FUZING

COLOR & MARKINGS

OVERALL LENGTH

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

PARACHUTE DIAMETER

TOTAL WEIGHT

BURNING TIME

CANDLE POWER

750,000

DESCRIPTION:

The flare has a tubular body containing the candle unit and the parachute, which is made of cotton. The tail end of the body is closed by a closing dome, and has four tail fins. The body is closed at the nose end by a diaphragm having a bush into which is screwed a nose plug of the fuze. Flare composition is contained in a candle case toget-her with some priming composition and a primed cambric disc at the nose end, a quan-tity of clay held between millboard discs, and a felt washer at the tail end. A lid is rive-ted to the tail end of the candle case. A shackle attached to the lid connects the candle unit with the suspension rope of the parachute.

SUSPENSION:

A suspension band having two removable suspension lugs, one for attaching the flare to a Universal bomb carrier, and the other for attaching it to a Light Series bomb carrier, is secured to the flare body. Seven flares may be carried in Cluster, No 1 Mk I; four in SBC 250 lb.

FUNCTIONING:

When the fuzed flare is released from the plane, the fuze is set in operation and the flare drops freely until the flash from the magazine charge of the fuze passes through the flash hole in the diaphragm and ignites the powder puff. The gases formed by the burning of the gunpoweder in the puff forces the candle unit towards the closing dome and the wooden slats push off the dome, thus permitting the candle unit and the para-chute to be ejected from the flare body, which, together with the expanded fuze, falls away. The flash from the puff ignites the primed cambric disc and the priming composi-tion at the nose of the candle, and the priming composition ignites the flare composi-tion. The candle, which is now suspended on its parachute, continues to burn from the nose end until the flare composition is expended.

SIMILAR FLARES:

4.5" Mk I - Similar to the Mk IV flare, but has larger tail fins, a Mk II silk parachute, a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and its candle case is not strengthened in the region through which the lid rivets pass.

4.5" Mk II - Similar to the Mk IV flare, but has larger tail fins, a Mk IV silk parachute, a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and its candle case is not strengthe-ned in the region through which the lid rivets pass.

4.5" Mk III - Similar to the Mk IV flare, but it has larger tail fins, a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and its candle case is not strengthened in the region through which the lid rivets pass.

4.5" Mk VII - Similar to the Mk IV flare, only it has a modified parachute known as the Mk VP parachute.

Target Flares, Mk I - Details are the same as the 4.5" reconnaissance flare, Mk IV, except for the stencilled markings. Also, when falling, the target flares give either a red or green steady color with seven stars of the other color thrown out at intervals.

REMARKS:

(1) The No. 42 and No. 848 fuzes incorporates 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. Delay range from 4 to 32.5 seconds.

(2) Foe external view, see page 116.