American Projectiles and Explosives
Aircraft Pyrotechnics
Mk 5 and Mods
Length: 27 inches
Diameter: 4.75 inches
Weight: 18 pounds
Burning time: 3 minutes
Intensity: 750,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Color:
-Mk 5 and Mk 5 Mods 1 and 2: White
-Mk 5 Mods 3 - 7: Yellow
Use: The Navy Flare Mk 5 illuminates an area for reconnoitering, bombing, or landing.
Description: The complete flare consists of a parachute, an illuminant, and an impregnated chip-board case. It is closed on the parachute end by several layers of chip-board discs held in place by gummed cloth tape and sealed with paraffin, and on the fuze end, which contains the Ensign Bickford fuse, by a metal cover. There are two metal steadying bands fastened around the case, against which the steadying forks of the bomb rack rest. The complete flare in its case is issued in a waterproof metal container.
Operation: The setting of the Ensign Bickford time delay fuse is made by turning the lock screw on the metal firing mechanism housing to the desired delay, which is indicated on the bevel of the fuze-setting ring. The numbers indicate the vertical distance the fuze will drop before igniting. When the correct setting is obtained, the firing mechanism is secured by screwing the lock screw until its point is buried in the flare case.
When the flare is released from the plane, the arming plate is retained on the plane, the rip cord is torn from the side of the flare case, and the cover on the fuse end is flipped off. The rip cord is attached tot he snap cord that passes around a lug on the firing lever and is secured to the fuse block. As the flare continues to fall, the snap cord is pulled, overcoming the lever spring and cocking the firing lever. When a tension of approximately 38 pounds is reached in the snap cord, it breaks, releasing the firing lever and the lever spring, then driving the firing lever back against the fulminate of mercury primer. The flare now falls free.
The primer ignites the black-powder pellets in the fuze plunger. the expanding gases from the burning black powder propel the sharp point of the plunger radially outward into the Ensign Bickford fuse that causes its ignition. The time fuse burns its predetermined length at the rate of approximately 12 inches per 60 seconds, and ignites the quick match under the firing block.
The flash produced by the quick match ignites the firecracker fuse stapled to the ignition composition. The gases evolved when the ignition composition begins to burn force the end discs out at the parachute end, then expel the parachute and illuminant. The parachute tube, which is of split construction, falls away; the parachute opens; and the retention cable slides through the trigger snap on the end of the shroud lines until it reaches the cable stop. A short length of cable on one side of the cable stops suspends the flare case, and a longer length on the other side suspends the illuminant. This keeps the case from dropping as a missile hazard. The sudden shock caused by the contact of the cable stop with the trigger snap is taken up by a shock absorber. This is done by pulling a cable containing lead balls, called snubbers, through a hole which is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the snubbers. As each snubber passes through the hole, part of it is sheared off, thus absorbing part of the shock., The last ball is of much greater diameter and acts as a stop.
Remarks: In later models a new type of shock absorber eliminates the use of lead snubbers. The cable pulls through a connection in which friction absorbs the shock of the parachute opening.
Mk 6 and Mods and AN-Mk 6 Mod 5
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.4 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 3 - 3.5 minutes
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Color: Yellow
Use: These flares are used to illuminate a large area for reconnoitering and bombing, and also as a blinding effect on the operators of anti-aircraft weapons.
Description: The complete flare consists of the illuminant, a parachute, and an auxiliary parachute contained in a shellac-impregnated chip-board case. The case is closed on the parachute end by several layers of chip-board discs held in place by gummed cloth tape and sealed with paraffin, and on the illuminant end by an Ensign Bickford time fuse and a metal cover. To the snap cord of the Ensign Bickford fuse is attached the rip cord, which is taped down along the side of the flare case. There are two metal steadying bands around the case, against which the steadying forks or sway braces of the bomb racks rest. The flare is issued in a waterproof metal container, and should be kept there at all times when not installed in an aircraft.
Operation: When the flare is released, the arming plate is retained by the plane and the rip cord is torn from the side of the case, flipping the metal cover off the Ensign Bickford fuse. The operation of the fuse is the same as given in the Navy Flare Mk 5.
The gases evolved when the ignition composition begin to burn, force the end out of the flare case. Net, they expel the auxiliary parachute, the parachute in its case, and the illuminant. The flare case falls clear. The auxiliary parachute opens and retards the parachute in its case, to which it is attached, and the illuminant pulls the parachute out of its case. The auxiliary parachute and parachute case fall away, and the parachute opens.
