CONSTRUCTION. The body consists of a case made of seamless aluminum tubing, a panshaped by 24 aluminum rivets, and a dome-shaped cover secured to the tube by six brass shear screws. A concave steel plate stiffens the nose for vertical suspension. A felt disc supports the parachute which is stowed behind a paper sleeve. The fuze pocket is of steel and contains the fuze and wooden quickmatch holder. Eight semicircular fibre pads and one disc are wedged around the fuze pocket. Four strands of quickmatch pass from the holder via a rubber tube and an aluminum tube to a black powder charge in the tail-end. Immediately behind the ejector cup are two fibre discs, shaped to allow passa-ge of the rubber quickmatch tube, the parachute suspension wires and to accommodate the side suspension block. The four candles are held together by a steel plate in the form of a cross bolted on to them. There are four eyebolts screwed to each arm of the cross to take the parachute wires. A 3/16-inch steel wire welded around the cross ensures easy passage of the candles on ejection from the casing. Each candle is provided with a match igniter at its base. On release, the pyrotechnic delay in the fuze is ignited. This fires the quickmatch which in turn ignites the black powder charge in the tail. The charge ejects the candles by shearing the brass screws, the candles simultaneously being igni-ted through perforations in the ejector plate. (See figs. 71 and 72.)

Figure 71 – FB 50 Single Candle Parachute Flare

There are no tail fins on the case of the single candle flare but the four candle flash has four fins riveted to the case, two of which are 16 inches long and two 3 inches long, all being 2 inches wide.

There are located at the far end of the case from the parachute. The parachute is of celanese, 13 feet in diameter. It is attached to the candle by 12 silk shroud lines 10 feet long and woven steel wire.

SUSPENSION. Vertical and horizontal.

COLOR AND MARKINGS. The body, tail fins, and domed cap may be unpainted aluminum or painted black all over. Manufacturer's markings may be stenciled on the case near the dome cap.

REMARKS. The flare composition is: aluminum, 16.5 percent; barium nitrate, 75.8 per-cent; sulphur, 7.7 percent; volatile matter, 0.2 percent. Both flares burn slightly longer than 5 minutes. Candlepower: single candle, 216,000; four candle, 600,000.

Figure 72 – LC 50 F Ausf. C Parachute Flare