DESCRIPTION. Externally this fuze is similar to the Zus.Z. 40 plastic (type II) model, but the body is made of metal, and the component parts have in some cases been redesig-ned and the mode of operation altered. (See fig. 182.)

The body of the fuze has been drilled vertically beneath one of the three knife-edged retainers, to accommodate the striker, striker spring, and retainer plunger. The detonator is located in a housing formed vertically beneath the striker housing. Interposed between the striker and the detonator is the striker detent. This detent, designed on the lines of the striker of the earlier types of the Zus.Z. 40 is drilled to provide a striker channel, while a slotted inset, secured in the forward extremity of the detent, accommodates the striker point and allows for movement of the detent along its housing. The striker detent is machined on its under side to accept the stem of the arming pin, which, when the fuze is unarmed, is retained in position by the retaining ball.

OPERATION. Before impact the retaining ball locks the arming pin in the housing on the under side of the striker detent. The striker detent masks the detonator and retains the striker point within the slot. On impact, the retaining ball is forced out of position from beneath the arming pin, and the arming pin spring forces the pin clear of the striker de-tent. The striker detent is now held in position only by the detent arm, which bears against the gaine of the time fuze. When the time fuze is withdrawn, the detent is for-ced along its housing under the action of its spring. The striker channel is thus brought into alignment with both the striker and the detonator, and the striker is forced by its spring into the detonator. The resultant flash, passing through the flash holes in the base of the fuze, initiates the gaine and sub-sequently the main charge of the bomb.

Figure 182 – ZUS 40 (Type III) Mechanical Antiwithdrawal