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| HANDBOOK OF ENEMY AMMUNITION |
| PAMPHLET No. 4 |
| GERMAN, ITALIAN AND JAPANESE SHELLS, FUZES AND SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION |
| GERMAN 5 cm A.P. SHELL AND FUZE |
| (5 cm Pak. Pzgr. or 5 cm Kw.K. Pzgr.) |
| (Figs. 7 and 8) |
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This shell is fired by the German 5 cm anti-tank gun (5 cm Pak. 38) and the 5 cm tank gun (Kw.K.) |
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It is composite construction, the hard ogive head being flash welded to the softer cylin-drical body. The head is of ?? per cent chronium steel, the body of chronium molydenum steel and the driving band is wholly of soft iron. |
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The bursting charge of P.E.T.N./Wax is filled to a density of 1.5 and is designed to form a cavity at the base for the gaine fitted to the fuze. A cardboard washer takes up the space between the filling and the gaine adapter. The weight of the shell is approximately 4 lb. 9 oz., and is exterior, except for an unpainted band at the nose, is coloured black. |
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5 cm A.P. |
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| Fuze (Fig. 8) |
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The base fuze and gaine are shown in Fig. 8. The aluminium inertia pellet containing the igniferous detonator is held away from the needle in the safe position by a hard brass shear wire. The brass needle is flat to provide flash channels and is retained in the steel body of the fuze by a screwed aluminium plug. The plug has a conical recess on the un-derside and a small central flash hole which is closed by a paper disc at the front. A steel cap with a central hole is fitted over the disc at the front end of the fuze body to which it is cannelured. |
| Gaine (Fig. 8) |
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The gaine is screwed into an aluminium cylindrical adapter which is a sliding fit over the front end of the fuze. A pressed paper washer is used between the underside of the adapter and the fuze body. The gaine consists of an aluminium plug containing a mixture of lead azide and lead styphnate at its perforated base end and P.E.T.N./Wax at its front end. The perforation at the base end is closed by a graze disc and an aluminium washer. The front end is closed by a screwed cap of aluminium. |
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Details of the tracer which screws into the base of the fuze are not available. |
| Action |
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On impact the inertia pellet sets forward severing the shear wire and impinging the de-tonator on the needle. The flash passing over the flat needle and through the small hole in the aluminium plug enters the gaine. It is probable that the controlling effect of the small hole in the plug and also the presence of the paper disc on the front of the plug provides a short delay. |
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Fig. 8 – Fuze, 5 cm A.P. Shell |
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