CONSTRUCTION. Each flare is composed of a buoyancy chamber, a candle unit, and a fuze. (See fig. 80.) The buoyancy chamber is constructed of sheet steel and is roughly cylindrical in shape with two flattened surfaces to facilitate packing with the container. It is sealed at both ends by a sheet metal plate. Through the center and welded to these plates is a sheet which provides protection and support for the portion of the candle unit extending below the buoyancy chamber. The candle units consists of two candle fitted within the center tube and secured in place by a wooden wedge. The main flare composition is contained in a waxed cardboard tube which in some cases fits within an aluminum outer casing. Both flare candles are sealed at the base with either a thin coating of red plastic paint or fabric coated with shellac or in some cases left open expo-sing the flare composition. At the head of each candle and set within the main flare com-position is an aluminum cup filled with grey powder. Above this is positioned a cardboard washer primed with coarse grained black powder. If fuzed with the 67/V the head of the candle unit is enclosed by a metal cap. Passing from the fuze between the metal cap and the body of the flare candle is a length of safety fuse which terminates within a shalloon bag containing black powder. This bag is positioned in the center of a wooden collar. The fuze itself is secured to the frame by a bracket. Attached to the base of the fuze is a bakelite adapter to which is fitted the safety fuse from the head of the first candle.

A static cord from the fuze arming pin is secured to a bracket in the lower section of the container. If fuzed with a pull igniter, the candle head is fitted with brass wire gauze be-neath which are fitted one and a half inflammable biscuits. The head of the candle is open exposing the cardboard washer primed with coarse grained gun-powder. The igniter is secured to the bracket at the head of the buoyancy chamber so that its nose makes direct contact with the inflammable biscuits. The static cord runs from the igniter to a bracket in the flare container.

Type 2 flares may be found without either a fuze or igniter in which case the head of the first candle is closed by a metal cap in which are two holes. Beneath the cap is a woo-den collar housing two shallon bags, the first containing normal black powder and the se-cond a light green compound. Exactly how these unfuzed flares are ignited is not known.

OPERATION. When the container opens, the flares fall free. The static cord functions either the arming device of the 67/V or the pull igniter, whichever is fitted to the flare. The flare enters the water and returns to the surface, floating with the head of the flare just clear of the water. When the first candle is three-quarters burnt, a piece of safety fuse running to the second candle is ignited and after a short delay the second candle is ignited. Each candle has a burning time of approximately 2 3/4 minutes which, allowing for overlap when both candles are burning, gives a total continous burning time of 5 mi-nutes for each flare.

SUSPENSION. The flares are carried in "Mark 70 S" and "Mark AB 70-1" containers; two type 1 and one type 2 flare in each container.

COLOR AND MARKINGS. The candle unit is unpainted aluminum or cardboard; the bu-oyancy chamber is unpainted steel. If the 67/V fuze is used, the delay is marked on the buoyancy chamber.

Figure 80 – Mark S Flare, Types 1 and 2