FUZING

COLOR & MARKINGS

OVERALL LENGTH

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

PARACHUTE DIAMETER

TOTAL WEIGHT

BURNING TIME

3¼ - 4¼ minutes

DELAY:

Interchangeable delay capsules are provided for use with fuzes No. 42 and 848, the capsules being intended to give a delay such as to fire a 4.5" Mk II or IV flare at a height of 3,000 ft. above sea level, with the height at which the 4.5" flare should be released stamped on the capsules. When using these fuzes in the 5.5" flare, it is to be remembered that the 5.5" flare has a greater terminal velocity and for a given height it will be fired at a height below that of a 4.5" flare.

CANDLE POWER:

1,000,000 approx.

DESCRIPTION:

The flare has a tubular body which contains the flare candle unit and its parachute. The body is closed at its nose and by a diaphragm having a bush into which is screwed a nose fuze. The tail end of the body is closed by a closing dome and has four tail fins. The diaphragm has a flash hole, sealed by a thin metal disc. A powder puff, consisting of a primed fabric bag containing gunpowder and strands of quickmatch, is located in position by washers and a perforated disc to which it is secured. The candle unit com-prises a candle case containing the flare composition and a quantity of priming compo-sition. The nose end of the case is closed by a primed cambric disc and a millboard washer, and the tail end is closed by a lid. A shackle attached to the lid connects the candle unit with the suspension rope of the parachute.

SUSPENSION:

A suspension band with a lug is provided for attachment to a Universal bomb carrier.

FUNCTIONING:

When the fuze flare is released from a plane, the fuze is set in operation and the flare falls freely until the magazine charge of the fuze is fired and perforates the metal disc covering the flash hole in the diaphragm. The flash from the magazine charge pas-ses through the flash hole and ignites the primed fabric of the powder puff and the strands of quickmatch, which in turn ignites the gunpowder in the powder puff. The ga-ses formed by the burning of the gunpowder in the puff force the candle unit toward the closing dome, and the wooden slats push off the closing dome and permit the candle unit and parachute to be ejected from the flare body, which, together with the expended fuze, falls away. The parachute then opens and supports the candle unit. Before eejction, the candle is ignited by the flash from the gunpwoder in the power puff, this flash being conveyed by the primed cambric disc at the nose end of the candle case to the priming composition which, in turn, ignites the flare composition.

SIMILAR FLARE:

5.5" Mk I - Similar to the Mk II flare, except that the duration of burning is 3.5 minu-tes approximately and a Mk I parachute is used instead of a Mk II (the Mk I is not as strong)