The Luftwaffe experimented considerably with mine parachutes to improve ballistic stability and accuracy, and to increase the dropping heights of mines and laying speeds of planes. Most of the experimentation was carried on at the Forschungsanstalt Graf Zeppelin in Stuttgart-Ruit. Finally, after much experimentaion, three types of small para-chutes were developed and accepted for use with the BM 1000 mines. These three types were known as LS 1, LS 3, and LFS-08. The LS 1 and LS 3 were used operationally. The LFS-08 was ready for operational use.

LS 1. The LS 1 is a small pack parachute fitted into the after end of the LW 17. The parachute (30 in. diam.) is made from lossely woven, reinforced rayon. It is camouflaged with 12 green, woven, rayon shrouds approximately five feet long. It is packed in a light brown, cloth pack which fits loosely in the tail section of the mine and is secured to the shroud ring with four steel wire leaders by four clamps. The 12 shroud lines are, in turn, secured to the four wire leaders, and the static line is secured to the plane.

Figure 87 – LS on Plane in Flight

Figure 88 – Fitting LS 1 to LW

LS 3. The LS 3 is a small parachute used on the BM 1000 mines with the SH 7, 8, and 9 and without the LW. The parachute (40 in. diam.) is made from loosely woven reinfor-ced rayon. It is green, with 10 white, woven rayon shrouds approximately eight feet long. It is packed in a reinforced brown canvas bag 12 inchen in diameter. The 10 shrouds are attached to the shroud lugs of the SH, and the 20 foot static line is flemi-shed ataop the pack and partially covered by four canvas petal flaps. The loose end of the static line is attached to a lug on the plane.

Figure 91 – LS 3 on Plane in Flight

LFS-08. The mine parachute (32 in. diam.) is made form loosely woven, reinforced ra-yon. It is colored green with 20 white, woven, rayon shrouds approximately seven feet long. The parachute housing is a truncated ogive (22 in. base diam., 16-1/2 in. top diam., 11-1/2 in. height), the bottom half of which is constructed within a cavity, 3-1/2 inches deep, in the top of the housing and covered with blimp cloth, which is torn apart to release the parachute when the mine is dropped. The parachute was housed on an experimental-type SH, and the 10-foot static line was faked on top of the pack. This pa-rachute was still under development at the end of the war.

Figure 92 – Parachutes in Flight.