34. Tellermine Fuze 44 (Tellerminenzünder 44; T.Mi.Z. 44)

a. Description. The Tellermine fuze 44 (fig. 38) is an instantaneous, mechanical type containing a spring-loaded striker with both a shear pin and a ball release. It is 2 5/16 in-ches long and 7/8 inch in diameter. It is painted black and resemble the Tellermine fuze 43 except for the top. Instead of one round-ended plunger projecting above the top of the fuze case, there are two telescoping, flat-topped plungers (compare figures 37 and 38). The arming plunger is held within the main plunger by two arming shear wires. A large shear pin passes through the lower part of the fuze case.

Figure 38. Tellermine fuze 44.

b. Employment. The Tellemine fuze 44 was never employed, since existed only as a pilot model at the end of World War II. It was designed to be employed, however, in the Tel-lermines 35 (steel), (par 63), 42, (par. 64) and 43 (par. 65).

c. Functioning. After the fuze has been screwed into the mine, the pressure plate of the mine is screwed on. The pressure plate moves down on the top of the arming plunger, forcing down, compressing the striker spring, and shearing the arming shear wires which hold the main plunger together. The arming plunger is now forced down flash with the top of the main plunger. From this point the fuze can function in one of two ways:

(1)

Pressure: Under pressure of at least 250 pounds, the main plunger is forced down, compressing the main spring until the main plunger contacts the shear piece. Conti-nued pressure shears the shear pin, and the main spring forces the shear piece, the sleeve, and the striker down onto the percussion cap firing the detonator.

(2)

Pressure release. Unscrewing the pressure plate of the mine releases the pressure on the arming plunger of the fuze. The arming plunger rides up under the pressure of the compressed striker spring until the lower end of the arming plunger uncovers the striker-retaining balls, allowing them striker-retaining balls, allowing them to drop out and thus release the spring-loaded striker against the percussion cap firing the detonator. A thin wire (arming plunger stop) fits in a groove around the arming plunger and keeps the plunger in the fuze, should the arming shear wires break be-fore the fuze is inserted into the mine.

d. Installing and Arming.

(1)

Unscrew the pressure plate of the mine (Tellermine 35 (steel), 42 or 43).

(2)

Examine the fuze and the percussion cap closely to make sure that the fuze has not been fired.

(3)

Without exerting any pressure on the plungers, grasp the fuze around the case and screw it in the fuze well of the mine.

(4)

Screw the pressure plate back on the mine until a slight clicking sound is heard. This signifies that at arming shear wires have been sheared.

Note. The fuze is now fully armed. There are no safety devices.

e. Neutralizing. Once armed, this fuze cannot be neutralized. It must be destroyed in place.