German Explosives
Mark S Flare, Types 1 and 2
Type 1
Overall Length: 11.5 inches
Body Diameter: 7.5 inchesType 2
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Body Diameter: 7.5 inchesColours and Markings: The candle unit is unpainted aluminum or cardboard; the buoyancy chamber is unpainted steel. If the 67/V fuze is used, the delay is marked on the buoyancy chamber.
Construction: Each flare is composed of a buoyancy chamber, a candle unit, and a fuze. The buoyancy chamber is constructed of sheet steel and is roughly cylindrical in shape with two flattened surfaces to facilitate packing within the container. It is sealed at both ends by a sheet metal plate. Through the center and welded to these plates is a sheet which provides protection and support for the portion of the candle unit extending below the buoyancy chamber.
The candle units consist of two candles fitted within the center tube and secured in place by a wooden wedge. The main flare composition is contained in a waxed cardboard tube which in some cases fits within an aluminum outer casing. Both flare candles are sealed at the base with either a thin coating of red plastic paint or fabric coated with shellac or in some cases left open exposing the flare composition.
At the head of each candle and set within the main flare composition is an aluminum cup filled with grey powder. Above this is positioned a cardboard washer primed with coarse grained black powder. If fuzed with the 67/V the head of the candle unit is enclosed by a metal cap. Passing from the fuze between the metal cap and the body of the flare candle is a length of safety fuse which terminates within a shalloon bag containing black powder. This bag is positioned in the center of a wooden collar. The fuze itself is secured to the frame by a bracket. Attached to the base of the fuze is a bakelite adapter to which is fitted the safety fuse from the head of the first candle.
A static cord from the fuze arming pin is secured to a bracket in the lower section of the container. If fuzed with a pull igniter, the candle head is fitted with brass wire gauze beneath which are fitted one and a half inflammable biscuits. The head of the candle is open exposing the cardboard washer primed with coarse grained gunpowder. The igniter is secured to the bracket at the head of the buoyancy chamber so that its nose makes direct contact with the inflammable biscuits. The static cord runs from the igniter to a bracket in the flare container.
Type 2 flares may be found without either a fuze or igniter in which case the head of the first candle is closed by a metal cap in which are two holes. Beneath the cap is a wooden collar housing two shalloon bags, the first containing normal black powder and the second a light green compound. Exactly how these unfuzed flares are ignited is not known.
Operation: When the container opens, the flares fall free. The static cord functions either the arming device of the 67/V or the pull igniter, whichever is fitted to the flare. The flare enters the water and returns to the surface, floating with the head of the flare just clear of the water. When the first candle is three-quarters burnt, a piece of safety fuse running to the second candle is ignited and after a short delay the second candle is ignited. Each candle has a burning time of approximately 2 and 3/4 minutes which, allowing for overlap when both candles are burning, gives a total continuous burning time of 5 minutes for each flare.
Suspension: The flares are carried in "Mark 70 S" and "Mark AB 70-1" containers; two Type 1 and one Type 2 flare in each container.
Smoke Flares - Orange 160, Orange 80
Orange 160
Overall Length: 4 inches
Body Diameter: 1.8 inchesWall Thickness: 1/16 inches (approx.)
Weight of Filling: 52 grams
Total Weight: 132 grams
Charge/Weight ratio: 40%
Orange 80
Overall Length: 3.4 inches
Body Diameter: 1.5 inchesWall Thickness: 1/16 inches (approx.)
Weight of Filling: 37 grams
Total Weight: 74 grams
Charge/Weight ratio: 50%
Filling: Smoke composition
Construction: The outer case of the flare is an aluminum cylinder with base. A push-on type lid is held in place over the top of the case by a strip of adhesive tape. Inside the flare, at the base is a locating piece with a raised section at the center over which slides a perforated aluminum cylinder. On the outside of this cylinder is wound a length of quickmatch, the upper free end of which projects into the top of the cylinder.
Between the perforated cylinder and the outer case is the smoke filling. The perforated cylinder is positioned at the upper end by a loose-fitting disc over which sits a metal ring. The igniter is located in an inverted cap, held in place by a locknut. The cap has four smoke escapes covered by cellophane.
The orange 80 differs from the 160 in that the aluminum locating discs and ring of the 160 have been replaced by similarly shaped cardboard pieces. The inverted cap to which the igniter is secured contains six holes instead of four. The outer cap is held by a bayonet joint and adhesive tape.
Operation: Both igniters function on the same principle. The igniter containers hold a compressed powder pellet (in the orange 160) or a rubber tube containing a length of safety fuse. Above the powder pellet or safety fuse is a friction cap through which passes the friction wire. The friction wire is coiled at its lower end to resist the pull. A pull-chain is attached to the ring at the top of the friction wire. When this is pulled, the friction wire passes through and ignites the cap which in turn ignites the powder pellet or safety fuse.
Suspension: Placed and ignited by hand.
Remarks: These flares are used as wind drift indicators
1. Smoke Signal Flare; 2. Smoke Signal Flare A. R. D. R.; 3. Distress Signal Torch
Smoke Signal Flare
Overall Length: 4.9 inches
Length of Body: 3.6 inchesDiameter of Body: 1.8 inches
Thickness of Wall: 0.04 inches
Smoke Signal Flare A.R.D.R.
Overall Length: 8.8 inches
Length of Body: 8 inchesDiameter of Body: 3.4 inches
Thickness of Wall: 5/64 inches
Distress Signal Torch
Overall Length: 12.5 inches
Length of Body: 11.3 inchesDiameter of Body: 1.4 inches
Filling: Flare composition
Color: [1] Painted yellow; cap of igniter is red.
[2] Painted to indicate color of smoke, so far either red or violet
[3] Painted red with white paper strip around body at location of white flares
Construction:
[1] Case is a sheet aluminum cylinder with base formed as part of the cylinder and with upper disc crimped to the body. The filling is contained in a ribbed plastic cylinder.
[2] Case is a sheet aluminum cylinder with both base and top plates crimped into the body. A lower and an upper spacer disc with hollow cylinders attached locate four perforated aluminum tubes. A cardboard disc is painted with black powder and rests on the upper disc. A metal ring holds the cardboard and spacer disc in place. The filling is divided into layers by discs.
[3] Case is a sheet aluminum cylinder. The base is a cement disc secured by four screws and retains the folding handles. The top plate is crimped into the body and the igniter is covered by a cap held in place by adhesive tape. Above the cement base disc are three pressed cylinders of flare composition which burn respectively red, white, and red. On top of the upper flare cylinder is a disc of ignition mixture. A cardboard washer above this is held in place by a metal cylinder.
In all three types, the igniter is held in place by two lock nuts. The closing disc of the flares may have one or more holes to emit smoke.
Remarks: [1] and [2] are used as navigation aids by pilots; [3] is used as a distress signal.
Photographic Flash Bomb BLC 50 (30kg)
Overall Length: 43 inches
Body Length: 26.4 inches
Body Diameter: 7.8 inchesWall thickness: 3/32 inches
Tail Length: 16 inches
Tail Width: 11 inches
Filling: Flare composition
Construction: In exterior appearance, this bomb is similar to the SC 50kg Type I except that the case is made of sheet steel with a heavy nose section. There is a circular steel plate just forward of the fuze pocket and the nose section is not filled. The base plate is attached by shear screens. The tail is similar to that of the SC 50kg bomb consisting of four vanes welded to a cone which is riveted to a base plate.
Suspension: Vertical or Horizontal
Next Time: Pyrotechnics (Part 4)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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