DESCRIPTION. The fuze is employed to shear a cable on a supply container to release the parachute. The fuze is housed within a recess cut in one of the four tail fins of the container and is secured in position by two metal straps. (See fig. 187.)

The fuze consists of a normal clockwork mechanism housed in a cylindrical aluminum con-tainer. The fuze is held in the unarmed position until release from the plane by a safety pin. This safety pin holds an arming detent upwards against the tension of its spring and in engagement with the escapement mechanism of the clock.

OPERATION. When the container is released from the plane, a static cord removes the safety pin, freeing the arming detent and allowing the clock to beginn functioning. When the clock has run out its prescribed setting, a striker is freed and allowed to strike a de-tonator. The flash from the detonator passes through the flash channel in the base of the fuze body and ignites the powder pellet located in the gaine. A circular knife, retai-ned by a shear wire, is located beneath the powder pellet in the gaine, and the para-chute release cable is passed through two holes in the base of the gaine immediately be-low the knife. The explosion of the powder pellet forces the circular knife through the shear wire and causes it to sever the cable.

Figure 187 – FZ 60 Clockwork Aerial Burst Fuze