Remarks: This flare also incorporates a shock absorber as used in the Navy Flare Mk 5, with either lead balls passing through a hole of smaller diameter than the lead balls, or a special connection utilizing friction to absorb shock of the parachute opening.
The Flare AN-Mk 6 Mod 5 differs from the Mk 6 and Mods in that the arming wire has swivel loops instead of an arming plate.
Flare Container Mk 1 Mod 0
Use: The Flare Container Mk 1 Mod 0 is an electrically operated jettisonable container for carrying six aircraft parachute flares of the Mark 6 type only, which may be released one at a time by electrical impulses from a 24-volt battery. The container may be suspended from any standard single or double-hook bomb rack.
Construction: It is necessary to cock the mechanism manually before the container can be loaded or unloaded. The container holds six flares, three on each side of the vertical panel, one above the other. The dividing panel assembly supports the flares by metal arms or chocks. The flares are loaded with the fuze end aft, and the end of the lanyard is secured to the container. The energy for the operation of the container is stored in torsional springs and released by a solenoid. By wiring in series, several containers can be operated to secure an uninterrupted release of a series of more than six flares.
Operation: When the solenoid is energized, the spring-loaded plunger, which is linked mechanically to the release rack, retracts completely, thereby effecting the release of one flare. The solenoid plunger will remain retracted so long as the current I son. To release another flare, the circuit must be broken long enough to allow the spring-loaded plunger to return to the normal position before applying the next impulse. The maximum rate of release is about 10 flares per second, which is the highest rate practicable in order to prevent interference between individual flares.
The cocking lever should always be in the "safety" position when on the ground, and only switched over to the "operational" position before the plane takes off. Correctly loaded flares are a fire hazard, since they are always armed.
Remarks: When the container is used in a bomb bay, it is intended that it be used without the nose and tail fairings. If desirable, the spring doors may also be removed.
AN-Mk 8 and Mods
Length: 25 inches
Diameter: 4.75 inches
Weight: 16 pounds
Burning time: 3 to 3.5 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 600,000 candlepower
Minimum release altitude: 2,500 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 500 feet/min
Use: This flare was developed specifically for night anti-submarine warfare.
Description: This flare is the same as the Navy Flare Mk 4, except that the overall length is two inches shorter and the illuminant in the Mo 0 and Mod 1 has a 90-second delay fuse through its center or a 120-second delay fuse in the Mod 2.
Operation: This flare is similar to the Navy Flare Mk 4, except that, when the ignition wire attached to the suspension cable is pulled, it pulls the friction wires in the Ensign Bickford fuse igniter, igniting the delay fuse running through the center of the illuminant. When the parachute opens, the illuminant is pulled out of the flare case, and the flare case falls away. The sudden shock caused by the opening of the parachute is taken up by a shock absorber of the solder balls and aperture type employed on the Flare Mk 4. Full suspension of the flare occurs approximately 30 to 50 feet below the plane, and 90 or 120 seconds later the first fire of the illuminant is ignited by the delay.
Remarks: The Flare Mk 8 Mod 1 and Mod 2 can be launched at speeds up to 220 knots, but the Flare Mk 8, which does not have the snubbers for the shock-absorber effect, should not be launched at speeds greater than 150 knots.
Mk 10 Mod 0
No picture available
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.4 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 4.5 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 750,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Use: This flare is employed to illuminate an area for reconnoitering, bombing, or landing.
Description: The Navy Flare Mk 10 Mod 0 has the same dimensions as the Mk 6 and Mods. The internal construction is similar to the Mk 5 and Mods, except that the Mk 10 Mod 0 has a metal suspension cup to which the suspension cable and pyrotechnic candle are fastened, and the Mk 5 and Mods has a wooden suspension-base block.
Operation: The operation is similar to that of the Navy Flare Mk 5 and Mods.
Remarks: Though this flare has a specified light intensity of 750,000 candlepower, tests have shown that it has a light intensity of 800,000 to 850,000 candlepower. In the future it may be manufactured so as to have a light intensity of approximately 1,000,000 candlepower.
Mk 11 Mod 0
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.37 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 3 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Minimum release altitude: 2,500 - 4,000 feet
Delay: 90 to 180 seconds
Use: The Navy Flare Mk 11 will supplement the AN-Mk 8 for night anti-submarine warfare.
