An 1898 Dated German Navy 3.7cm cannon shell

A rare WWI Imperial German Navy marked 3,7cm cannon round. The base of the brass shell is marked with the makers name "Patronenfabrik Karlsruhe" with the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) arsenal's acceptance stamp - Crown over M. It is dated 1898 (98) , the numbers 40 refer to the lot number. These rounds were fired from German naval Maxim deck guns used on heavy cruisers and battleships. They were used as standard close quarters defence weapons. Very few now survive as the majority of the German naval fleet was either destroyed or scuttled during WWI.