British Schemully Rocket Flares

[BMG50]

Anyone got a picture line up of British Schuermully rocket Flares used over the period from the 1950s to present. I believe they were used for background illumination for night shooting originally and replaced the 2"mortar para illum, correct me if i am wrong.
I am sure there are collectors who have them.

 

[roller63]

I find This site is a good reference for Schermuly Pyrotechnics and other similar items, I expect you already know it.

http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/schermuly/

 

[BMG50]

Thanks Tony. I mean the line up old British army Rocket flares used in training. They stared off in a white colour using a fibre cardboard tube steel end caps top one in white with a P, with cloth para chute with cardboard flare body till around the 1980s then changed to a similar design but green plastic body with foil type flare same cloth parachute. Then to the ripstock parachute model with green rifled tube and pull ring igniter with screw base and top rubber cap. The design changed again to rifled tube but with screw turn firing mech and safety catch with rubber cap, you could also get the flare in IR.
First and second picture is one i am missing now which i think came out after the early white body type.
The third picture showing the flare on the right came next with plastic pull ring and rifled body.
The next is current with the last flare the first type white body 1960-70 eara.

 

[batonroundcollector]

I've a couple - think one is type in fourth pic and other is a very similar type not pictured - I'll have to dig them out and post pic (I did have the French one second from left in third pic)...

 

[BMG50]

I knew there were about 4 modifications, i thought they would be a collecting item as they are common in training. The first one in white is in the 2" mortar manual about 1967.
The one i am after is in the first and second pictur, had loads of them just like the smoke grens, then they change and they are quite rare to get hold off.

 

[stanleyrf89]

From left to right;
Cardboard L3A2 dated January 1978
Cardboard L5A3 dated September 1979
Plastic L5A4 dated March 1980

So development was fairly rapid, not sure if there was ever an L4 version?

I’ve got a spare L5A4 from January 1983 if that is of interest?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Richard709]

I think you will find that there are about 20 or so variants of rocket flares that have been used by the Army and other services since 1960. from illum, smoke, IR and distress not including the 16mm type. If I get a Chance over the next few days I will try and list the ones I know and others can fill the gaps. Rich

 

[BMG50]

The L3A2 is the one seen in the manual. So what is the history of these Rocket flare, were the a replacement fir the 2" mortar para illum.

 

[BMG50]

Thats the type of flare i am refering to the one on the right. they were very common then they changed to the rifled tube with pull ring and rubber cap. I would be interested n one if you have a spare

From left to right;
Cardboard L3A2 dated January 1978
Cardboard L5A3 dated September 1979
Plastic L5A4 dated March 1980

So development was fairly rapid, not sure if there was ever an L4 version?

I’ve got a spare L5A4 from January 1983 if that is of interest?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Richard709]

Attached List of British Rocket Hand Fired

L Number
L2A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Green Para
L4A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Orange Para
L5A4	Rocket Hand Fired	Illuminating Parachute
L6A2	Rocket	Illuminating Parachute
L7A2	Rocket	Sound
L8A1	Rocket Hand Fired	RADA Sound
L9A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Distress Parachute Red
L9A1B1	Rocket Hand Fired	Red Mk 3
L10A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Parachute Green
L11A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Parachute Orange
L12A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating
L13A1	Rocket	Para Illuminating ( Electric Ignition )
L14A1	Rocket	Sound (Electric Ignition)
L15A1	Rocket Hand Fired	RADA
L16A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating 1000m
L17A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Medium Range Smoke Screening
L19A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating IR 500m
L22A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Distress Red *
	Rocket Hand Fired	Signal Distress Red Para No 1 Mk 1*
L23A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Radar Echo
L24 A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating 300m
L25A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating IR 600m
L26A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Smoke Screening 600m
L27A1	Rocket Hand Fired	Parachute Illuminating 1000m

 

[Richard709]

Some of mine,



First set left to right, Civilian Mk3, L3, L5, L12, L24, L25, RAF No 1 Mk i (L22), unknown, 2 x French, M1A2 USA. 2nd set East German, USSR (Russian).

 

[roller63]

Nice line up Richard. Your NR334 flare will be Dutch-Netherlands.