Description: The shellac-impregnated chip-board case of this flare has two metal steadying bands fastened to it and is closed at the parachute end by a chip-board disc held in place by a gummed cloth and sealed with paraffin. The rip cord is wound around a spool at the parachute end of the flare, and is attached to the parachute tube through a release key. The parachute and parachute shrouds are enclosed in the parachute tube. The shrouds are attached to a suspension cable, which is attached to the illuminant assembly.
The fuze end of the flare is closed by a metal fuze and a cover which must be removed when setting the fuze. Immediately below the cover is a firing lanyard with a swivel loop on one end and a clip-type loop on the other.
The selective-delay ignition device is similar to the fuze used in the Mark 5 and Mark 6 types of aircraft parachute flares, the chief difference being that the fuze is initiated by a pull cord running through the center of the illuminant instead of by a firing lanyard. The pull cord is attached tot he suspension cable. A safety screw keeps the firing lever of the fuze in position during shipping. A friction-type snubber is employed at the lower end of the suspension cable.
Operation: The metal fuze-end cover is removed and the firing lanyard withdrawn. The clip-type loop or the metal lanyard is attached to the arming wire retainer of the launching gear. A selective delay setting is made by pulling up on the index pin, turning the indicator to the required delay, and then releasing the index pin. The safety screw is removed.
As the flare falls away from the aircraft, the swivel loop of the firing lanyard is held by the arming-wire retainer. The rip cord, which is fastened to the metal lanyard through the clip-type loop, unwinds from the wooden spool inside the end of the flare casing, thus tearing away the end of the flare casing. The rip cord then pulls out the spool and the parachute tube containing the parachute. the spool falls away. Since the parachute tube is held by the rip cord, the pyrotechnic candle and flare case fall away. The weight of the candle pulling on the suspension cable and parachute shrouds draws the parachute out of the tube. When the parachute and shroud lines are fully extended, the release-key cord becomes taut and pulls one end of the release key down. This allows the rip cord to pull through the key and become detached from the parachute and the tube, which falls clear. the rip cord and metal lanyard are retained by the aircraft. The parachute opens and suspends the flare 30 to 50 feet below the aircraft. The parachute pulls the candle out of the flare case, which falls free.
The selective-delay ignition device functions in a manner similar to the fuze used in the Flares Mk5 and Mk 6. The fuze is initiated by a wire pull cord which passes through a hole through the center of the candle. The pull cord is attached to the suspension cable in such a manner that it is pulled away from the primer and then releasing, striking the primer and igniting the powder pellets in the fuze plunger. The burning powder forces the pointed end of the plunger into the Bickford Fuse which is ignited by flame through holes in the plunger. The time fuse ignites the quick match under the fuze block, which in turn ignites the quick match and firecracker fuse stapled to the ignition composition. the ignition composition ignites the candle. The gases generated by the burning candle blow the fuze assembly off from the end of the pyrotechnic candle, and the fuze falls clear.
Remarks: This flare differs from the AN-Mk 8 and Mods in that there is a selective delay between the opening of the parachute and ignition of the pyrotechnic candle. The selective delay allows a single patrol plane to drop a flare near the target and then get into position for the attack before the flare discloses his position.
Float Flare Mk 17 Mod 0 and Mod 1
Length: 60.75 inches
Diameter: 9.5 inches
Weight: 88 pounds
Color: Yellowish white
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Burning time: 4.5 to 5 minutes
Delay:
-Mod 0: 1 minute
-Mod 1: 5.5 minutes
Use: This flare is used to illuminate enemy surface craft.
Description: The flare case is a cylindrical body of sheet metal tapered at one end from 9 and 1/2 half inches to approximately 4 inches, which section has a lead weight and four membrane-covered ports approximately two inches in diameter. The after end of the flare case is closed by a canvas bag containing a parachute. The candle is in a central tube so mounted as to keep the burning mixture at the top of the flare by spring action.
Operation: When the flare is removed from the box, the adhesive tape on the cover is pulled off and membranes covering the ports in the nose are punctured. The flare is loaded into the bomb rack with the pointed end of the flare toward the forward end of the plane. Sufficient static line is pulled from the pocket in the parachute canvas bag to allow the ring attached to the end of the line to be secured to the arming-wire retainer on the rack or shackle. On launching, a combination-type fuze causes a delay before the pyrotechnic candle burns.
Remarks: Flares having a one-minute delay setting may be released at elevations between 100 and 4,000 feet; 5 and 1/2-minute delays may be released from greater altitudes. Descent is at a rate of between 80 and 100 feet per minute.
A continuous illumination of nine minutes duration may be obtained by dropping a Mod 0 and a Mod 1 together.
