32. General

Pressure, pressure-released fuzes can be actuatted by two methods, either by applying direct pressure on the top of the fuze or by releasing pressure by removing a weight from the top of the fuze after it has been inserted and armed in the mine. During World War II this type of fuze was known as the antiremoval fuze because, once the fuze was placed in the mine, and the mine was armed, any attempt to neutralize it would result in the de-tonation of the mine.

33. Tellermine Fuze 43 (Tellerminenzünder 43; T.Mi.Z. 43)

a. Description. The Tellermine fuze 43 (fig. 37) is an instantaneous, mechanical type containing a spring-loaded striker with a ball release. In appearance, it closely resemble the Tellermine fuze 42 (fig. 20). The only noticeable external difference is that the plun-ger of the Tellermine fuze 43 projects higher above the top of the fuze than does the end of the striker of the Tellermine fuze 42, and the pressure shear pin does not rest flush on the top of the fuze as does shear pin of the Tellermine fuze 42. In the Tellermine fuze 43, what appears to be the end of the striker is actually the plunger, which is hol-low and recessed. The striker is held in a cocked position to the striker guide by two small striker-retaining balls (fig. 37). Two small brass arming shear pins hold the plunger to the fuze case. A striker spring with a stiffener fits into the hollow plunger and the hol-low striker. The fuze is 2 1/4 inches high and 7/8 inch in diameter.

Figure 37. Tellermine fuze 43.

b. Employment. This fuze was designed for use in the Tellermine 43 (par. 65). It can also be used in the Tellermine 35 (steel) (par. 63) and 42 (par. 64).

c. Functioning.

(1)

Pressure. Pressure of about 400 pounds on the end of the plunger depresses the plunger and compresses the striker spring until the pressure shear pin bears on the top of the fuze case. The plunger then shears the pressure shear pin and depresses further until its recess is opposite the striker-retaining balls which fall into the plun-ger recess, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap which sets off the detonator.

(2)

Pressure release. Removing the pressure from the plunger causes the plunger to ride up under the force of the compressed striker spring until the two striker-retai-ning balls become uncovered and fall into the lower recess, releasing the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap which sets off the detonator.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Attach the detonator to the fuze by screwing it to the base of the fuze with a de-tonator-retaining collar.

(2)

To arm the fuze, screw down the pressure plug of the mine (Tellermine 35 or 42) so it bears on the end of the plunger, pressing against it until a click is heard. The click indicates that the arming shear pins which hold the plunger to the case of the fuze have sheared off. The plunger is now free to move upward under pressure re-lease or downward under pressure.

e. Neutralizing. The fuze cannot be neutralizied; once it has been armed it must be des-troyed in place.

f. Packing. Six fuzes, with detonators, are packed in a rectangular cardboard box.