Cutaway model of a AZ-80A ( AZ means Aufschlag Zunder / Impact Fuze), one of the three fuzes present in the V-1 Buzz bomb. The AZ-80A is an all-ways fuze, so the fuze will function, independent of the orientation of warhead impact.
The fuze consists of a Zamac fuze housing (pict 01) in which a clock spring driven reduction gear is placed in top, locked up by an aluminium disc with a pull ring. To this pull ring a spring shaped wound up steel wire is connected which blocks the reduction gear from unwinding.
In the middle part of the fuze housing a radial hole is drilled with a conical shaped hole end. On the other side a stainless steel cap is pressed in place which is cone scaped on the inside as well.
Between these two cone shaped ends the all ways fuze (picture 3) is placed, existing of a cilinder with a firing cap (red) and a cone shaped back end, and a piston with a firing pin (green) which also has a cone shaped back end. A light spring is placed between the cilinder and the piston, keeping them apart when armed. The all ways fuze is placed in the hole with the cone shaped ends.
A spring loaded safety pin, protruding from the underside of the clock sticks in a hole in the cilinder part of the all ways fuze , preventing the cilinder and the piston of from telescoping towards each other. This renders the fuze safe.
Upon launch of the V-1 the pull wire tears the pull eye from the aluminium disc as well as the wound up wire from the clock spring driven reduction gear (pict 02). The reduction gear starts running down. After 6 minutes an arm is moved sideways, releasing the spring loaded safety pin, which is thrown out of the fuze body. The all ways fuze is now fully armed.
Upon impact it is indifferent in which oriantation the warhead lands; either the firing pin will move into the firing cap, the firing cap will move into the firing pin, either both will climb the sloped walls of the cone shaped hole ends, pushing both the firing cap and firing pin one into another.
The flame of the firing cap will ignite the duplex detontor of the booster charge, which will ignite the main charge of the V-1 warhead.
A movie where one can see the AZ-80A being used in the V-1 can be found here on You-tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUatz9j8b9U , minute 13.00, left fuze.
A variation on the AZ-80A is the AZ-80 , used in the HS-293 glide bomb. The AZ-80 was used to destroy the radio equipment that -in case of a dud- was not to fall in Allied hands at any cost.
The arming time of the reduction gear is much shorter than the AZ-80A as the time fort he HS-293 to be steered tot he target is much shorter.
The AZ-80 can be recognized by the thread on the lower outside of the fuze body, enabeling it to be screwed into the pocket of the radio equipment destruction charge of the HS-293 glide bomb.
Regards, DJH
The fuze consists of a Zamac fuze housing (pict 01) in which a clock spring driven reduction gear is placed in top, locked up by an aluminium disc with a pull ring. To this pull ring a spring shaped wound up steel wire is connected which blocks the reduction gear from unwinding.
In the middle part of the fuze housing a radial hole is drilled with a conical shaped hole end. On the other side a stainless steel cap is pressed in place which is cone scaped on the inside as well.
Between these two cone shaped ends the all ways fuze (picture 3) is placed, existing of a cilinder with a firing cap (red) and a cone shaped back end, and a piston with a firing pin (green) which also has a cone shaped back end. A light spring is placed between the cilinder and the piston, keeping them apart when armed. The all ways fuze is placed in the hole with the cone shaped ends.
A spring loaded safety pin, protruding from the underside of the clock sticks in a hole in the cilinder part of the all ways fuze , preventing the cilinder and the piston of from telescoping towards each other. This renders the fuze safe.
Upon launch of the V-1 the pull wire tears the pull eye from the aluminium disc as well as the wound up wire from the clock spring driven reduction gear (pict 02). The reduction gear starts running down. After 6 minutes an arm is moved sideways, releasing the spring loaded safety pin, which is thrown out of the fuze body. The all ways fuze is now fully armed.
Upon impact it is indifferent in which oriantation the warhead lands; either the firing pin will move into the firing cap, the firing cap will move into the firing pin, either both will climb the sloped walls of the cone shaped hole ends, pushing both the firing cap and firing pin one into another.
The flame of the firing cap will ignite the duplex detontor of the booster charge, which will ignite the main charge of the V-1 warhead.
A movie where one can see the AZ-80A being used in the V-1 can be found here on You-tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUatz9j8b9U , minute 13.00, left fuze.
A variation on the AZ-80A is the AZ-80 , used in the HS-293 glide bomb. The AZ-80 was used to destroy the radio equipment that -in case of a dud- was not to fall in Allied hands at any cost.
The arming time of the reduction gear is much shorter than the AZ-80A as the time fort he HS-293 to be steered tot he target is much shorter.
The AZ-80 can be recognized by the thread on the lower outside of the fuze body, enabeling it to be screwed into the pocket of the radio equipment destruction charge of the HS-293 glide bomb.
Regards, DJH
