A pistol is a mechanical device, which contains no explosive components and embo-dies certain arming and safety features, whose main function is to initiate the explosive system of the bomb in which it is used.

This chapter includes information on nose pistols, tail pistols, pistols which can be used in either nose or tail pockets, side-pocket or athwartships pistols, and depth-char-ge pistols. It includes examples of inertia, direct impact, chemical delay, anti-withdrawal, aerial burst, and hydrostatic action pistols.

For further information on pistols see the Introduction to Part 2.