German Explosives
Single Unit Ground Marker, Mark 3 Grun
Overall Length: 13 inches
Body Length: 11.75 inchesBody Diameter: 3.25 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.25 inches
Filling: Flare Composition
Colour and Markings: Fawn-colored. "Mark 3 Grun"
Construction: The outer casing consists of a thin sheet steel cylinder with a single seam running the entire length of the case. Two sheet steel strengthening bands are fitted externally to the steel cylinder. Each strengthening band is secured in position by a nut and bolt. A cardboard cylinder within the steel cylinder forms a lining for the pyrotechnic composition. A cylindrical wooden block is housed in the upper portion of the cardboard cylinder. The wooden block, cardboard cylinder, and a steel cylinder are secured together by means of three small panel pins. A pressed steel cover cap fits over the upper portion of the cardboard cylinder and wooden block protruding beyond the steel cylinder. The cover cap is designed to permit entry of the fuze body but engages the flange on the upper portion of the fuze body. The cover cap is secured to the cardboard cylinder and wooden block by means of three panel pins.
The steel housing for the arming vane is secured to the cover cap by means of two nuts and screws, the screws being fitted with distance pieces. The wooden block is countersunk at two points to accommodate the screw heads. The flanged portion of the arming vane housing has eight vent holes. The lower cylindrical portion of the housing has a slot for observing the position of the arming spindle of the fuze; it is also recessed at two points on the lower surface to permit the housing to fit over and engage the upper surface of the projectile lugs of the fuze. The upper cylindrical portion of the housing is drilled at four points for housing the safety wire; it also has a recess for accommodating the arming wire attachment lug on the arming vane. The arming vane consists of a circular sheet steel plate, two segments of which are bent over in opposite directions at an angle of 45 degrees. Ten inches of light steel cable is secured to the arming vane and the arming spindle of the fuze. The arming vane is a loose fit within the arming vane housing. The steel cable is stowed below the arming vane, the latter being retained in position by the safety wire.
The fuze is a normal (67) fuze fitted with a bakelite gaine case filled with gunpowder. It is believed that a bursting charge is incorporated in the lower portion of the pyrotechnic filling in order to discourage attempts to extinguish the target marker on the ground.
Operation: On release from the aircraft and subsequent opening of the container, the safety wire is withdrawn presumably by means of a static cord. Alternatively, the safety wire may be withdrawn prior to stowing the marker in the container. The current air passing through the vent holes in the arming vane ejects the arming vane. By reason of its shape, the arming vane is rotated as the missile falls. This rotation unscrews the arming spindle of the fuze thus permitting the clockwork mechanism of the fuze to function.
The missile falls to the ground and once the present delay on the fuze has expired, the gunpowder in the gaine case is ignited. The resulting flash ignites the pyrotechnic composition and ejects the cover cap, fuze, and arming vane housing.
The pyrotechnic filling burns with a strong greenish flame for approximately 3.5 minutes. A slight explosion occurs when the bursting charge is ignited.
Parachute Recognition Smoke Generator
Overall Length: 20 inches
Maximum Diameter: 8 inchesTotal weight: 27.5 pounds
Filling: Smoke producing composition.
(Heat stable blue dye [42%] mixed with potassium chlorate [33%] and lactose [25%])
Construction: The smoke generator has an aluminum cylindrical-shaped body divided into two sections. One section houses the smoke producing parts and the other the parachute.
The smoke-producing section is divided into sections by 3 metal plates. These metal plates are connected by 12 metal distance rods. Eight of these distance rods are equally spaced around the circumference of the plates while the remaining four are spaced equal distance from and closer to the center. The smoke canisters are held in two tiers, each of four canisters. The arrangement of rods ensures that the smoke canisters are firmly held. Four 1.4-inch holes are drilled into the plates for the igniting tubes.
The individual smoke canisters are aluminum cylinders lined with stiff waterproof paper. They contain four annular blocks, three of smoke composition and one of a clay-like substance. The priming composition is gunpowder and each of the three smoke composition blocks has a small quantity placed in loose at the base before pressing to ensure ignition between one block and the next. Each canister emits smoke of good density for about 26 seconds.
The ignition pellets are arranged to accept flash of ejection charge and distribute it to the four ignition tubes, each of which pierce the center of two smoke canisters. A total of 14 gunpowder ignition pellets are packed in these tubes. The ejection charge consists of one-half ounce of fine mesh gunpowder. It is positioned directly below the pull igniter. Below this is the first metal ejector plate. It has a hole in the center of which allows the flash to ignite the ignition pellets. In the lower part of the container, directly above the parachute, the second ejector plate is positioned. This prevents the parachute from becoming damaged or entangled in the outer container.
