Liverpool Incendiary 1942

[skull181]

Can any one explain the markings on my Incendiary?

 

[Weasel]

Hi Skull181,
Not my area of expertise, but the AZ8312 is the designation of the nose fuze, year of manufacture is 1938 and made by Rheinmetall, there is also a acceptance stamp. I am sure one of the other members can tell you more.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[butterfly]

I think Weasel has about covered it Pete,

the other numbers would be batch numbers.

nice incendiary and good to know where it was found
regards Kev

 

[skull181]

He is recreation of my Granddads finding of this incendiary, Wavertree, Liverpool 1942.

A ARP Warden during the war, he found this during a bit of gardening 1945, up against a wall.

Left for ages in a big bucket of water, he later reclaimed it.. from the Police Station, 1st door from the right of picture, now a Pub.

And here it is today.

Old Swan, Liverpool, 70 years later, 2015.

 

[Nismosonic]

Only thing missed is body of bomb was made from "Elektron" this was a mixture mainly of Magnesium with Aluminium. The cavity was filled with Thermite, nose fuse (the AZ part) had a simple impact fuze, this flashed through and ignited the thermite, this in turn burnt out the 6 holes and ignited the casing, this burned with a very hot and intense flame that could burn through steel.
Some of the fuses were made from magnesium, others hard steel that could punch a hole through slate and many other roofing materials.
Many were dropped across the country in the blitz of 1940-41 and the mini blitz of late 43-44.
The case builds up an oxide and turns grey, the case is also dissolvable in water turning into a white powder.
It was common place in late 1940 for school boys to use the fins as a pencil holder.