WWII-Era Tank Shell Found During North Shore Basement Cleaning

GLOUCESTER, MA — The state's bomb squad was called into action Monday morning when a woman cleaning out her mother's basement found a World War II-era shell. Gloucester Police Chief John McCarthy said the shell was inert and not dangerous.

Local police arrived to the Bond Street home around 10:30 a.m. after a 44-year-old Rockland woman said she found the shell on her late father's old workbench. The State Police Bomb Squad investigated and took custody of the shell. No other explosives were found.

The 75mm shell was used by American tanks during World War II. It was often times used in the main gun of the M4 Sherman medium tank, the most common tank used by the Allies, according to police.

Photo by Gloucester Police