27. Four types of ships emergency identifiaction signals are now issued to the fleet. They are Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 1, Mk 2, Mk 2, and Mk 4. All are of the mortar grenade type signal for use with Signal Projector Mk 1. The outer case of all four types are similar in manufacture and appearance. They vary as to the length of body, the amount of propelling charge, and the embossing on the closing cap, which indicates the color and pattern of the signal. The outer cases are of extruded aluminum 2.5 inches outside diameter. The base projections are drilled longitudinally to accept the delay train pellets and house the primers. That portion of each base projection between the primer and the delay pellet is drilled radially, to permit the primer to flash through to the propel-ling charge, as shown in Fig. 4

Figure 4. – Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 4 (Chameleon Signal) and Star Signal Mk 1

(a) Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 1 is a single-star parachute signal, which is projected to a height of approximately 550 feet and burns for 25 seconds, plus or minus five seconds. It is available in RED, WHITE or GREEN. (An exception will be found in Para-graph 94 under "Submarine Pyrotechnics".)

(b) Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 2 is a shower signal and does not include a parachute. The signal consists of two bursts, each of approximately 40 pellets which burn for five seconds with a delay of three to five seconds with a delay of three to five seconds between bursts. It is available in RED, WHITE or GREEN. See Fig. 5.

Figure 5. – Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 2 (Shower Signal)

(c) Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 3 is a parachute smoke signal. It is projec-ted to a height of 550 feet and has a burning time of 25 seconds, plus or minus five se-conds. It available in RED, BLACK, GREEN and YELLOW. See Fig. 6.

Figure 6. – Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 3 (Smoke Signal for
Signal Projector Mk 1)

(d) Ships Emergency Identification Signal Mk 4 is a chameleon parachute signal, which produces three different color effects. Each color has a burning time of about nine se-conds, giving the signal a total burning time of approximately 27 seconds. The signal is projected to a height of about 550 feet. It is available in the following color combinations and sequences: WHITE-RED-GREEN, GREEN-WHITE-RED and RED-GREEN-WHITE.

Operation

28. All ships emergency identification signals are fired from Signal Projector Mk 1, illustra-ted in Fig. 8. The mortar projects the signal case to a height of approximately 550 feet, at which point the delay train flashes into the ejection charge. This ingites and ejects the signal components from the case. In all Ships Emergency Signals except the Signal Mk 2, the signal descends by parachute.

Packing

29. Ships emergency Identification signals are shipped in lots of 12 in wooden cases. The cases are of two sizes, one for star, shower, and chameleon signals and one for smoke signals. Signals are normally delivered to the fleet in the original cases. When the allo-wance is in units of less than 12 signals, Naval Ammunition Depots repack the signals so that a minimum number of cases will be required contain the allowance for the individual ship.

Marking

30. Ships emergency identification signals carry marking of two types. The printed no-menclature for visual identification is stenciled on the side of each signal. The printed identification includes: name of the signal, Mark number, pattern of the charge, colors of the bursts in sequence, name of manufacturer, initials of the inspector, date of manu-facture, contract number under which the signal was ordered, date of the contract, and lot number.

(a) The type of the signal and colors of the burst in sequence are embossed in symbols on the cap of the cases. Fig. 7 shows the symbols and their meanings.

Figure 7. – Ships Emergency Identification Signal (Method of Marking Closing Caps)

Stowage

31. General rules for stowing and handling pyrotechnics ammunition as is covered in pa-ragraphs 9 to 12 inclusive, apply to ships emergency identification signals.