28. Buck Chemical Fuze (Chemischer Zünder, Buck)

a. Description. The Buck chemical fuze (fig. 33) is an instantaneous, chemical type em-ploying an acid and a powder which react together to produce a flash. It consists of a brass base with a thin, grooved aluminum shell crimped over it. The Buck chemical fuze was manufactured in two sizes. Type A is the larger of the two and the type most fre-quently encountered. In it the glass vial containing sulfuric acid stands on end and is completely surrounded by white powder. Type B contains a glass vial of a purple-colored acid. The acid vial rests on its side within the aluminum shell and the white powder is be-neath the glass vial. The vial type B is protected against breakage by cotton. Neither of the two types of this fuze is provided with safety devices. These fuzes are about 1 1/4 inches long and 5/8 inch in diameter.

b. Employment. These fuzes are used in the antitank Schnellmine, type B (par. 74), the antipersonnel glass mine 43 (par. 97), and the antipersonnel mine A 200 (par. 89), S 150 (par. 90), the E-5 antipersonnel mine (par. 104), and the W-1 antipersonnel mine (par. 103), as well as in booby traps and other improvised mines.

c. Functioning. Pressure of 15 or more pounds on the top or on the side of the aluminum shell crushes the shell and the glass vial. The acid in the vial reacts with the white pow-der to produce a flame which sets off the detonator.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Insert a detonator into the bottom of the fuze.

(2)

Holding the fuze at its base, screw it into the mine or charge.

e. Neutralizing.

(1)

Holding the fuze at its base, unscrew it from the mine or charge.

(2)

Remove the detonator from the base of the fuze.

Figure 33. Buck chemical fuzes, type A and B.