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1 1/2" Flare (or smoke cartridge)
- Thread starter MissingSomething
- Start date
I was given info about it while on my AT course but don't remember ever having seen one. From my course notes: 1.5 inch signal and illuminating cartridges were fired from signal dischargers and Pistol Signal No 4.
You have a Cartridge Signal 1.5 inch brown smoke puff. The Mk 3T had a paper case with a brass cartridge head. The cartridge is stepped where the star extends from the paper case. It contains a 31 Grain gunpowder propelling charge. A gunpowder delay composition gives a 1.5 second delay to ignition of the star. The star igniter is of sulphurless gunpowder. The star contains 1700 Grains of smoke composition.
The Mk 4T differs from the Mk 3T: The cartridge is not stepped. The cartridge head is of guilding metal. The propelling charge is 15 Grains of gunpowder. The delay assembly is different.
Markings: A brown serpentine symbol and `Brown smoke puff' in blue on the top of the cartridge.
There was also a Cartridge Signal 1.5 inch white smoke puff, Mks 3T and 4T, similar to the brown smoke puff. Markings were a white serpentine symbol and a label `White smoke puff' in blue on the top of the cartridge.
Cartridge Illuminating 1.5 inch J Mk 4T had a 5 second delay to ignition and burned for 9.5 to 11.5 seconds. It also had a paper case with a brass cartridge head. The star extended 1.9 inches from the paper case. It had a white paper label on the end, marked `Illum' in blue. The propelling charge was 31 Grains of gunpowder G12. The star was 5 pressings of illuminating composition primed with gunpowder G12.
Cartridges Signal 1.5 inch. Each had a single star. There were three other types in addition to the brown that you have: Green Mk 7T, Red Mk 7T and Yellow Mk 4T. The star container was a light tinplate with 1100 Grain main filling, primed at both ends. Marking consisted of a coloured band around the case and a label on top.
I hope this helps.
You have a Cartridge Signal 1.5 inch brown smoke puff. The Mk 3T had a paper case with a brass cartridge head. The cartridge is stepped where the star extends from the paper case. It contains a 31 Grain gunpowder propelling charge. A gunpowder delay composition gives a 1.5 second delay to ignition of the star. The star igniter is of sulphurless gunpowder. The star contains 1700 Grains of smoke composition.
The Mk 4T differs from the Mk 3T: The cartridge is not stepped. The cartridge head is of guilding metal. The propelling charge is 15 Grains of gunpowder. The delay assembly is different.
Markings: A brown serpentine symbol and `Brown smoke puff' in blue on the top of the cartridge.
There was also a Cartridge Signal 1.5 inch white smoke puff, Mks 3T and 4T, similar to the brown smoke puff. Markings were a white serpentine symbol and a label `White smoke puff' in blue on the top of the cartridge.
Cartridge Illuminating 1.5 inch J Mk 4T had a 5 second delay to ignition and burned for 9.5 to 11.5 seconds. It also had a paper case with a brass cartridge head. The star extended 1.9 inches from the paper case. It had a white paper label on the end, marked `Illum' in blue. The propelling charge was 31 Grains of gunpowder G12. The star was 5 pressings of illuminating composition primed with gunpowder G12.
Cartridges Signal 1.5 inch. Each had a single star. There were three other types in addition to the brown that you have: Green Mk 7T, Red Mk 7T and Yellow Mk 4T. The star container was a light tinplate with 1100 Grain main filling, primed at both ends. Marking consisted of a coloured band around the case and a label on top.
I hope this helps.
Further guide to markings on your cartridge can be found here - http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/arms_ammunition_images/scart2.jpg