BOMBS USED IN

FUNCTIONING

ARMED CONDITION

FUZES USED WITH

ARMING TIME

VANE SPAN

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

OVERALL LENGTH

COLOR

REVOLUTIONS TO FIRE

DESCRIPTION:

This pistol is externally similar to the No. 27 pistol, but is altered internally to permit air functioning. The top of the pistol body is internally threaded to receive a threaded spindle. Over the top of this spindle are screwed the vanes and vane cap, the latter being firmly secured to the spindle by a pin. Fitting loosely around the spindle, immedia-tely above the fuze body, is loacated a steel bushing. Around the lower part of the spindle is cut an annular groove, which is engaged by two small reatining balls located in holes in the striker. The spindle in the unarmed condition is thus firmly locked in en-gagement with the striker, the balls being prevented from moving out of engagement by the inner wall of the pistol body. About two-thirds of the way up, the cental hole in the pistol body is enlarged sufficiently to allow the retaining balls to move outward and dis-engage the striker from the threaded spindle.

Opposite sides of the vane cap are cut away to receive the brass safety fork, to which a steel clip spring is attached. The latter fits around the brushing and holds the safety fork in place. Eight slots are cut in the outer perimeter of the top of the pistol body, and the locking stud of the safety fork fits into one of these slots. A safety pin with instruction tablet attached passes through the arms of the safety fork. Around the pistol body below the slotted flange is a locking spring.

OPERATION:

The safety pin is removed before the bomb is loaded aboard the aircraft, and the safety fork is pulled free when the bomb is released. The van cap is now free to rotate, and as it does withdraws the threaded spindle and engaged striker, putting the striker spring under compression. This continues until the retaining balls reach the enlarged re-cess in the pistol body. The balls then move into the recess and disengage the striker from the spindle. The spindle continues to rise until it has moved all the way out of the striker. The balls are allowed to move back into the striker, and the striker is free to be forced by its spring into the detonator.

REMARKS:

1. This pistol, while classed as in "service" use, is not widely employed.

2. The pistol incorporeates a blunt striker, and therefore is used only with anvil type detonators.

3. No. 36 Mk I: This pistol is an earlier model of the No. 36 Mk II and is a conversion of stocks of No. 27 pistols. The Mk. I differs from the Mk. II (illustrated) only in that the former incorporates a threaded bush to form the enlarged recess in the pistol body, while the body of the latter is machined from a single pieces of brass.