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German Sea-Mine Horn.
- Thread starter waffenamt
- Start date
1
18pounder
Guest
jeeeensy
Well-Known Member
Feeling Horny there Spotter :xd:
nice horns,,, I dont often see these about,, look forward to a cutaway,
cheers Nick
1
18pounder
Guest
yes your right about it starting silly replies...
Rubber sheaths !?
Does this rubber sheath stop any liquid escaping and penetrating?
or is it to keep the fit tight?
sorry couldnt help it.
Have you seen the relic dalek arm yet?:xd:
waffenamt
Well-Known Member
Hi Spott,
I havnt had any joy finding anything as close yet but im on it.
Great pickup on the inner lining on yours mate,ive never seen one for these mine-horns.
best
waff
when i got the mine hornes there were 3 with the rubber inside and 1 with the complete inside(tupe) i looked through at least 2500 pieces, found only 1 complete, have some horns left the rest was melted.
waffenamt
Well-Known Member
In that case friend,i shall put it in classifieds shortly!
I only collect German WK2. Thanks for the info.
best
waff
waffenamt
Well-Known Member
Consider the Brit horn yours old pal.
Will drop it at Stoneleigh.
Question..Which side copied the other first i wonder? Did the germans copy the Brit one or vice-versa?
cheers
waff
For those that may be interested in Horn comparison, there a photo of my Japanese one in my gallery:
http://www.bocn.co.uk/gallery/showimage.php?i=7043&catid=member&imageuser=2931
Cheers
Drew
http://www.bocn.co.uk/gallery/showimage.php?i=7043&catid=member&imageuser=2931
Cheers
Drew
Answering Waffenamt, Dr Albert Hertz in 1868, working for Prussia, developed the bichromate firing system. Originally, it was a bump or blister on the side of the casing, but then turned into a horn. Although excellent in not needing a separate battery, as was required with a Switch-horn, and having no problem with weed fouling of the horn,or contact deterioration, it had two main disadvantages. The first one was that explosion of a neighbouring mine could fracture the glass tube of a horn (Countermine problem), so spacing had to be greater. The lead rings around the horn help to protect against countermining to a limited extent. Also, the bichromate had to run downwards to the battery plates, so horns below the mine had to be mounted in ell-shaped supports. The rubber shock-absorber was mainly to prevent rattling of the glass tubes (Wide tolerance) in the lead horn, and possible fracture. (The Japanese must have been trying to save on rubber by using thread and apparently cork for the same purpose) Viewable inthe pictures are the threaded portions used to mount the guard tubes protecting the horns in the mine-layer, being removed just before laying. If a horn should be bent prematurely, then a small hole in the battery comparment let the bichromate run away before the mine arming switch was closed, so the mine did not have a premature, and the other horns could still work. I believe a slight advantage of a Hertz horn was that there was a short delay before current output built up, so that after a mine struck the hull in the vicinity of the bow-wave, the mine would actually explode further back, in the vicinity of the engine-room. (Albert Hertz was no relative of the more famous Heinrich Hertz, who first demonstrated wireless transmission)
Just an aside on moored mines-There was a good chance that a vessel could travel through without impact, but it was the thought that it could occur was the deterrent. Planted close together, apart from the impossible expense, would also cause contermining, with a whole minefield exploding! Paravanes were a good protection, but a small goods vessel would find the drag causing such a reduction in speed as to make their use impracticable.
Regards,
Martin .
Just an aside on moored mines-There was a good chance that a vessel could travel through without impact, but it was the thought that it could occur was the deterrent. Planted close together, apart from the impossible expense, would also cause contermining, with a whole minefield exploding! Paravanes were a good protection, but a small goods vessel would find the drag causing such a reduction in speed as to make their use impracticable.
Regards,
Martin .
I couldn't find a good drawing of the acid-horn arrangement in the german mines, but this is is similar: An illustration of the horn-installation in the norwegian N49 mine from the early 50's. The N46 was a "hybrid" system, utilizing a british Mk XVIII type cupola with german acid-horns and an german EMC-type anchor.
Translation of some norwegian words used in the drawing:
Gummi = rubber
Kappe = coat
Propp = plug
Bly = lead
Syre = acid
Minekule = minecupola
Sink = zinc
Kull = coal/karbon
Utboret = drilled
Skl = disc
Hull = hole
Ledning = lead/wire
The coal- (positive) and zinc (negative) terminals acts as the battery, generating current when the electrolyte (ie the acid) is added from the broken glass vial. Note also the small holes drilled into the bottom of the plug, for draining the acid of a premature activated horn (ref Sprockets explanation in the previous post).
Translation of some norwegian words used in the drawing:
Gummi = rubber
Kappe = coat
Propp = plug
Bly = lead
Syre = acid
Minekule = minecupola
Sink = zinc
Kull = coal/karbon
Utboret = drilled
Skl = disc
Hull = hole
Ledning = lead/wire
The coal- (positive) and zinc (negative) terminals acts as the battery, generating current when the electrolyte (ie the acid) is added from the broken glass vial. Note also the small holes drilled into the bottom of the plug, for draining the acid of a premature activated horn (ref Sprockets explanation in the previous post).
Attachments
I was in a hurry the other day - I will get back for more/better photos later (detailed close ups as well).