3¾-lb. Illuminating Rocket No. 2 Mk I (Service)

Over-all length

Maximum diameter

Total weight

Height of ejection

Burning time

Candlepower

General: This rocket is currently employed only by the Air/Sea Rescue Service to as-sits in sea rescue searches at night. It is fired from a hand-firing projector, and is initia-ted by a 30-grain percussion cartridge.

Description: The rocket consists of a steel rocket tube containing a rocket-propelling composition, which has a conical cavity in the center. The rocket tube is fitted at one end with a metal center. The rocket tube is fitted at one end with a metal flare contai-ner housing a wooden plug, a flare candle, and a cotton parasheet attached to the candle by a wire strap. Crimped into the other end of the tube is a wooden choke sealed by a paper disc.

Secured to the rocket tube is a steel bridle, which extends beyond the wooden choke and carries a hinged stirrup. One end of a steel rope tail is screwed to the base of the stirrup. The end of the tail is protected from the heat of the burning propellant composi-tion by an asbestos sheath. The other end of the tail is spliced to form a loop to which is attached a 12-ft. hemp rope. The rope is coiled into a paper envelope, which has a cot-ton loop attached to it. The envelope, with the rope inside, is attached to the rocket by a rubber band when supplied.

The wooden plug in the flare container carries a recess which houses a small quantity of gunpowder and a length of quickmatch. The quickmatch contacts both the gunpowder and the rocket composition.

The flare candle consists of a cardboard cylinder held in place in the flare container with cotton-wool packing, and closed at one end by a wooden block. This block has a pin passing through it to take one end of the wire strap of the parasheet. At the other end of the cardboard cylinder is secured a washer, housing a gunpowder charge which is held in place by a muslin disc. Above this disc is placed a small amount of priming compo-sition. An illuminating composition fills the remainder of the candle.

The parasheet and the wire strap are packed into the flare container with packing cy-linders, and the container is closed by a metal lid secured with adhesive tape.

The flare container is painted aluminum over-all. The filling and manufacturing informa-tion is stencilled on the container in black letters.

Operation: When the projector, loaded with rocket and cartridge, is fired, the explo-sion of the cartridge breaks the paper disc, and the flash passes through the choke and ignites the rocket-propellant composition. The gases generated by the compression then take over and force the rocket along its trajectory. When the rocket composition is al-most burned through, it ignites the quickmatch. The flash from the quickmatch initiates the gunpowder in the wooden block. The flash from the gunpowder ignites the priming composition in the flare candle, which in turn fires the illuminating composition. Simulta-neously, the pressure of the gases from the exploding gunpowder forces the lid from the flare container, and ejects the ignited candle and its attached parachute. The tail and the hemp rope act as flight stabilizers.