FUZING

COLOR & MARKINGS

OVERALL LENGTH

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

PARACHUTE DIAMETER

TOTAL WEIGHT

BURNING TIME

DELAY

CANDLE POWER

750,000

DESCRIPTION:

The flare has a tubular body containing the candle unit and the Mk IVF cotton para-chute. The tail end is closed by a closing dome, and has four tail fins. Body is closed at nose end by a diaphragm having a bush into wich screws the nose fuze. The flare com-position is contained in a candle case and at the nose end of the case is a quantity of priming cambric disc and a millboard washer, and at the tail end by a felt washer and a lid secured to the candle case. The lid is riveted to the candle case, and the rivets pass through a hessian or cotton canvas strengthening band around the candle case. At the nose of the candle unit is a container in which is coiled a length of safety fuze, the ends of the safety fuze being clamped and set in cement. During manufacture the end of the safety fuze which is ignited by the power puff is out square, dipped in moist powder, and dusted with dry sulphurless mealed powder. The other or inner end of the safety fuze terminates in a small quantity of igniter composition, and is covered by a shellacked paper tube and two shellacked paper discs.

SUSPENSION:

Suspension band around the body has two removable suspension lugs for attaching to a Universal bomb carrier or a Light Series bomb carrier. Seven flares may be contai-ned in Cluster No. 1, Mk I; four in SBC 250 lb.

FUNCTIONING:

When the fuzed flare is released from a plane, the fuze is set in operation and the flare drops freely until the magazine charge of the fuze bursts the paper disc covering the flash hole in the diaphragm. The flash from the magazine charge passes through the flash hole and ignites the primed fabric of the powder puff and the strands of quick-match, which in turn ignite the gunpowder in the powder puff. The gases formed by the burning of the gunpowder in the powder puff force the candle unit toward the closing dome and the wooden slasts push off the closed dome, thus permitting the candle unit and parachute to be ejected from the flare body, which, together with the expended fuze, falls away. The safety fuze is ignited by the flash from the gunpowder in the powder puff, and after a delay of 2 min., during which time the flare has fallen 2,000 ft. supported by the parachute, the safety fuze ignites the igniter composition at its inner end. the flash from the igniter composition is conveyed by the primed cambric disc to the candle primings, which are ignited and in turn ignite the flare composition.

SIMILARE FLARES:

4.5" with delay, Mk VI - Similar to the Mk V flare, but is provided with a 4 minute in-ternal delay, so thar the flare falls 4,000 ft. suspended on its parachute, before the candle is ignited.

4.5" with delay, Mk VIII - Differs from the Mk V flare in that it has a modified para-chute known as the Mk VP, 11 ft. parachute.

REMARKS:

(1) The period of delay of these flares enables the aircraft which has released the flare to get into position for its bombing run and to make the best use of the 3 to 4 mi-nutes illumination given by the flare.

(2) The No. 42 and No. 848 fuzes incorporate an interchangeable delay capsule in-tended to give a delay such as to fire a 4.5" Mk III or IV flare at a height of 3,000 ft. above sea level. Delays range from 4 to 32.5 seconds.

(3) For external view, see page 116.