Mk 5 and Mods
Length: 27 inches
Diameter: 4.75 inches
Weight: 18 pounds
Burning time: 3 minutes
Intensity: 750,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Color:
-Mk 5 and Mk 5 Mods 1 and 2: White
-Mk 5 Mods 3 - 7: Yellow
Use: The Navy Flare Mk 5 illuminates an area for reconnoitering, bombing, or landing.
Description: The complete flare consists of a parachute, an illuminant, and an impregnated chip-board case. It is closed on the parachute end by several layers of chip-board discs held in place by gummed cloth tape and sealed with paraffin, and on the fuze end, which contains the Ensign Bickford fuse, by a metal cover. There are two metal steadying bands fastened around the case, against which the steadying forks of the bomb rack rest. The complete flare in its case is issued in a waterproof metal container.
Operation: The setting of the Ensign Bickford time delay fuse is made by turning the lock screw on the metal firing mechanism housing to the desired delay, which is indicated on the bevel of the fuze-setting ring. The numbers indicate the vertical distance the fuze will drop before igniting. When the correct setting is obtained, the firing mechanism is secured by screwing the lock screw until its point is buried in the flare case.
When the flare is released from the plane, the arming plate is retained on the plane, the rip cord is torn from the side of the flare case, and the cover on the fuse end is flipped off. The rip cord is attached tot he snap cord that passes around a lug on the firing lever and is secured to the fuse block. As the flare continues to fall, the snap cord is pulled, overcoming the lever spring and cocking the firing lever. When a tension of approximately 38 pounds is reached in the snap cord, it breaks, releasing the firing lever and the lever spring, then driving the firing lever back against the fulminate of mercury primer. The flare now falls free.
The primer ignites the black-powder pellets in the fuze plunger. the expanding gases from the burning black powder propel the sharp point of the plunger radially outward into the Ensign Bickford fuse that causes its ignition. The time fuse burns its predetermined length at the rate of approximately 12 inches per 60 seconds, and ignites the quick match under the firing block.
The flash produced by the quick match ignites the firecracker fuse stapled to the ignition composition. The gases evolved when the ignition composition begins to burn force the end discs out at the parachute end, then expel the parachute and illuminant. The parachute tube, which is of split construction, falls away; the parachute opens; and the retention cable slides through the trigger snap on the end of the shroud lines until it reaches the cable stop. A short length of cable on one side of the cable stops suspends the flare case, and a longer length on the other side suspends the illuminant. This keeps the case from dropping as a missile hazard. The sudden shock caused by the contact of the cable stop with the trigger snap is taken up by a shock absorber. This is done by pulling a cable containing lead balls, called snubbers, through a hole which is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the snubbers. As each snubber passes through the hole, part of it is sheared off, thus absorbing part of the shock., The last ball is of much greater diameter and acts as a stop.
Remarks: In later models a new type of shock absorber eliminates the use of lead snubbers. The cable pulls through a connection in which friction absorbs the shock of the parachute opening.
Mk 6 and Mods and AN-Mk 6 Mod 5
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.4 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 3 - 3.5 minutes
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Color: Yellow
Use: These flares are used to illuminate a large area for reconnoitering and bombing, and also as a blinding effect on the operators of anti-aircraft weapons.
Description: The complete flare consists of the illuminant, a parachute, and an auxiliary parachute contained in a shellac-impregnated chip-board case. The case is closed on the parachute end by several layers of chip-board discs held in place by gummed cloth tape and sealed with paraffin, and on the illuminant end by an Ensign Bickford time fuse and a metal cover. To the snap cord of the Ensign Bickford fuse is attached the rip cord, which is taped down along the side of the flare case. There are two metal steadying bands around the case, against which the steadying forks or sway braces of the bomb racks rest. The flare is issued in a waterproof metal container, and should be kept there at all times when not installed in an aircraft.
Operation: When the flare is released, the arming plate is retained by the plane and the rip cord is torn from the side of the case, flipping the metal cover off the Ensign Bickford fuse. The operation of the fuse is the same as given in the Navy Flare Mk 5.
The gases evolved when the ignition composition begin to burn, force the end out of the flare case. Net, they expel the auxiliary parachute, the parachute in its case, and the illuminant. The flare case falls clear. The auxiliary parachute opens and retards the parachute in its case, to which it is attached, and the illuminant pulls the parachute out of its case. The auxiliary parachute and parachute case fall away, and the parachute opens.
Remarks: This flare also incorporates a shock absorber as used in the Navy Flare Mk 5, with either lead balls passing through a hole of smaller diameter than the lead balls, or a special connection utilizing friction to absorb shock of the parachute opening.
