Impact Nose fuzes No.38 and No.879Mk.1
Cutaway models of nose fuze No. 879Mk.1 and nose fuze No. 38, both used in the WW2Brittish 30 Lb (11,3 kg) incendiary bomb.
This bomb was filled with a mixture of 2,72 kg Benzol- resin and 0,67 kg white Phospor
Both fuzes have a 28 grams black powder ignition charge that ignite the incendiary mixture and rip open the sheet metal bomb body.
Both fuzes are completely brass made , exept for the firing pin and the tin housing the black powder charge.
Both fuzes have a firing cap, placed in an inertia weight, held up by a compression spring. In both cases the spring rests against a sheet brass ring with four strips bend inward. Upon impact, the inertia weight compresses the spring and bends the strips forward, so the firing cap can reach the firing pin. The flame of this firing cap travels down into the black powder magazine, igniting the incendiary bomb.
The nose fuze No. 38 has a transport safety that consists of the firing pin screwed out of the fuze body. Before hanging the bomb in the bomb rack of the bomber, the armourer screws the firing pin inward, thus removing the transport safety.
The nose fuze No. 879Mk.1 has a safety that consists of a steel ball , fixating weight housing the firing cap in it’s backward position. This ball is held in inward position by a split pin during transport. Before hanging thebomb in the bomb rack of the bomber, the armourer removes the split pin so the ball can move outward, thus removing the transport safety.
Regards, DJH
Cutaway models of nose fuze No. 879Mk.1 and nose fuze No. 38, both used in the WW2Brittish 30 Lb (11,3 kg) incendiary bomb.
This bomb was filled with a mixture of 2,72 kg Benzol- resin and 0,67 kg white Phospor
Both fuzes have a 28 grams black powder ignition charge that ignite the incendiary mixture and rip open the sheet metal bomb body.
Both fuzes are completely brass made , exept for the firing pin and the tin housing the black powder charge.
Both fuzes have a firing cap, placed in an inertia weight, held up by a compression spring. In both cases the spring rests against a sheet brass ring with four strips bend inward. Upon impact, the inertia weight compresses the spring and bends the strips forward, so the firing cap can reach the firing pin. The flame of this firing cap travels down into the black powder magazine, igniting the incendiary bomb.
The nose fuze No. 38 has a transport safety that consists of the firing pin screwed out of the fuze body. Before hanging the bomb in the bomb rack of the bomber, the armourer screws the firing pin inward, thus removing the transport safety.
The nose fuze No. 879Mk.1 has a safety that consists of a steel ball , fixating weight housing the firing cap in it’s backward position. This ball is held in inward position by a split pin during transport. Before hanging thebomb in the bomb rack of the bomber, the armourer removes the split pin so the ball can move outward, thus removing the transport safety.
Regards, DJH
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