DESCRIPTION: This is a base fuze fitted with a tracer and is used in the A.P.C. B.C. shell for the 8.8-cm Flak 41 multiple-purpose gun and for the 8.8- cm Pak. 43 antitank gun. The weight of the fuze with tracer is 11 1/4 ounces. The tracer alone weighs 3/4 ounces. The fuze body is approximately 2.3 inches long, and screw-threaded externally at one end for insertion in the shell. The interior is divided into two components by a dia-phragm forced into the body. The rear compartment contains the tracer and is smaller than that in the front which is screw-threaded internally and contains the fuze mecha-nism.

The fuze mechanism consists mainly of a tubular mechanism holder having at its rear end a fixed pellet containing a detonator and at its front end a striker with a compressed spi-ral spring, two steel balls and an inertia collar. (See fig. 600.)

The tubular holder is screw-threaded externally for approximately two-thirds of its length from the base, its forward end is slightly less in diameter and is surrounded by a shear wire. The base of the holder is closed by a cup-shaped pellet containing an igniferous detonator. Nearer the forward end of the holder are two radial channels diametrically op-posite, closed on the outside by the inertia collar.

Two steel balls are held partially in the channels and partially in two recesses in the body of the striker thereby holding the latter off the detonator. One end of the striker spring, which is held under compression bears against a shoulder in the channel at the forward end of the holder whilst the other end fits into the cup-shaped body of the striker. Two flash holes are formed in the base of the striker body on diametrically opposite sides of the striker.

The front end of the fuze body is closed by a gaine containing cyclonite over lead azide and lead styphnate.

ACTION: On impact, the inertia collar sets forward and breaks the shear wire thereby al-lowing the steel balls, under centrifugal action, to move outwards and unlock the striker. The striker, under the action of its spring, is forced back on to the detonator. The flash from the detonator passes through the flash channels on either side of the striker to the gaine at the forward end of the fuze.

Figure 600 – Bd.Z.  5127