DESCRIPTION: This fuze is of the detonating type with a direct action of the floating striker type. The fuze is used in the 2-cm shell. (See fig. 559.)

The aluminium head is recessed at the nose to accommodate a wooden hammer. The hammer is in the form of a disc with a stem on its underside which passes through a hole in the base of the recess and is aligned with the head of the striker. The recess is closed against air pressure by a brass closing disc at the nose. The head is screwed to the body and secured by a small set screw.

The aluminum body is screw-threaded externally for insertion in the shell and internally at the base to receive the magazine. The front face of the body is recessed to house the split collar and is bored centrally to receive the striker.

The striker assembly consits of a steel striker fitted with an aluminium head. The under-side of  the head is shaped to retain the brass split collar in the safe position. The split collar prevents the striker being driven into the detonator before the fuze is armed and is further retained by 1½ turms of phosphor bronze strip surrounding it.

The magazine is of aluminium and is similar to the type descriped for the A.Z. 1501.

ACTION: On acceleration the split collar is held by the set-back of the striker.

During flight the phosphor bronze spring uncoils and the split collar is thrown clear by centrifugal force. The striker, now unsupported and the hammer are moved forward by creep during deceleration and are protected from air pressure by the brass closing disc. On impact the hammer is forced in and drives the striker into the detonator.

Figure 559 – A.Z. 5045