47. Signal Light Mk 2 is similar to a standard shotgun cartridge so loaded that a burning star is ejected in place of the usual shot. It is available in any of three colors, RED, GREEN, or WHITE. Each cartridge has a standard percussion primer and an expelling charge of ten grains of black powder, which projects the burning star to a height of about 200 feet. The star charge is a tightly packed cylinder wrapped with a quickmatch and separated from the expelling charge by a shock-absorbing wad of hard felt. The cartridge is closed by a wad which is marked to that the color of the star can be deter-mined by feeling it, as shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 12. – Markings on Signal Light Mk 2 Mod 0

(a) The RED star may be identified by its corrugated closing wad. It burns for approxima-tely seven seconds and furnishes 300 candlepower.

(b) The GREEN star may be identified by its smooth closing wad. It burns for approxima-tely five seconds and furnishes 600 candlepower.

(c) The WHITE star may be identified by the small conical embossing on its closing wad. It burns for approximately six seconds and furnishes 250 candlepower.

(d) Each of the three colors is identified visually because the color of the paper on each cartridge corresponds to the color of the star contained in it.

Operation

48. Instructions for firing Signal Light Mk 2 will be found in the paragraphs covering the operation of the firing device to be used, and Figs. 18, 19, and 20.

Packing

49. When issued in the "Abandon Ship" signal kit, as shown in Fig. 16, signal lights are packed individually in a plastic container, Fig. 13. The lights are also available in combi-nation kits known as Service Box, Signal Pistol Mk 5 and Reserve Box, Signal Pistol Mk 5, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Unless packed in special kits as described above, signal lights are packed in a metal can in units of ten; and 100 cans, or 1,000 signals, are pac-ked in a wooden case for shipment purposes. Earlier issues were not contained in cans, but were wrapped in paper cartons, 25 of which were contained in a pasteboard box. Four units of 25 were then crated in a wooden box for shipment purposes.

Figure 13. – Plastic Case Used on Signal Light Mk 2 Mod 0. When in "Abandon Ship Kit".

Figure 14. – Signal Pistol Mk 5 (Service Box)

Figure 15. – Signal Pistol Mk 5 (Reserve Box)

Figure 16. – Signal Pistol Mk 5 (Reserve Box)

Safety Precautions

50. Safety precautions which must be taken in handling Signal Light Mk 2 are taken with other small-arms ammunition.