The Tension & Release firing device is a standard firing device which can be threaded to all of the standard anti-personnel mines, hand grenades, and to bangalore torpedo.

GENERAL:

This device is specially designed to be used with a trip wire, and unlike the standard Pull firing device the trip wire must be tightly stretched so as to exert considerable ten-sion on the retaining rod. The devcie can be activated by tripping, or by cutting the trip wire.

DESCRIPTION:

The principal parts of this device are the body, ratchet reel, retaining rod,  striker spring, striker, two safety pins, and the standard nipple base. The striker has a split base forming four jaws witch engage the nib on the end of the retaining rod. The rat-chet provides a convenient method for tightening and creating the desired tension on the trip wire. Safety pin No. 1 cannot be removed until tension large end of the safety pin to clear the elongated safety pin hole.

OPERATION:

When the device has been properly installed with the explosive charge, the trip wire is attached and tightened by means of the ratchet reel. After the retaining rod has been withdrawn slightly, the safety pin can be removed. The safety pin and safety pin hole are so designed that it can only be removed after the proper tension has been placed on the trip wire. The positive safety pin is removed last and the device is then armed.

If a pull of 6 to 10 pounds is exerted on the trip wire, the retaining rod and striker are pulled back and thereby compresses the striker spring. As the split end of the strik-er clears the internal shoulder in the body, the four jaws are forced open and the nib on the retaining rod is pulled free. The jaws then spring together again and the striker spring drives the striker down on the percussion cap.

If the trip wire is cut, the striker and retaining rod move inward under influence of the striker spring. As the split end of the striker clears the internal shoulder in the body, the jaws of the striker are spread and pulled free of the nib on the retaining rod by the striker spring which then force the striker down on the percussion cap.

REMARKS:

The device must be securely anchored to enable tension to be placed on the trip wire without dislodging the device or explosive charge.