Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 3: Tail Fuze No. 850 Mks I and II (Service)Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 3: Tail Fuzes No. 859 Mk I and No. 854 Mk I (Service)
BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE
Part 2 - Chapter 3
Fuzes

Nose Fuze No. 855 Mk I (Service)
Data
Bombs used in S.C. 400-lb. Mk I/A
Armed condition When the safety pin is removed and the safety cap is off
Fuzes used with None
Body diameter 2.75 in.
Over-all lenght 4.5 in.
Color Brass upper body, steel lower body, and black vane cap

Description: The fuze has a block vane cap on which is stamped the number and mark of the fuze. This cap is held on by three retaining clips, which are riveted to the shoulder of the upper fuze body. The steel vanes are attached to the vane hub connec-ting to the top of the arming spindle. The arming spindle holds down a black plastic arm-ing cone, which rests in a striker retainer and holds out three retaining balls. The striker retaining is screwed to the upper end of a spring-loaded striker. A safety-pin hole passes through the body and also the striker. The striker retainer is grooved in order to accom-modate a transit pin. A detonator holder, which carries the percussion cap, is screwed to the bottom of the body.

Operation: The transit pin is removed when the bomb is put in the plane. On release, the safety cap is pulled and the vanes are then free to rotate, threading the arming spindle up and out of the arming cone. The vanes and arming spindle rotate out and all away. When the arming spindle has threaded up, the three retaining ball are cammed in by a shoulder on the fuze body, and move the arming cone up. This allows the striker re-tainer to move down with the blunt spring-loaded striker, and hit the percussion cap to set off the fuze.

Figure 163 - Nose Fuze No. 855 Mk I

Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 3: Tail Fuze No. 850 Mks I and II (Service)Part 2 - Pistols, Fuzes, and Detonators; Chapter 3: Tail Fuzes No. 859 Mk I and No. 854 Mk I (Service)