A significant and imposing piece of modern British naval ordnance, this original Royal Navy 4.5-inch Naval Star illuminating round stands at over 4 feet tall and makes an exceptional floor-standing display piece for a naval, maritime, or militaria collection. Offered as a completely inert display item, hollow and free from all explosive or energetic materials, it retains the highly desirable full brass cartridge case and complete projectile assembly.
This is a full fixed QF round for the Royal Navy 4.5-inch / 113mm naval gun system, most notably the Vickers 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun fitted to Type 21, Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, among others. Complete examples are increasingly difficult to find as display pieces, with many surviving items being only loose brass cases or separate projectiles.
The white-painted projectile body is clearly stencilled “4.5 IN STAR MK N3”, confirming a Mark N3 illuminating, or star shell, projectile. It also carries the crescent-over-star emblem denoting an illuminating/pyrotechnic shell, together with “P27 MK3” and the faint impressed marking “NOD 14004/3-12 / RLB 11/91 LOT 34”, indicating a 1991 Royal Ordnance Birtley production or filling reference.
The projectile is fitted with its original mechanical time fuze, marked “No. 9 Mk 1” and “BN 86 LOT 095”, indicating a 1986-dated fuze. The brass cartridge case is base-marked “4.5”, “RLB 11/94 LOT 288” and “Q”, denoting a 1994-dated Royal Ordnance Birtley case for Quick-Firing naval gun use.
Importantly, the mixed component dates — 1986 fuze, 1991 projectile and 1994 brass case — are entirely consistent with naval ammunition practice, where serviceable components were assembled from available stores. The round retains its full brass case rather than a later steel, drill, or substitute case, which significantly enhances both authenticity and collector desirability.
Approx. Measurements – Overall length: 122.5 cm. Case length: 69.4 cm. Base diameter: 16.5 cm.
History Note:
The Royal Navy 4.5-inch gun system was a mainstay of British surface combatants throughout the Cold War and post-Cold War period. The Mark 8 naval gun in particular became one of the most recognisable British naval weapons of the late 20th century, used aboard destroyers and frigates for surface, shore bombardment, and specialist ammunition roles.
Star shells were designed to deploy a bright parachute-suspended flare at altitude, illuminating large areas of sea or coastline for night operations, target identification, and naval gunnery. The No. 9 mechanical time fuze allowed the projectile to function at a pre-set point in flight, ejecting the illumination candle at the required height.
*Condition*
A very strong display example. The projectile retains an excellent white finish with clear, bold stencilling. The fuze is present with visible original markings, showing expected service wear, age spotting and light corrosion. The brass case is in good order with attractive aged patina throughout. The primer pocket is empty, with no primer fitted. Some surface marks, spotting, scratches and handling wear are present, consistent with service storage and age. Sold strictly as an inert display item. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
