Bombs used in

Fuze used with

Material of construction

Over-all length

Over-all length of vanes

Width of body

The fuze body is of three main parts: the forward portion containing the arming mecha-nism; the middle portion containing the clockwork delay mechanism; and the lower por-tion with the exploder system. The vanes are attached to the arming rod extension which fits on the upper portion of the fuze. The rest of the fuze is similar to the Clock-work Long-Delay Nose Fuze, and the operation is similar.

When the bomb is dropped, the vanes are free to rotate, causing the arming spindle to withdraw from its channel in the inertia striker. There is no visible indication of arming, since the arming spindle does not show. The withdrawal of the arming spindle frees the steel balls and therefore the striker.

On impact, the striker sets forward, compresses the creep spring, and fires the detona-tor. The flash ignites the powder pellets, causing an explosion which forces the copper disc to assume a domed shape.

At the same time, the arming plate is forced down, causing the rod to move and free the clockwork. The lower striker is also brought closer to the detonator. After the delay time has elapsed, a detent in the clockwork frees the hollow central shaft, which moves up-ward under a spring load to impact the striker. The detonator is fixed, and the flash pas-ses down the central shaft to the booster.

Figure 65
Clockwork Long-Delay Tail Fuze