The Flare AN-Mk 6 Mod 5 differs from the Mk 6 and Mods in that the arming wire has swivel loops instead of an arming plate.
Flare Container Mk 1 Mod 0
Use: The Flare Container Mk 1 Mod 0 is an electrically operated jettisonable container for carrying six aircraft parachute flares of the Mark 6 type only, which may be released one at a time by electrical impulses from a 24-volt battery. The container may be suspended from any standard single or double-hook bomb rack.
Construction: It is necessary to cock the mechanism manually before the container can be loaded or unloaded. The container holds six flares, three on each side of the vertical panel, one above the other. The dividing panel assembly supports the flares by metal arms or chocks. The flares are loaded with the fuze end aft, and the end of the lanyard is secured to the container. The energy for the operation of the container is stored in torsional springs and released by a solenoid. By wiring in series, several containers can be operated to secure an uninterrupted release of a series of more than six flares.
Operation: When the solenoid is energized, the spring-loaded plunger, which is linked mechanically to the release rack, retracts completely, thereby effecting the release of one flare. The solenoid plunger will remain retracted so long as the current I son. To release another flare, the circuit must be broken long enough to allow the spring-loaded plunger to return to the normal position before applying the next impulse. The maximum rate of release is about 10 flares per second, which is the highest rate practicable in order to prevent interference between individual flares.
The cocking lever should always be in the "safety" position when on the ground, and only switched over to the "operational" position before the plane takes off. Correctly loaded flares are a fire hazard, since they are always armed.
Remarks: When the container is used in a bomb bay, it is intended that it be used without the nose and tail fairings. If desirable, the spring doors may also be removed.
Length: 25 inches
Diameter: 4.75 inches
Weight: 16 pounds
Burning time: 3 to 3.5 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 600,000 candlepower
Minimum release altitude: 2,500 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 500 feet/min
Use: This flare was developed specifically for night anti-submarine warfare.
Description: This flare is the same as the Navy Flare Mk 4, except that the overall length is two inches shorter and the illuminant in the Mo 0 and Mod 1 has a 90-second delay fuse through its center or a 120-second delay fuse in the Mod 2.
Operation: This flare is similar to the Navy Flare Mk 4, except that, when the ignition wire attached to the suspension cable is pulled, it pulls the friction wires in the Ensign Bickford fuse igniter, igniting the delay fuse running through the center of the illuminant. When the parachute opens, the illuminant is pulled out of the flare case, and the flare case falls away. The sudden shock caused by the opening of the parachute is taken up by a shock absorber of the solder balls and aperture type employed on the Flare Mk 4. Full suspension of the flare occurs approximately 30 to 50 feet below the plane, and 90 or 120 seconds later the first fire of the illuminant is ignited by the delay.
Remarks: The Flare Mk 8 Mod 1 and Mod 2 can be launched at speeds up to 220 knots, but the Flare Mk 8, which does not have the snubbers for the shock-absorber effect, should not be launched at speeds greater than 150 knots.
No picture available
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.4 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 4.5 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 750,000 candlepower
Release altitude: 3,500 - 15,000 feet
Rate of fall after ignition: 450 feet/min
Use: This flare is employed to illuminate an area for reconnoitering, bombing, or landing.
Description: The Navy Flare Mk 10 Mod 0 has the same dimensions as the Mk 6 and Mods. The internal construction is similar to the Mk 5 and Mods, except that the Mk 10 Mod 0 has a metal suspension cup to which the suspension cable and pyrotechnic candle are fastened, and the Mk 5 and Mods has a wooden suspension-base block.
Operation: The operation is similar to that of the Navy Flare Mk 5 and Mods.
Remarks: Though this flare has a specified light intensity of 750,000 candlepower, tests have shown that it has a light intensity of 800,000 to 850,000 candlepower. In the future it may be manufactured so as to have a light intensity of approximately 1,000,000 candlepower.
Length: 37.75 inches
Diameter: 5.37 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Burning time: 3 minutes
Color: Yellow (Pale)
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Minimum release altitude: 2,500 - 4,000 feet
Delay: 90 to 180 seconds
Use: The Navy Flare Mk 11 will supplement the AN-Mk 8 for night anti-submarine warfare.
