BOMBS USED IN

FUNCTIONING

ARMED CONDITION

FUZES USED WITH

VANE SPAN

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

OVERALL LENGTH

COLOR

Brass

DESCRIPTION:

The pistol consists of a vane cap, body, and body extension, all of which are made of brass. The vane cap is cast and has five vanes (No. 55, four vanes). There are two small holes on opposite sides of the cap for the safety pin. In the top of the vane cap there is a steel stop pin and a similar one on the pistol body to prevent the cap from being screwed down too tightly. A steel retaining disc is threaded in the upper pistol body above the diaphragm. In this disc are drilled seven holes to allow air passage. Under the retaining disc is a 1-¼" sheet brass diaphragm to which is soldered a 3-1/8" steel needle striker which passes down into the body extension. There are two air pres-sure holes in the pistol body to equalize air pressure under the diaphragm, preventing detonation while the bomb is falling. Around the pistol body is a brass locking ring.

OPERATION:

The safety pin is removed manually when the bomb is loaded aboard the plane, and the vanes are freed to rotate upon release. The vane cap falls away after about 13 re-volutions, leaving the steel disc and diaphragm exposed. Detonation occurs on impact or by the blast wave of the preceding bomb. It has been reported that the diaphragm has also been reversed by the cushion of air built up beneath the bomb as it nears the ground.

REMARKS:

(1) If, on examination, it is determiend that the diaphragm has been reversed, it must be assumed that the pistol is in a fired condition, with the striker imbedded in the detonator.

(2) These pistols are designed to replace the No. 27 pistol.

(3) No. 44 Mk II: (Illustrated): similar to the Mk. I, except that the two air vents in the side of the pistol are replaced by three air vents in the base of the pistol body.

(4) No. 44 Mk. III: differs from the Mk. II pistol as follows: (a) the vane cap is retai-ned by a new type safety clip, the hook end of which locates in a hole in one of the arming vanes, while the plain end passes through the single hole in the vane cap and engages a safety pin groove in the pistol body; (b) the two safety pin holes in the vane cap and the four notches in the top edge of the body are omitted; (c) the air pressure relief groove is diametrically opposite the safety pin groove and extends from the top of the body to a point level with the top of the safety pin groove.

(5) No. 55 Mk I: identical with the No. 44 Mk. III, except that four anemometer type vanes are used. The pistol is used in the two off-center nose fuze pockets of H.C. bombs having three nose fuze pockets.