|
|
| ITALIAN AND FRENCH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| Chapter 9 |
| FRENCH BOMB FUZES |
| Mechanical Impact Tail Fuze No.7 and No. 8 |
| Data |
|
Bombs used in |
No. 7 – 222-kg Model 1938 and 438-kg Model 1938 |
| No. 8 – 125-kg and 224-kg Type K, 410-kg Type L, 720-kg Type M, 73-kg, G 2 and 150-kg 12 |
|
|
Fuzes used with |
Unknown |
|
Over-all length (No. 7) |
16.4 in. |
|
Over-all length of vanes |
4.1 in. |
|
Width of fuze body (No. 7) |
1.9 in. |
| Description |
|
These two fuzes are essentially similar. The arming vanes are connected to the arming spindle. The lower end of this spindle is threaded to the striker. As a safety device, the ring safety clip retains the steel balls, which are forced against the spindle to prevent rotation and withdrawal. Beneath the striker are the creep spring and detonator. The fuze body is threaded beneath the lower flange to screw the bomb. The lower portion contains a long flash tube to the firing system, screwed into the base of the fuze. A small cone-shaped valve is also located in the base. |
| Operation |
|
The ring clip under the head of the fuze is withdrawn when the bomb falls; the balls fall out, and the vanes rotate and raise the threaded spindle. The lower end of the spindle is also threaded, so that the striker in which the end is housed becomes free as the screw is withdrawn upwards. The striker is then held by the creep spring. On impact, the striker hits the detonator. The flash is carried down the tube to the delay pellet, where pressu-re builds up until it forces open the small spring-loaded cone-shaped valve. As the valve opens, the flash passes to another delay pellet, and then to the booster lead-in and booster. |
|
Remarks |
| These fuzes can be set for delay ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 seconds. |
|
Figure 274 |
|
|
 |
