibits explaining military salutes, artillery training, and the different tasks served by ammunition of the same caliber. The M15 designation gives students and researchers a clear reference point for comparing case materials and military model numbers.
- U.S. artillery collections
- Military ceremonial history displays
- 105mm ammunition comparison sets
- Museum and veterans' exhibits
- Ordnance reference collections
Approx length 6",Approx width 5", Approx height 5", Approx weight 1.7lbs.
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