Parachute Trip Flare M48

Diameter of flare tube, inches

Height of trajectory, feet

Burning time, seconds

Intensity, candlepower

Color

Effective illumination

Circle of 300 yards radius

Use: The flare is used to give warning of enemy marauders or infiltrating hostile troops; also, for illumination or signaling.

Description: The flare consists of a ¼-inch pipe and a steel tube approximately 2.5 inches in inside diameter, which are attached to a base plate that contains a 75-grain propelling charge. The steel tube contains a delay fuse, an expelling charge, a candle, and a parachute assembly. The 0.25-inch pipe and the firing mechanism are joined by a coupling, and the pipe is threaded to the base plate. The firing train is composed of a primer, an igniterm and a relay charge. The firing mechanism contains the pressure cap, pull ring and pin, safety screw, safety cotter pin, and spring-loaded firing pin.

Operation: A 20- to 30-pound pressure on the pressure cap or a tension of four to six pounds on the pull pin releases the firing pin and fires the primer. The primer initiates the igniter, which, in turn, starts the relay charge. The relay charge sets off the propell-ing charge, which projects the illuminating shell through the large steel tube to a height of 300 to 500 feet. The propelling charge ignites a three-second delay fuse in the shell. The delay fuse ignites an expelling charge which expels a parachute-supported candle from the shell.

Figure 204. Parachute Trip Flare M48