Depth Charge Pistol Mk XVI, Mk XVI*, Mk XIV und Mk XIV*Nose Fuze No. 28B
U.S.N.B.D. - BRITISH BOMBS AND FUZES; PYROTECHNICS; DETONATORS
BRITISH FUZES & PISTOLS

 

 

 

 

 

BRITISH DEPTH CHARGE PISTOL

DEPTH CHARGES

 

MKS. XIX & XX

USED IN

Mks XI and XI* with Mk IV

 

tail.

FUNCTIONING

Hydrostatic; fixed setting

 

(a) 20 - 24 feet

(Service)

 

(b) 14 - 18 feet.

 

ARMED CONDITION

No external avidence.

 

MAX. BODY DIAMETER

3.5"

 

OVERALL LENGTH

15.75"

 

COLOR

Brass valve and pistol

 

 

assemblies; black dis-  

 

tance tube.  

 

   

DESCRIPTION:

The pistol and valve units are separated by a distance tube. The valve body is in-ternally threaded to receive the valve cover, which is drilled centrally and tapped to accommodate the valve spindle. To the top of the valve spindle is fixed an arming fork, which engages a similar fork on the end of the reach rod of a standard British tail unit. On the lower end of the valve spindle is a shoulder to which is fitted a beveled rubber washer, secured to the shoulder by a cotter pin and fitting into the lower valve body. The valve cover screws into the valve unit and is held in place by a set screw. On the lower end of the distance tube is located the pistol assembly. The cover of the pistol body is threaded to the distance tube and is held into the pistol body by a locking ring. Around the sides of the pistol body are six water entry ports, extending through the distance piece which fits into the rubber diaphragm. The diaphragm is located between an inner and an outer sleeve. In the inner sleeve are two holes containing retaining balls, which engage and retain the spring-loaded striker. The striker spring rests on a shoulder on the lower end of the striker and on the outer sleeve, so that as the dia-phragm expands and the sleeve move apart, the striker spring is compressed. To the lower end of the pistol body is threaded the detonator carrier.

OPERATION:

When the depth charge is dropped the safety wire is pulled and the arming fork is rotated by the reach rod and the vanes. After about 11 revolutions of the vanes the valve spindle has threaded the valve down onto the shoulder of the valve body, thus closing the valve and preventing water from entering the distance tube. After the depth charge enters the water, the water enters the water entry ports in the top of the valve unit, and passes through to the primer tube. The water than enters the entry ports on the side of the pistol body and passes through the distance piece, and the rubber diaphragm begins to expand. This moves the inner and outer sleeves apart. At the depth of 20 - 24 feet the sleeves have traveled sufficiently to allow the retaining balls to be cammed out into a shoulder in the outer sleeve, and the compressed striker spring forces the striker into the detonator.

Depth Charge Pistol Mk XVI, Mk XVI*, Mk XIV und Mk XIV*Nose Fuze No. 28B