Description: The shellac-impregnated chip-board case of this flare has two metal steadying bands fastened to it and is closed at the parachute end by a chip-board disc held in place by a gummed cloth and sealed with paraffin. The rip cord is wound around a spool at the parachute end of the flare, and is attached to the parachute tube through a release key. The parachute and parachute shrouds are enclosed in the parachute tube. The shrouds are attached to a suspension cable, which is attached to the illuminant assembly.
The fuze end of the flare is closed by a metal fuze and a cover which must be removed when setting the fuze. Immediately below the cover is a firing lanyard with a swivel loop on one end and a clip-type loop on the other.
The selective-delay ignition device is similar to the fuze used in the Mark 5 and Mark 6 types of aircraft parachute flares, the chief difference being that the fuze is initiated by a pull cord running through the center of the illuminant instead of by a firing lanyard. The pull cord is attached tot he suspension cable. A safety screw keeps the firing lever of the fuze in position during shipping. A friction-type snubber is employed at the lower end of the suspension cable.
Operation: The metal fuze-end cover is removed and the firing lanyard withdrawn. The clip-type loop or the metal lanyard is attached to the arming wire retainer of the launching gear. A selective delay setting is made by pulling up on the index pin, turning the indicator to the required delay, and then releasing the index pin. The safety screw is removed.
As the flare falls away from the aircraft, the swivel loop of the firing lanyard is held by the arming-wire retainer. The rip cord, which is fastened to the metal lanyard through the clip-type loop, unwinds from the wooden spool inside the end of the flare casing, thus tearing away the end of the flare casing. The rip cord then pulls out the spool and the parachute tube containing the parachute. the spool falls away. Since the parachute tube is held by the rip cord, the pyrotechnic candle and flare case fall away. The weight of the candle pulling on the suspension cable and parachute shrouds draws the parachute out of the tube. When the parachute and shroud lines are fully extended, the release-key cord becomes taut and pulls one end of the release key down. This allows the rip cord to pull through the key and become detached from the parachute and the tube, which falls clear. the rip cord and metal lanyard are retained by the aircraft. The parachute opens and suspends the flare 30 to 50 feet below the aircraft. The parachute pulls the candle out of the flare case, which falls free.
The selective-delay ignition device functions in a manner similar to the fuze used in the Flares Mk5 and Mk 6. The fuze is initiated by a wire pull cord which passes through a hole through the center of the candle. The pull cord is attached to the suspension cable in such a manner that it is pulled away from the primer and then releasing, striking the primer and igniting the powder pellets in the fuze plunger. The burning powder forces the pointed end of the plunger into the Bickford Fuse which is ignited by flame through holes in the plunger. The time fuse ignites the quick match under the fuze block, which in turn ignites the quick match and firecracker fuse stapled to the ignition composition. the ignition composition ignites the candle. The gases generated by the burning candle blow the fuze assembly off from the end of the pyrotechnic candle, and the fuze falls clear.
Remarks: This flare differs from the AN-Mk 8 and Mods in that there is a selective delay between the opening of the parachute and ignition of the pyrotechnic candle. The selective delay allows a single patrol plane to drop a flare near the target and then get into position for the attack before the flare discloses his position.
Length: 60.75 inches
Diameter: 9.5 inches
Weight: 88 pounds
Color: Yellowish white
Intensity: 1,000,000 candlepower
Burning time: 4.5 to 5 minutes
Delay:
-Mod 0: 1 minute
-Mod 1: 5.5 minutes
Use: This flare is used to illuminate enemy surface craft.
Description: The flare case is a cylindrical body of sheet metal tapered at one end from 9 and 1/2 half inches to approximately 4 inches, which section has a lead weight and four membrane-covered ports approximately two inches in diameter. The after end of the flare case is closed by a canvas bag containing a parachute. The candle is in a central tube so mounted as to keep the burning mixture at the top of the flare by spring action.
Operation: When the flare is removed from the box, the adhesive tape on the cover is pulled off and membranes covering the ports in the nose are punctured. The flare is loaded into the bomb rack with the pointed end of the flare toward the forward end of the plane. Sufficient static line is pulled from the pocket in the parachute canvas bag to allow the ring attached to the end of the line to be secured to the arming-wire retainer on the rack or shackle. On launching, a combination-type fuze causes a delay before the pyrotechnic candle burns.
Remarks: Flares having a one-minute delay setting may be released at elevations between 100 and 4,000 feet; 5 and 1/2-minute delays may be released from greater altitudes. Descent is at a rate of between 80 and 100 feet per minute.
A continuous illumination of nine minutes duration may be obtained by dropping a Mod 0 and a Mod 1 together.
Next Time: Depth Charges and Slick Markers
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