Gun type: H.E. projectiles for 57-mm tank guns, 70-mm tank guns, 75-mm guns, and 105-mm guns.

Howitzer-mortar type: H.E. projectiles for 70-mm, 120-mm, and 150-mm howitzers.

Over-all length (with gaine): 3 1/16 inches.

Over-all length (without gaine): 2 3/8 inches.

Maximum diameter: 1 1/4 inches.

Threaded length: 1/2 inch.

Number of threads: 6, right-hand.

Construction: The brass fuze body is made of two major parts, threaded (L.H.) toget-her, with an aluminum striker head. The external striker is supported by a spring and four steel wedges. A setback collar which surrounds the wedges is held in position by the latch springs. The latch springs are fastened around the circumference of a movable pri-mer-delay carrier.

The howitzer-mortar type fuze differs from the gun type fuze in that only the striker can move, the primer carrier being threaded to the body. The howitzer-mortar fuze also has weaker latch springs, allowing the fuze to function on a smaller amount of set-back.

Operation: Set-back causes the set-back collar to move down until it is engaged by the latch springs. The wedges are held in place by the striker until deceleration sets in. At this point they move out, impelled by centrifugal force, arming the fuze. On impact (in the gun fuze only) both the striker and the primer-delay carrier are free to move. This is to minimize the possibility of an unexploded projectile due to a very low angle of impact.

Figure 322 – Type 88 Short-Delay (Gun and Howitzer-Mortar) Fuze.