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| BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| Part 2 - Chapter 2 |
| Pistols |
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Tail Pistol No. 21 Mks I and II, and No. 22 Mks I and II (Obsolete) |
| Data |
| Bombs used in | No. 21 – G.P. 120-lb. Mks I and II, and G.P. 50-lb. Mk I; No. 22 – G.P. 250-lb. Mks I, II, III, and G.P. 500-lb. Mks I, II, III |
| Action | Instantaneous on impact |
| Armed condition | When vanes are off or when red ring is visible on the striker neck |
| Fuzes used with | Nose Pistol No. 19 |
| Vane span | No. 21, 3.25 in.; No. 22, 5.5 in. |
| Body diameter | Nos. 21 and 22, 1.1 in. |
| Over-all length | Nos. 21 and 22, 4.0 in. |
| Color | Nos. 21 and 22, brass |
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Description: The pistol consist of a brass body a steel striker, and a copper safety pin. The body has two spanner flats above the threads, and the lower end is threaded. The striker rides on a creep spring, and has four longitudinal grooves in the body, three of which are air-escape grooves, while the fourth engages a guide pin to prevent rota-tion of the striker. The upper part of the striker is threaded to receive the vanes and the vane collar, to which is attached a cap to prevent dust from accumulating in the striker threads. On the upper end of the threaded striker spindle is a neck, which is painted red. A transit spring rests between the vane collar and the pistol body. The safety pin fits through the pistol and striker bolts. |
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Operation: The transit spring is removed before the bomb is put in the plane, and the safety pin when the bomb is placed in the rack. On release, the vanes are freed and ro-tate up and off, leaving the end of the striker exposed. On impact, the creep spring is overcome, and the striker hits the detonator. |
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Remarks: These pistols are of similar construction, except for their vane span. The Pistols Mk I are converted Pistols No. 5B. These pistols are obsolete, as are the bombs in which they are used. |
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Pistol No. 22 Mk I is being reintroduced into service use, to be employed in the tail of the G.P. 250-lb. Bomb Mks I, II, and III, which also have been recalled to service status. |
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Figure 125 - Tail Pistol No. 21 |
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