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| GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE - BOMBS, BOMB FUZES, ROCKET, LAND MINES, GRENADES AND IGNITER |
| Chapter 4 |
| GERMAN LANDMINES, GRENADES, AND IGNITERS |
| T.Mi.Z. 43 (PRESSURE TYPE) |
| DATA: |
| Length: 2 1/4 inches. |
| Diameter: 7/8 inch. |
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DESCRIPTION. The igniter consists of an outer casing into which is pressed a cap hol-der. Inside the casing is an outer sleeve, the upper part of which is solid and protrudes through the top of the casing. This portion of the sleeve is fitted with a strong shear wire, and the lower casing is connected to the outer casing by a weak brass shear wire. Inside the outer sleeve is a plain tubular inner collar, containing the striker head. The striker head is held in a cocked position by two retaining balls which fit in holes in the in-ner collar and bear against the outer collar and a groove in the striker head. The striker head carries a rod which serves to position the striker spring. (See fig. 271.) |
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OPERATION. A detonator is screwed onto the threaded end of the igniter and the entire assembly is inserted into the mine. Arming is carried out by screwing down the pressure cap; i.e., the milled cap on the T.Mi. 35 and T.Mi. 35 modified, the hexagonal cap on the T.Mi. 42, or the mushroomhead pressure plate of the T.Mi. 43 (mushroom). This forces down the outer sleeve, shearing the brass shear wire with an audible snap. The mine is now ready for use. The outer sleeve is free to move up or down relative to the rest of the igniter if the pressure cap is raised or lowered and the igniter will function in either of two ways: |
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1. If the pressure plate of the mine is depressed by a vehicle, the outer sleeve is pressed down until the shear wire is sheared, the balls escape above the shoulder of the sleeve and the striker is free to be driven into the percussion cap by the striker spring. |
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2. If the pressure cap is unscrewed, the outer sleeve is forced upwards by the striker spring until the balls escape to be driven into the percussion cap by the striker spring. The balls are not released until the pressure cap is nearly unscrewed. |
| EMPLOYMENT. The igniter can be fitted into the following mines: |
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It is, however, unlikely to be used with either of the 35 types since there is no satis-factory way of adjusting the height of the socket which fits below the base of the igni-ter, or of locking it in position. Fitting the T.Mi.Z. 43 to these mines, therefore might be unsafe. Captured documents indicate that use of this igniter in confined to the T.Mi. 42. |
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Figure 271 – T.Mi.Z. 43 Pressure Igniter |
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