Fig. 20

This bomb takes the form of a cylinder resembling in shape and size a tin of preserves.

Fig. 20

Into the end of the cylinder is screwed a detonator adapter of brass fitted with a pull ring with securing hook. At the other end is fitted a handle ring, placed eccentrically so that, when released, it falls flat on the bottom of the tin.

The cylinder is of tinned plate, pressed and soldered on the sides and ends and contains the smoke producing block. A spring limits the movement of the block in the cylinder and also prevents it coming into contact with the gaine. Two holes at the top of the cylinder are closed by discs soldered in.

The exploder is screwed into the brass adapter which also houses the gaine, soldered in.

A pull ring held in a safe position by a securing hook.

A friction striker which is attached to the pull ring and passes through a small thimble of red copper which contains the detonating mixture. The striker consits of a piece of fine wire coiled in a spiral at each end of the thimble so as to allow for the straigh-tenning out of the wire when it is pulled. The wire is kept central at the time of pulling by the cap which can only move axially on the adapter and which a recess prevents from rotating.

A tinned brass tube closed at one end and plugged at the other by a small brass piece containing the delay. This tube also contains the exploder relay.

Action. – When the pull ring is free from the securing hook, pulling out of this stretches out the striker and fires the detonator. The flash is transmitted by the delay to the ex-ploder relay, then to the smoke mixture and the smoke pours out by the holes, at the top, the closing discs of which have then become unsoldered.

Marking. – The tin is painted dark green with a white band around the centre having four equal gaps.

Note. – The Germans had in 1917 three types of smoke producing weapons:

The model N.L. (Nebel-Topf) weighing 69 kilos in three loads of 23 kilos.

The model N.K. (Nebel-Kasten) which could be carried in two loads of 17 kilos each.

These weapons were not actuated as in the bomb described above by hand pulling of a striker, but by turning through 180 degrees by means of a handle the drum containing the materials to be mixed. The model N.T. put out for 20 minutes a thick white fog which might last up to half an hour.

According to the regulation instruction on the method of use, this fog was in no way toxic but simply caused irritation in the throat. On the other hand the liquid contained in the apparatus was very caustic and would have caused injury to the eyes. Consequent-ly, the man who was operating the weapon had to wear special glasses.