FUZING

CONTENTS

OVERALL LENGTH

DIAMETER

TOTAL WEIGHT

TAIL NO.

DESCRIPTION:

Cylindrical metal container consisting of a nose unit recessed to receive the noses of seven 4.5" reconnaissance flares and a fuze adapter from which radiate six flash tubes to the igniters and three flash channels leading to the explosive pellets in the piston housings. The nose unit is secured to the panel locating plate and the tail plate of a bar T-section suspension bar and the clamping bars. The clamping bars consist of a bar to which are welded two panels. The clamping bars locate the panels and are secured through the panel locating plate to the tail plate and to the nose unit by spring wash-ers and nuts. The nuts securing the clamping bars to the piston housings are further secured by split pins. The tail tie rod is screwed into the tail plate and the tail unit fastened to it by a spring washer and nut. Tail consists of a sheet metal cone with cy-lindrical strut attached by four fins on the rear of the tail cone. The flares from which the suspension lugs and domed caps have been removed are located by the recesses in the nose unit and panel locating plate. The flares are fuzed with special igniters consis-ting of the body and dome portion of the No. 42 fuze without the percussion cap and striker mechanism, and sealed with primed cambric.

SUSPENSION:

Single lug secured to a T-section suspension bar running from the nose to the base.

FUNCTIONING:

On releases from the aircraft the cluster falls normally until the fuze functions. When the fuze functions the flash from the magazine passes through the flash tubes to ignite the igniters in the nose of each flare and through the flash channels to explode the gunpowder pellets in the piston housings. The explosion of the pellets forces the pist-ons out of their housings, causing the clamping bars to swing outwards, thereby releas-ing the nose unit, panels and initiated flares. The flares then function in the normal manner.