German Explosives
Mark C 50 FA Parachute Flare
Overall Length: 42 inches
Body Diameter: 7.85 inchesColours and Markings: Body is black overall. Stenciled on body in green paint: "Mark C50FA" or "Mark 50 F/A". The parachute is marked:
LETTERUNGS--N5 6
EESFELD
ANGEFEITIGT SEP. 193
B.G. TEXT 12 WERKE
K. G. S. HENKING
BERLIN--TEMPLEHOF
Construction: The flare body is an aluminum cylinder with no tail fins. The nose is a flanged and slightly domed cap secured to the body by four shear screws. A nose eyebolt is attached to the nose cap. The interior of the nose cap is lined with a felt pad. Between this pad and the fuze pocket lies the cotton parachute. The parachute, vented at top, has a circumference of 21 feet, 4 inches and is made in 8 sections. The parachute shrouds are arranged in two groups of four, each group being connected to a suspension cable. The two suspension cables are attached to two brackets which are bolted to the candle unit lid.
An old flat type locking ring secures the 59A fuze in the fuze pocket. The ejector cup is a sliding fit in the flare body but is prevented from movement by the indentations (until the ejector charge functions).
Retained in position at the base of the fuze pocket by a small grub screw is the quickmatch holder mounted in plastic material. The bundle of quickmatch is placed centrally down this holder to connect at right angles with the quickmatch relay.
The quickmatch relay "lead-in" tube, which is for some distance of rubber and then of aluminum alloy, passes through slots in the intervening plates, and extends the length of candle unit to the ejection charge.
The candle unit measures 22 by 4 inches diameter and bears marking similar to those found on the flare body. It is primed at the base with an ignition composition.
Placed between the candle unit ejector disc and the termination of the quickmatch relay is a further layer of ignition composition.
The ejection charge consisting of "pebble" gunpowder is contained within a felt holder. The remaining space in the base of the flare is occupied by two packing washers, one of felt, and one of clay.
Riveted to the flare body is the domed base closing cap which is further secured by an inward turning-over of the cylindrical body to overlap the closing cap.
Operation: During the fall of the parachute flare, the aerial burst fuze functions and the flash is passed to ignite the quickmatch within the quickmatch holder. It is relayed via the rubber tube and the aluminum alloy tube to ignite the priming composition. This in turn initiates the gunpowder ejection charge.
The gases formed by the burning of the gunpowder force the ejector disk and with it the candle unit ejector cup, and parachute toward the nose cap. The pressure of the parachute against the interior of the nose cap shears the four screws permitting the parachute and candle unit to be ejected from the flare body.
Simultaneously, the flash from the burning gunpowder has ignited the priming composition at the bottom of the flare to ignite the flare composition.
No information has been received regarding the burning time of the candle unit.
Mark 50 Kask Target Indicating Flare
Overall Length: 41 inches
Body Diameter: 7.7 inchesTail Length: 15 inches
Tail Width: 10.3 inches
Filling: Illuminating composition, black powder expellant charge; smokeless powder ignition disks.
Construction: The body is a cylinder of sheet metal with a constant external diameter. A truncated cone of concrete is firmly fixed to the nose by a 0.75-inch bolt.
The fuze pocket contains a drilled hole to allow passage of flame to the rear of the container. Immediately to the read of the fuze pocket is the charge containing plate, so positioned that the hole in it is directly over the flame port int he fuze pocket. A bag of black powder lies in the charge containing plate.
To the rear of the charge and resting on the charge retaining plate is the pressure plate. This pressure plate has a central flash hole through it and also has an extension welded to a cutaway semicircle on its circumference to allow for movement of the plate without hindrance from the internal portion of the suspension eyebolt.
Resting on the pressure plate is the first of three ignition partitions. Each partition consists of two perforated cardboard plates, between which are pressed discs of smoking powder.
A bundle of 20 target indicating flares rests on the ignition partitions. Each flare is approximately 6 inches long and 1 and 1/2 inches in diameter. The outer covering of each flare is waxed cardboard and there is a smear of quick-fire composition at one end. The flares are places so that the end on which the quick-fire composition is located is toward the fuze pocket.
Above the layer of 20 flares there is another ignition partition, then a bundle of 21 flares, followed by still another ignition partition and 21 flares, making a total of 62 individual flares contained in the body.
To the rear of the last bundle of flares are two pads of felt and one cardboard pad. The top plate retains all the contents in the container and is fixed to the body by means of four light aluminum shear rivets. The tail consists of four stabilizing fins welded at 90 degree intervals around the body.
Suspension: A single standard German eyebolt screwed to the side of the body supports the "Mk 50 Kask" in the plane.
Remarks: As the missile falls to Earth after release, it maintains a nose down position in flight due to the weight of the concrete nose piece. The fuze functions while falling. The expellant charge is ignited, blows the pressure plate to the rear, shearing the retaining rivets, and top plate falls free, ejecting the individual flares. At the same time that the ejection is occurring, the flash from the propellant charge is transmitted to the ignition partitions which ignite the target flares.
Once ignited, the flares burn with a white flame for 1 second and then with a red flame.