The parachute canopy is made of continuous filament viscose rayon. It is built up from 12 panels each 4 feet 11 inches wide by 6 feet 10 inches high. Attached to the canopy are 12 rigging lines each 13 feet long which in turn are attached to an eyeloop which is secured to the top plate of the container.
Operation: The transit cap is removed; then the friction igniter knob is unscrewed and pulled longitudinally. The generator is then allowed to fall clear. After a delay of 4 to 5 seconds, the igniter functions and the flash from the detonator passes to the ejector charge, which on exploding forces out the contents of the container to be supported by parachute when this opens. Pellets on ignition pass the flash to the perforated ignition tubes.
"Lux N" (Flame Float)
Overall Length: 3 feet 6 inches
Body Diameter: 8 inchesTail length: 15.75 inches
Color: Yellow overall with the following stenciled markings:
Around body
"LUX N
969"
At tail along body
"VOR HANDABWURF SICHERUNGSSEIL AUSZIEHEN"
Diagonally at tail
"NACH RETTUNG GERAT VERSENKEN DURCH ENFERNEN DER FLUGEL SCRAUBEN"
Construction: The body is made of two hollow cylinders welded together. The nose is welded to the body and is provided with a welded collar which is threaded to receive either a nose plug or a suspension lug. Just forward of the normal suspension lug is an inset similar to a Rheinmetal fuze head. Four sheet steel fins form the tail. Projecting from the base is a small compartment around which the silk mooring cord may be coiled. Two wooden grips are attached to this cord. Two winged nut screw plugs are fitted on opposite sides of this compartment giving access to the buoyancy compartment. Internally the float is divided into six compartments - the calcium carbide container, the acetylene gas compression chamber, the calcium phosphide container, the buoyancy chamber, the water inlet chamber, and the combustion container.
On leaving the aircraft, a rubber bung is withdrawn by pulling the arming wire. The float sinks below the surface on its initial dive and water enters the ports and passes down the inlet tube into the calcium phosphide chamber thus generating phosphine. The phosphine passes up the outlet tube through the nonreturn valve to the burner where it ignites spontaneously to form a pilot jet. At the same time water enters through the channels in the nose and passes through a perforate tube into the carbide compartment. The acetylene evolved passes through the perforated diaphragm into one compression chamber and thence to the burner where it is igniter by the pilot jet.
According to the instructions stenciled on the body of the float, once it has served its purpose, should be sunk by removing the winged nut screws which permits the buoyancy chamber to fill with water.
Suspension: Vertical or horizontal.
Flame Float, Lux S (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3)
Type 1
Overall length: 20.9 inches
Body diameter: 5.5 inches
Weight of filling: 3.9 pounds
Overall length: 20.9 inches
Body diameter: 5.5 inches
Weight of filling: 13.5 pounds
Type 3
Overall length: 20.9 inches
Body diameter: 5 inches
Weight of filling: 13 pounds
Filling: Calcium carbide and calcium phosphide.
Total weight: 14.3 pounds
Construction: The body is sheet metal and in the form of a cylinder. At the side there is a lever, the fixed end being embedded in lead. At the top there is a capstan formed by two flange-like pieces of metal. A silken mooring cord is wound around the capstan and attached at one end to a wooden float and by the other end to one of the flanges. A central jet projects from the top of the cylinder from which acetylene gas is emitted when the float is activated. It is enclosed in a short tube, welded to the top of the cylinder to form the combustion chamber. A second duct to emit phosgene gas is formed by a narrow tube curving toward the central jet through a slot in the side of the combustion chamber. The slot also allows any water collecting in the combustion chamber to drain away.
Operation: The lever arm located at the side of the flare is freed from its safety wire and pulled outward, breaking it away so as to leave a hole of entry for water. When in the sea, water enters to react with calcium phosphide and carbide. Acetylene gas is produced from its jet and is ignited by phosphine gas emerging from the other jet. Phosphine ignites immediately on exposure to air, thus if the acetylene is extinguished by a wave, it will be re-ignited by the phosphine. It takes approximately 3 minutes from the time of immersion for the phosphine to be evolved in sufficient quantity to produce flame. The acetylene gas may take a little longer and may not ignite until a period of 10 minutes has elapsed.
Remarks: All types are similar in operation with only slight variations in construction and appearance. The Lux S differs little in internal functioning from the Lux M.
The Lux S can be seen from a distance of approximately 6.5 kilometers at normal eye level when the observer is standing 3 meters above sea level.
Next Time: Containers (Part 1)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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