DESCRIPTION: This fuze has a combined direct and graze action and, excepting the ingniferous detonator, has no explosive filling. (See fig. 581A.) The aluminum body of the fuze, which is closed at the top by a brass cap, carries a wooden striker positioned over a steel striker secured in an aluminum holder. An aluminum plug screwed into the base of the body contains the brass graze pellet with its 3.16-grains igniferous detonator and re-ceives the pointed end of the striker. A steel spiral spring fitted between the striker hol-der and graze pellet, keeps these two members apart during flight when the centrifugal safety segments which prevent the striker approaching the detonator in transport and in the bore are of aluminum and are pivoted on steel pins at the front end of the plug, where they are retained in the safe position by an expanding spring ring of phosphor bronze. A flash hole is formed in the base of the plug.

Figure 581A – kl.A.Z. 23 Nb

ACTION: Centrifugal force set up by the spin of the projectile in flight causes the spring ring to expand and permit the segments to rotate clear of the graze pellet, thus leaving the striker and graze pellet held apart by the spiral spring. On graze or impact, the spring is compressed by the striker being driven in and the graze pellet setting forward. The flash produced by the striker piercing the detonator passes through the flash hole in the base of the plug to the detonator in the gaine. The recess in the underside of the striker holder fitting over the projection on the front of the graze pellet prevents the flash escaping in the wrong direction.

REMARKS: The kl.A.Z. 23 Nb (Pr), kl.A.Z. 40 Nb and kl.A.Z. 40 Nb (Pr) fuzes are similar in operation and construction to the kl.A.Z. 23 Nb and are likewise designed for use in smoke projectiles. (See fig. 581B and 581C.)

Figure 581B – kl.A.Z. 40 Nb.

Figure 581C – kl.A.Z. 40 Nb. (Pr)