pzgr40
Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of a 10,5cm F.H Gr.Kh (Feld Haubitze Granate Kammerhulse/ Field Howitzer Shell with central exploder) smoke shell, as used in the 10,5cm Le.F.H 16 (Leichte Feldhaubitze 16 / Light Field Howitzer 16). The Le.Fh.16 was a WW1 howitzer, still in active service in WW2. The maximum range was 9.225 mtrs.
The shell consisted of a press-forged and rolled body with an in- and externallty threaded bushing screwed in top. In this bushing the nose fuze Kl.AZ.23Nb (Small nose fuze 23 smoke) is screwed. Below the fuze the Kl.Zdldg.34 (Small exploder 34) was placed in a steel bushing. This exploder consisted of a detonator, placed in a pentrite booster charge (pink). In the center of the shell body, a steel pipe is placed, housing the 0,15kg burster charge made of small stacked cilinders, meant to rip open the shell body and spread the smoke charge. The smoke charge is a 2,1 kg mixture of Pumice and SO3 oil (Sulfer trioxide). When manufacturing the shell, the pumice is placed in the shell body, the SO3 oil is cast in the shell body through the filler hole in the side and soaked up by the pumice.
So3 oil is a fiercely producer of smoke; just one single drop will fill a room the size of a kitchen with thick smoke. Disadvantage of this type of smoke is that it is corrosive, and when inhaled it twill form sulfuric acid with the moistire in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema.
The Kl.AZ.23.Nb nose fuze is nearly identical to the Kl.AZ.23, exept is has no 0,15 sec delay screw in the side of the fuze body. This because there is not any use in delaying the ingnition of a smoke shell after impact.
Functioning of the Kl.AZ.23 Nb.:
When unfired, the firing pin and the firing cap in the firing cap inertia cilinder are kept apart by a circular array of centrifucal weights, which are forced inward by an interupted circular leaf spring. Upon firing, the centrifugal weights are thrown outward, forcing the leaf spring open. The firing pin and firing cap can now reach one another. Upon direct impact, the firing pin is hammered downward into the firing cap. The flame of the firing cap ignites the detonator, igniting the entire shell. Upon graze, descelleration will throw the cilinder housing the firing cap forward into the firing pin, igniting the firing cap.
Regards, DJH
The shell consisted of a press-forged and rolled body with an in- and externallty threaded bushing screwed in top. In this bushing the nose fuze Kl.AZ.23Nb (Small nose fuze 23 smoke) is screwed. Below the fuze the Kl.Zdldg.34 (Small exploder 34) was placed in a steel bushing. This exploder consisted of a detonator, placed in a pentrite booster charge (pink). In the center of the shell body, a steel pipe is placed, housing the 0,15kg burster charge made of small stacked cilinders, meant to rip open the shell body and spread the smoke charge. The smoke charge is a 2,1 kg mixture of Pumice and SO3 oil (Sulfer trioxide). When manufacturing the shell, the pumice is placed in the shell body, the SO3 oil is cast in the shell body through the filler hole in the side and soaked up by the pumice.
So3 oil is a fiercely producer of smoke; just one single drop will fill a room the size of a kitchen with thick smoke. Disadvantage of this type of smoke is that it is corrosive, and when inhaled it twill form sulfuric acid with the moistire in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema.
The Kl.AZ.23.Nb nose fuze is nearly identical to the Kl.AZ.23, exept is has no 0,15 sec delay screw in the side of the fuze body. This because there is not any use in delaying the ingnition of a smoke shell after impact.
Functioning of the Kl.AZ.23 Nb.:
When unfired, the firing pin and the firing cap in the firing cap inertia cilinder are kept apart by a circular array of centrifucal weights, which are forced inward by an interupted circular leaf spring. Upon firing, the centrifugal weights are thrown outward, forcing the leaf spring open. The firing pin and firing cap can now reach one another. Upon direct impact, the firing pin is hammered downward into the firing cap. The flame of the firing cap ignites the detonator, igniting the entire shell. Upon graze, descelleration will throw the cilinder housing the firing cap forward into the firing pin, igniting the firing cap.
Regards, DJH
