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| U.S. EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| PART 2 - ROCKET AND ROCKET FUZES |
| Chapter 5 - ROCKET BODIES |
| Section 4 - NAVY ROCKETS |
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3.5-inch Flare |
| 3.5-inch Head Mk 14 Mod 0 | |
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Over-all length, inches (approx.) |
47 |
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Total weight, pounds |
33.5 |
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Head length, inches |
23 |
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Head weight, pounds |
16.5 |
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Motor length, inches |
24.5 |
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Motor diameter, inches |
3.25 |
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Fuze (Head Mk 14) |
Base Fuze Mk 134 |
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Fuze (Head Mk 15 |
Base Fuze Mk 128 |
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General: The 3.5-inch rocket flare was developed for use from surface ships, particu-larly motor torpedo boats. The illuminant candle produces an average of 800,000 candle power for approximately twenty-nine seconds. The rocket motor carries the flare out 1,800 yards before ignition. |
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The flare consists of the following major components: 3.25-inch Motor Mk 12 Mod 0, Mk 14 Mod 0, or Mk 14 Mod 1; 3.5-inch Head Mk 10 Mod 0, Mk 14 Mod 0, or Mk 15 Mod 0; and Body Load (Flare) Mk 7 Mod 0. |
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Head: All the heads are interchangeable and differ only in minor details. The 3.5-inch Head Mk 10 Mod 0 has a wooden nose piece held in place by three shear pins, while the Mk 14 Mod 0 and Mk 15 Mod 0 have a sheet-metal nose piece press-fitted in place. The Mk 15 Mod 0 is one inch longer than the other two. |
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The head consists of a 3.25-inch seamless steel tube which incorporates a 3.5-inch diameter closure adapter welded to the after end. This closure adapter carries a copper diaphragm plate with a firing pin, and serves as a chamber for the caliber .32 blank cart-ridge which ignites the fuze. The balance of the head is taken up by the candle and pa-rachute from the 4-inch illuminating projectile, the composition of the candle slightly changed to increase the candle-power in the shorter burning time. |
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Motors: The three motors are similar and interchangeable. The principal distinguishing feature of the 3.25-inch Motor Mk 14 Mod 1 is the use of welded-on launcher lugs re-placing the lug bands employed on the earlier models. The motor housing is a 3.25-inch seamless steel tube containing a forward closure disc, Igniter Mk 11 Mod 0, Tubular Bal-listite Grain Mk 7 Mod 1 (2.8 pounds), steel grid, welded nozzle, and pigtail. Four tail fins, three inches by eight inches, are mounted on a sleeve fixed to the after end. A thread protector on the forward end and shipping cover taped on the after end protect the mo-tor is shipment. The 3.25-inch Motor Mk 12 Mod 0 does not have a shipping cover on the after end. |
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Operation: This rocket is similar to the Window rocket in operation. |
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Figure 126A. 3.5-inch Rocket Flare |
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