2" Signals, Vertical light Ray

[roller63]

I was just reading through a pamphlet, RAOS Pam No12, "Instructions for the examination and proof of pyrotechnic stores" and at the end there is mention of : Signals 2" Vertical Light Ray, which seem to have been a type of signal fired from a 2" discharger using a rifle grenade launching blank.
Does anyone have any info or drawings of such items ? it's not one I have come across before ? Norman ? :tinysmile_twink_t2:

 

[Bonnex]

Grenades, 2-inch, Signal

I was just reading through a pamphlet, RAOS Pam No12, "Instructions for the examination and proof of pyrotechnic stores" and at the end there is mention of : Signals 2" Vertical Light Ray, which seem to have been a type of signal fired from a 2" discharger using a rifle grenade launching blank.
Does anyone have any info or drawings of such items ? it's not one I have come across before ? Norman ? :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Tony,

The 2-inch signal grenade series is largely undocumented. Work started on these when the 2inch Discharger was close to adoption. The cardboard bodied 2 -inch signal grenades (No 45 etc) were the basis for initial work but the thick cardboard body seriously limited the payload of the pyrotechnics. A tin plate body was devised which allowed the existing signals to be accommodated in the space available. Numerous other fillings were experimented with throughout the 1920s and into the early 1930s. When the 2 -inch discharger was reintroduced the more successful of the trials 2-inch signals were redesigned into 2 -inch calibre creating the series Nos 57 through 62.

The empty body for the signals was similar for the whole range with only the length of the body differing. The attached drawing is typical for trials body types in the mid-1920s. The exception was the grenade you actually asked about which was an economy engineered design. I will try to find a drawing of this.

 

[Bonnex]

Grenade Signal Vertical Ray

and the missing drawing.

 

[roller63]

Excellent information as always, thank you very much. I can see what you mean by economy production, looks and sounds like just a metal tin with composition inside. I presume these were not very well used ? seems a strange idea, would certainly give your position away, maybe that was the idea. Tony.

 

[Bonnex]

Grenade Signal Vertical Light Ray

Tony,

I am not sure of its particular purpose. There was a vast range of fillings for day or night use, with or without parachute, with or without sound, illuminating, multiple stars or coloured smokes and then 'silver rain'.

The uses of most of the above fall into Artillery SOS, Artillery lengthen range, recognition or gas warning - all with day or night versions. As you say the light ray would give your position away so it could be a fit for all of these purposes.