German Explosives
Pyrotechnics
Introduction
This series will describe German aircraft pyrotechnics. It includes flares, photographic flash bombs, markers, smoke generators, etc.
Basically, German flares consist of a cylindrical container housing an illuminating element, which upon being ignited by a pull friction igniter or time fuze, burns vigorously producing great illumination and intense heat. The flare may or may not have a parachute, depending upon the use for which it is intended. The illuminating element consists either of a single or a multiple candle unit which varies in intensity of illumination and color, according to its purpose. Methods of carrying flares vary with the individual sizes. Large flares may be suspended horizontally while small flares may be carried in containers.
German photographic flash bombs are similar in external appearance to conventional 50-kg bombs and parachute flare cases. Their fillings may be either flare composition or incendiary mixture, ignited by electrical or mechanical aerial burst fuzes.
Markers used by the Germans consist principally of cylindrical cardboard containers, filled with a colored flare composition which is ignited by an impact type fuze. A few individual markers do not follow this pattern of construction. Some are merely containers of brightly colored powder, which are dumped into the sea from low altitudes to mark positions. Others are modified parachute flares of various colors.
Fundamentally, German smoke generators are smoke pots modified for dropping from aircraft. Each consists of a cylindrical aluminum case, containing a smoke producing composition which is ignited by a pull friction igniter. A parachute is used in some cases to retard the fall of the generator. Large smoke generators may be suspended from racks while small ones, known as smoke pots, are carried in containers.
LC 10 Single Candle Parachute Flare
Overall Length:15 inches
Body Diameter: 3 and 5/8 inchesConstruction: The LC 10 single candle parachute flare consists mainly of an aluminum cylinder, the flare candle contained in a cardboard liner, an 89 clockwork fuze and a parachute. The fuze is located in a steel sleeve at the nose end of the flare body. This sleeve is attached to the body by three screws. An aluminum cap fits over the steel sleeve leaving the fuze exposed.
The parachute is located in the tail end of the flare body. The opening at the tail is closed by a steel cup. The suspension eye bolt is secured to the end of the cup.
Operation: The 89 fuze begins to function when the flare is dropped. At a predetermined time the fuze fires and ejects the candle and its parachute from the body. The candle is ignited by the same action.
Suspension: ABB 500 incendiary containers.
Parachute Flare FB 50 (Single Candle) and LC 50 F Ausf. C (Four Candle)
Overall Length: 42.5 inches
Body Length: 42.5 inches
Body Diameter: 8 inchesWall Thickness: 3/32 inches
Filling: Flare Composition
Total Weight: 76 pounds
Color and Markings: The body, tail fins, and domed cap may be unpainted aluminum or painted black all over. Manufacturer's markings may be stenciled on the case near the domed cap.
Construction: The body consists of a case made of seamless aluminum tubing, a pan-shaped plate over which the tube is crimped and secured by 24 aluminum rivets, and a dome-shaped cover secured to the tube by six brass shear screws. A concave steel plate stiffens the nose for vertical suspension. A felt disc supports the parachute which is stowed behind a paper sleeve. The fuze pocket is of steel and contains the fuze and wooden quickmatch holder. Eight semicircular fibre pads and one disc are wedged around the fuze pocket.
Four strands of quickmatch pass from the holder via a rubber tube and an aluminum tube to a black powder charge in the tail-end. Immediately behind the ejector cup are two fibre discs, shaped to allow passage of the rubber quickmatch tube, the parachute suspension wires and to accommodate the side suspension block. The four candles are held together by a steel plate in the form of a cross bolted on to them. There are four eyebolts screwed to each arm of the cross to take the parachute wires. A 3/16-inch steel wire welded around the cross ensures easy passage of the candles on ejection from the casing. Each candle is provided with a match igniter at its base.
On release, the pyrotechnic delay in the fuze is ignited. This fires the quickmatch which in turn ignites the black powder charge in the tail. The charge ejects the candles by shearing the brass screws, the candles simultaneously being ignited through perforations in the ejector plate.
There are no tail fins on the case of the single candle flare but the four candle flare has four fins riveted to the case, two of which are 16 inches long and two 3 inches long, all being 2 inches wide.