Parachute Flare, Single Candle Flare (Pull Friction Igniters)
Overall Length: 42 inches
Body Diameter: 7.8 inchesFilling: Flare composition
Nur fur etc 50 V III
DEPYFAG--M
39. Lief 6.
Construction: This flare is similar in size and general construction to the Mark C 50 F/A flare. The principal difference is that the candle is reversed and ignited by pull friction igniters instead of a black powder charge which ejects it from the main casing.
The friction igniters are similar in design to ZDSCHN and 29 pull igniter with the addition of a pyrotechnic delay of 3 and 1/2 seconds screwed into the base. Around the end of the pyrotechnic tube of both igniters a length of quickmatch is secured by this cord. Immediately below this quickmatch a thin cardboard disc holding a black powder primer closes the base of the flare candle. Thin cords connect the igniters to the eye for the parachute shackles; each of these cords is knotted around the weakened centers of the wooden detents before passing through slots in the metal disc. The detents act as a safety device by fouling the metal disc should the cords be pulled while the candle is still in place.
Operation: A pre-set time after release from the aircraft, the (59) B fuze operates and via the quickmatch train fires the ejection charge. Rivets retaining the nose closing cap are sheared and the parachute and candle ejected. The pull of the parachute is first taken by the friction igniter cords and the candle is ignited after 3 and 1/2 seconds, by which time it is suspended normally from the parachute. The candle burns for 5 minutes.
Suspension: Vertical or Horizontal
Single Candle Unit, Parachute Flare (White)
Overall Length: 13.25 inches
Body Length: 13.25 inches
Body Diameter: 2.4 inchesWall thickness: 0.05 inches
Filling: Flare composition
FERTIGUNFIRMA dbc
LIEFERUNGSNUMMER 46/42
Construction: The body is an aluminum cylinder closed at both ends. The nose closing cup is approximately 2 inches long by 2.25 inches in diameter and is crimped in position by four indentations. It is open at the nose end and perforated at the base where it is sealed by a sheet of tin foil. Centrally in the base of this cup is secured an internally threaded bush to accommodate the (31) igniter. The 3/4-inch deep tail closing cup is secured by means of 8 rivets and carries a suspension eyebolt centrally. The parachute, attached to this eyebolt by means of a wire cable 36 inches long, is 4 feet in diameter with a 3.75-inch air vent in the center. Eight shroud lines from the parachute terminate in a loop which is in turn attached to the (31) igniter.
The candle unit consists of a cylindrical pressed cardboard case approximately 10.75 inches long and 2.3 inches in external diameter. This case, 0.1 inches thick, contains the flare composition at the head of which is a cardboard washer with a priming of black powder.
Operation: On release of the container from the aircraft, the aerial burst fuze Zt Z (89) B operates to open the container and to scatter the 41 flares. The parachute on each individual flare opens, thereby exerting a pull on the (31) igniter firing cable. The slotted striker cylinder is pulled back, compressing the striker spring, until the four steel balls are ejected into the recessed end of the fuze body and the hollow steel ball-shaped clip is pulled free. This releases the spring-loaded striker which is impelled onto the detonator. The flash from the primer cap ignites the black powder primer which in turn ignites the flare composition.
Suspension: 41 of these single candle flares are contained in the Mark 250-BK container.
Remarks: This flare is believed to be similar in size and construction to the red single candle flare carried in the Mark 250-BK container.
Parachute Flare, Single Candle Flare, I White and II Red
White
Overall Length: 19 inches
Body Diameter: 3 and 3/8 inches
Red
Overall Length: 13.3 inches
Body Diameter: 3.4 inchesFilling: Flare composition
Construction: The body of the white flare is of aluminum with a sheet steel cap at the top secured by adhesive tape. The flare is fitted with two pull igniters, one in the side of the case and one in the top of the flare candle. There are two black powder charges in each flare, one to blow out the parachute, housed in the top of the case, and the other o ignite the candle. When the airburst fuze causes the container to open in mid-air, each flare falls away and in so doing operates the side pull igniter which fires a black powder charge blowing out the parachute. As the parachute opens, the pull igniter at the top of the candle operates. This fires a short length of safety fuze which burns for about 16 seconds, before initiating the second black powder charge which ignites the candle. This flare burns with a white light.
A flare has been recovered which is similar in construction except that the case has been cut 1/4 inch above the metal ring washer and turned over the washer to secure it in position. The overall length is thereby reduced and only one igniter remains. On release from the container, the parachute opens and operates the friction igniter. The flash ignites the safety fuze and after a predetermined delay the igniter and ejection charges force off the nose cap and eject the candle which simultaneously is ignited by the priming layer composition. There is no ballast in the nose of this flare. It burns for approximately 6 minutes with a red light.
Suspension: Ten of the white flares are fitted into the ABB 500 M10 container or nine flares plus six SD2 bombs are fitted into the Mark 500 Body 6 SD2 container. The red flare was found in close proximity to a 250 BK container. Each flare is attached to the container by a short length of wire cable, secured at one end to a bracket in the container and at the other to the pull igniter in the side of the flare.
Next Time: Pyrotechnics (Part 3)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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