Nose or Tail Fuze No. 42 Mks I - IV (Obsolescent)

Description: The fuze consists of a brass throat attached to an aluminum upper fuze body, and a cast lower fuze body. The upper body is attached to the lower body by means of a bayonet joint. The base piece containign the magazine is attached to the lower fuze body by three screws. Located in the throat is a pull percussion mechanism consisting of a drilled plate attached to a ball cage by a length of cord. The ball cage contains two retaining balls, which engage in a groove in the striker and bear against the wall of the throat. A safety pin passing through the striker and the throat is removed just before the bomb is loaded aboard the plane. The striker is spring-loaded downwards, and under it is located the primer, which leads to the delay train. The delay element is housed in the delay capsule in the lower fuze body. In the safe condition this fuze may be found with a rubber waterproof cover the top of the throat, with only the drilled plate extending out of it.

Operation: When the flare is loaded aboard the plane, the safety pin is removed. The fuze is then armed. Upon release the ball cage is jerked out of the fuze and releases the spring-loaded striker by allowing the retaining balls to fall outward. The striker is forced into the primer, which ignites the delay train in the delay capsule. The magazine is fired upon the expiration of the delay.

Remarks: The Fuze No. 42 Mk IV has a cap on the delay pellet. The delay is variable, depending upon the delay capsule used. A variety of capsules with delays ranging from 4.0 sec. to 32.5 sec. is available, and should be chosen according to the desired height of burst above the ground. The proper capsule for a certain height of busrt can be cho-sen from tables prepared for this purpose.

Figure 154 - Nose or Tail Fuze No. 42