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British No. 43 Fuze for the 40 lb. Incendiary Bomb

Antoon

Well-Known Member
Ordnance approved
Hello,

Who has information about the British No. 43 (always) Tail Fuze used on the 40 lb. Incendiary Bomb.

Greetings - Antoon


Schermafbeelding 2020-03-06 om 13.12.03.png Schermafbeelding 2020-03-06 om 13.13.27.jpg Schermafbeelding 2020-03-06 om 13.13.37.jpg
 
May I ask why Britain used a No43 fuze in bombs in 1940's when they had already used a No43 time fuze 15 secs since 1880? I think it was a wooden fuze for RML projectiles obsolete in 1909.
This means there are two fuzes named No 43. Years apart of course.
 
The Fuzes No 45 and 45P were both Land and Naval Service fuzes going way back as you said.
There were no aircraft capable of dropping bombs until WWI.
Land and Naval fuzes were way past No.45 by WWI.
The Air service had their own bomb fuze numbering system.
All the No.45 fuzes were made obsolete in W.O.L.Cs A8911, A3414, B9512, C9288, except Mk 2 which was declared obsolete in NAVAL L of C N491.
All the Fuzes No.45P were declared obsolete in W.O.L.Cs B9512 (Mk 2) and C9288.
I do not know the dates, but 'N' probably does.
 
There is only passing mention of a No. 43 Fuze/Pistol in Andrew and Swan's book "British Bomb and Rocket, Pistols and Fuzes 1914-2007" There is doubt as to whether it was a fuze or a pistol, but apparently was an osmosis device (long delay). I can find no mention of the 40lb Incendiary in AP 1661 (1942)(1944).
There was an overlap of Air service fuze numbers and Land/Navy service fuze numbers. On 1st August 1944, to avoid confusion, 800 was added to the number. The first of the series was the 44, which became the 844.

TimG
 
In december 1939 the 40 lb. incendiary bomb was ready and was excepted for Fleet Air Arm use. So maybe therefor it is not mentioned in AP 1661. The No. 43 Always fuze has been developed in the middle of 1941. Around the same time the Air Staff cancelled the requirement for 40 lb. incendiary bombs.
 
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