Tracer With Two Stars Mk 4 Series

Length, inches

Diameter, inches

Burning time, seconds

Burning time of tracer, seconds

Altitude, feet

250

Use: Double-star signals are used as a method of emergency identification of aircraft.

Projecticon: The Pyrotechnic Pistol AN-M8 is used to fire this signal.

Description: The outer case is similar to that of the Mk 3. The star charges are con-tained in an inner case which also houses an ejector charge and tracer element. Star color bands are the same as the bands on the Mk 3 and, in addition, a narrower band, before the star identification bands, indicates the color of the tracer. Color combinations are:

Red-red with red tracer

Green-green with red tracer

Red-red with green tracer

Red-yellow with yellow tracer

Red-green with red tracer

Red-green wth green tarcer

Operation: The firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the propelling charge, which, in turn, ignites the tracer in the inner case and expels the inner case from the barrel. The tracer becomes visible after traveling about twenty feet. At approximately 250 feet alti-tude, the tracer ignites the ejection charge through the quick match, the stars being ig-nited by the ejection charge through the quick match as they are expelled from the inner case.

Figure 173. Tracer with Two Stars Mk 4