Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 2: British Nose Pistol No. 44 Mks I, II, and III, and No. 55 Mk I (Service)Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 2: Side-Pocket Pistol No. 47 Mk I (Service)
BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE
Part 2 - Chapter 2
Pistols

Nose Pistols No. 45 Mks I and II, and No. 52 Mks I and II (Service)

Data
Bombs used in No. 45, F. 20-lb. and G.P. 40-lb. bombs; No. 52, all U.S. AN-GP bombs
Action Instantaneous on impact
Armed condition When vane cap is off
Fuzes used with None
Arming time 12 vane revolutions
Vane span No. 45, 4.0 in; No. 52, 3.7 in.
Body diameter No. 45, 1.75 in.; No. 52, 2.0 in.
Over-all length 2.5 in.
Color Brass body and locking ring; No. 45, black cap and vanes; No.52, brass cap and vanes.

Description: The Pistol No. 45 Mk I consists of a vane cap, body, body extension, or striker guide. The pistol is similar to the Nose Pistols No. 44 and No. 55, but has a shorter shank so that it may fit smaller bombs. Six vanes in pairs are riveted to the black vane cap. A steel stop pin on the inside of the vane cap engages a similar pin on the top of the pistol body to prevent the cap from screwing down too tightly and binding. In the upper part of the pistol body there is screwed a steel retaining disc, in which are drilled seven holes to allow air passage. Located under the disc is a sheet-brass diaphragm to which is soldered a steel needle striker, which extends into the body extension. There are two air-pressure holes in the side of the body which equalize the pressure above and below the diaphragm as the bomb falls. Around the pistol body is a brass locking ring.

Operation: The safety pin is removed when the bomb is loaded aboard the plane. Upon release, the arming vanes rotate, and after 12 revolutions the vane cap and vanes fall away, leaving the retaining disc and diaphragm exposed. On impact, the diaphragm is reversed by the compressed air beneath the fuze, and the striker is driven into the deto-nator. The blast wave of the preceding bomb may fire the pistol.

Remarks: The Pistol No. 45 Mk II is similar to the Mk I, except that the two air vents in the side of the pistol are replaced by three air vents in the base of the pistol body.

The Pistol No. 52 Mk I is similar to the No. 45 Mk II, except that only five vanes are used, and the vanes and vane cap are of unpainted brass.

The Pistol No. 52 Mk II is similar to the No. 53 Mk I, except that the vane cap is re-tained by a new-type spring safety clip, the hook end of which locates in a hole in one of the arming vanes, while the plain end passes through the single hole in the vane cap and engages a safety-pin groove in the pistol body. The two safety-pin holes in the cap and the four notches in the fuze body are omitted. The air-pressure relief groove is dia-metrically opposite the safety-pin groove and extends from the top of the body to a point level with the top of the safety-pin groove.

Figure 136 - Nose Pistol No. 52 Mk I

Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 2: British Nose Pistol No. 44 Mks I, II, and III, and No. 55 Mk I (Service)Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 2: Side-Pocket Pistol No. 47 Mk I (Service)