USNBD, British Bombs and Fuzes, Pyrotechnics, Detonators; Section II - Fuzes & Pistols: Nose Pistol No. 27 und No. 42

U.S.N.B.D. - BRITISH BOMBS AND FUZES; PYROTECHNICS; DETONATORS

BRITISH FUZES & PISTOLS


		BRITISH TAIL PISTOL
BOMBS USED IN	G.P. 250 lb. Mk IV	NO. 27
	G.P. 500 lb. Mk IV	NO. 27
	G.P. 1000 lb. Mks I & II	*Mks I, I, & II**
	G.P. 1900 lb.	NO. 42
	G.P. 4000 lb.	NO. 42
	All MC and HC bombs.	Mks I & II
	I.T. 60 lb. H.E.
FUNCTIONING	Impact, instantaneous;	(Service)
	direct acting.
ARMED CONDITION	When the vane boss is
	3/16" above the top of
	flange on body.
FUZES USED WITH	No. 28 and 30 Tail Pistols
ARMING TIME	3 vane revolutions
VANE SPAN	4.0"
MAX. BODY DIAMETER	1.9"
OVERALL LENGTH	4.2"
COLOR	Aluminum or brass vanes; brass body, steel striker and pres-
	sure plate (No. 42 has green painted vane cap.)

DESCRIPTION:

The construction of these pistols is essentially the same, the difference being noted in "REMARKS" below. The brass body has a flange on the top which has eight notches to receive the stop pin of the safety clip. The lower end is reduced in diameter to re-ceive the detonator with which it makes a friction fit. The pistol body is bored centrally to receive the steel striker, which is threaded on one end, and onto which is screwed the pressure plate and the vane cap. Both the pressure plate and the vane cap have stop pins to prevent the cap from being screwed down too hard on the plate. A shear wire through the striker and the pistol body holds the striker up. The vane cap is alu-minum with 5 vanes, cast in one piece. On one of the vanes is stamped the number and the mark number of the pistol. The vane cap is riveted to a brass vane bush which screws onto the striker. Opposite sides of the vane cap are cut away to receive the brass safety clip having a steel clip spring. The letter fits around the striker and holds the safety clip in place. The stop pin on the safety clip fits into one of the eight not-ches in the flange on the pistol body. The safety pin with the instruction tablet goes thriugh the ends of the arms of the safety clip. Around the pistol body below the not-ched flange is a tab locking device.

OPERATION:

The safety pin is pulled out before the bomb is put in the plane, and the safety clip is removed when the bomb is released. The vane cap is now free to rotate, and after approximately 7 rotations, falls off. The pistol is now armed. On impact, the shear wire is sheared and the firing pin hits the detonator.

REMARKS:

(1) The No. 27 Mk I has a bronze shear wire and blunt firing pin.

(2) The No. 42 differs from the No. 27 in that it has; (a) an aluminum shear wire, (b) a sharp firing pin, (c) green vane cap, vanes, and locking ring.

(3) The No. 42 is now replacing the No. 27.

(4) It is considered inadvisable to drop this pistol safe from over 3000 feet.