11 mm Mauser M71/84 cartridge

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Use this image under Non-Commercial licence

You can embed or download low-resolution images free of charge for private and non-commercial use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.
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Image: IWM (SAA 49)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Physical description

71/84 bullet distinguished from M1871 bullet by flat tip. Bullet press fitted in cartridge with paper patch (edges slightly frayed). Primer press-fitted in head of cartridge.

Label

This German 11mm cartridge was picked up after the Battle of Gazi (Kenya) in October 1914, by Lieutenant Gerald Cooke of the 2nd Kashmir Rifles. Gazi had been attacked by German forces under Major Baumstark. Indian Army reinforcements - Jind Infantry and 29th Punjabis - were instrumental in his defeat. In his report on the battle Baumstark stressed 'the sense of inferiority produced in his men by their obsolete rifles firing black powder against the modern smokeless weapons of his opponents.' [History of the Great War, Military Operations in East Africa, Vol I, August 1914 - September 1916, pp 47, 59]. Evidently Baumstark's command consisted of one of the Field Companies of the German East Africa Schütztruppen who were yet to receive modern rifles, and were still armed with single-shot Model 1871 Jäger rifles. As the campaign in East Africa progressed, ammunition supply became a major problem for the Germans. The modern smokeless 7.92mm ammunition eventually ran out, forcing them to rely upon the M1871 rifles or captured weapons.

History note

Developed in 1867 by Mauser and Samuel Norris (Remington's European importer), adopted by Germany in 1871 and issued first in 1875, this cartridge was used by several countries, notably China.

History note

From the inscription on the envelope it may be assumed that this cartridge was picked up on the battlefield after German forces under Major Baumstark had unsuccessfully attacked Gazi (East Africa) on 7 October, 1914. Indian reinforcements - Jind Infantry and 29th Punjabis - were instrumental in his defeat. In his report on the battle Baumstark stressed 'the sense of inferiority produced in his men by their obsolete rifles firing black powder against the modern smokeless weapons of his opponents.' [History of the Great War, Military Operations in East Africa, Vol I, August 1914 - September 1916, pp 47, 59]. The British tended to regard the use of obsolete large calibre, unjacketed ammunition as unfair practice and a breach of the Hague Convention.

History note

Reference: Datig, F A : 1967 : Cartridges for Collectors : Borden Publishing Co : Vol III : p 77.

[1] headstamp (mark, stamped, case base): raised characters on bevelled edge of Mauser A base

1. D // 88 // six pointed skeletal star (underlined)// 7 'Gazi East Africa 7th Oct. 1914', 4, BANKSHALL STREET, CALCUTTA

Object Details

Category

Weapons and ammunition

Creator

Königliche Munitionsfabrik, Danzig

Production date

1888-07

Materials

Patch: paper

Case: brass

Priming Cap: brass

Bullet: lead

Dimensions

Case: Length 60 mm.

Bullet: Diameter 11.1 mm.

Neck: Diameter 11.6 mm.

Shoulder: Diameter 12.6 mm.

Head: Diameter 13 mm.

Rim: Diameter 14.8 mm.

whole: Length 76.5 mm.

Catalogue number

SAA 49

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Cooke, Gerald H
Indian States Forces, 2nd Kashmir Rifles
Associated events

East Africa 1914-1918, Africa, First World War
Associated places

Gazi & East Africa
Associated themes

East Africa 1914-1918
German Army 1914-1918

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11 mm Mauser M71/84 cartridge

Description

Physical description

Label

History note

History note

History note

[1] headstamp (mark, stamped, case base): raised characters on bevelled edge of Mauser A base

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated events

Associated places

Associated themes

Our collections information

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