These are located at the far end of the case from the parachute. The parachute is of celanese, 13 feet in diameter. It is attached to the candles by 12 silk shroud lines 10 feet long and woven steel wire.
Suspension: Vertical or horizontal
Remarks: The flare composition is:
-16.5% Aluminum
-75.8% Barium Nitrate
-7.7% Sulphur
-0.2% Volatile Matter
Both flares burn slightly longer than 5 minutes.
Candlepower:
-Single candle: 216,000
-Four candles: 600,000
LC 50 F Ausf. E Parachute Flare
Overall Length: 42 and 1/8 inches
Body Length: 42 and 1/8 inches
Body Diameter: 7 and 11/16 inchesFilling: Flare composition
Flare Candle
Overall Length: 20 and 3/8 inches
Diameter: 4.8 inches
Weight: 23.14 pounds
Stabilizing Fins: 2 and 3/4 inches (x2); and 16 inches (x2)
Construction: The container of the parachute flare is a drawn steel cylinder 1 mm thick compressed circumferentially to form two internal flanges. The forward end is enclosed by a dome cover and the after end by a plate. A cardboard disc separates the fuze pocket from the 12 pounds of clay ballast in the nose. The cardboard disk is retained by a ring which has an L-section and is spot welded to the inside of the container. The domed cover which fits inside the container is located near the forward flange. It is secured by the rim at the forward end of the container. The fitting in the cover is threaded to take a suspension lug.
The wooden block beneath one fuze has a central hole and a side channel through which the flash from the fuze ignites the powder train in the rubber tube. This in turn ignites the black powder charge in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is positioned by the after internal flange and the plaster of paris cylinder. The single flare candle is within this cylinder and sealed by the washer. The parachute shrouds are wound around the top of the candle and a cardboard ejector disc is placed below the folded parachute. A tight fitting felt pad is inserted above the parachute and is held in place by the end plate. This latter is secured by six soft metal screws which are easily sheared. Of the four stabilizing fins on the tail of the container, one pair is 2 and 3/4 inches long while the other is 16 inches long.
The candle is an aluminum tube closed at one end, with a paper liner containing the compressed flare composition. A light aluminum container inserted in the concave end of the candle contains the black powder igniter. At the other end of the candle a heat insulating layer, consisting of cast plaster, is provided to protect the shrouds of the parachute. The latter are arranged in two groups connected by two 4-foot lengths of S.W.R. to the closing plate, which is riveted to the container.
The parachute, 4 feet in diameter, is made out of 12 sections of artificial silk and vented at the center.
Suspension: Horizontal
LC 50 F Ausf. G Parachute Flare
Overall Length: 43 inches
Body Diameter: 7.87 inchesTail Width: 11 inches
Filling: Flare composition
Total Weight: 32 kilograms (approx.)
Construction: The body of the LC 50 F Ausf.G parachute flare is constructed of sheet aluminum, The base is closed off by a flat plate and secured to the cylinder by 12 rivets. A parachute closing cap forms the forward end of the container.
The parachute is found in the forward part of the container between the parachute closing cap and the fuze pocket. The suspension lug is located a few inches aft of the fuze pocket. The suspension lug brace contains the black powder puff and also connects the flash channel from the fuze pocket to the central igniter train. The remaining part of the container aft of the suspension lug is filled with flare composition.
Operation: After release, the airburst fuze functions to explode 3 grams of black powder in bakelite gaines which in turn lights pyrotechnic delay to explode a powder puff. Pressure exerted by the resultant gases forces the parachute against the parachute closing cap to shear the retaining rivets, and so permit the ejection of the parachute into the air stream. Simultaneously the flash from the powder puff ignites the igniter train leading centrally through the flare candle to the five igniter stars which in turn ignite and ensure a substantially even ignition of the flare composition. It appears that the gases produced by the ignition of the igniter stars exert sufficient pressure to shear the rivets retaining the flare composition closing disc.
Suspension: Vertical or horizontal
Remarks: Information on this flare is based upon translation of a German document.
Next Time: Pyrotechnics (Part 2)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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