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81mm L39A1 with FH81B Fuze
- Thread starter ammocat
- Start date
theres a basic drawing of the fuze in this post http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/41237-L20A2-81mm-ilum-Mortar-Info-Please?highlight=L20A2
and the clockwork mechanism here http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/84412-Shell-Fuze-Timer
and the clockwork mechanism here http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/84412-Shell-Fuze-Timer
Thanks Spotter. I did a search but didn't find those threads. A couple of these have been recovered, all functioned. One has been cleaned up and now I am trying to get one apart. No luck so far. A few years in the ground has jammed everything up nicely. I will post some photos soon.
Unfortunately I have no drawings of the fuze or of the bombs. The FH81, FH81A and FH81B were made by Hotchkiss - Brandt of France. They are mechanical time fuzes. The limited info I have is as follows: Graduated from 2 to 75 seconds in 1/2 second intervals. The fuze incorporates a `clicking device', consisting of a spring loaded ball, the clicking sound is intended for when setting the fuze at night. We were told that this is however an unreliable method to determine the set time. The fuze is in three parts - a dome shaped rotatable head, the clockwork mechanism and a fixed base. Safety - 1. a safety pin holds a detent in position. 2. with the fuze set at S a projection on the safety disc prevents the firing arm from operating.
The FH81B fuze can also be found fitted to the L20A2 and L28A2 illuminating bombs. The FH81A fuze can be found fitted to the L20A2 illuminating bomb. The FH81 fuze (no suffix to the model number) can be found fitted to the L20A1 illuminating bomb. In 1979 the L39A1 bomb with FH81B fuze had apparently not yet been introduced into the UK land service but by 1992 was the latest version 81 mm mortar illum bomb in use by the British army.
The FH81B fuze can also be found fitted to the L20A2 and L28A2 illuminating bombs. The FH81A fuze can be found fitted to the L20A2 illuminating bomb. The FH81 fuze (no suffix to the model number) can be found fitted to the L20A1 illuminating bomb. In 1979 the L39A1 bomb with FH81B fuze had apparently not yet been introduced into the UK land service but by 1992 was the latest version 81 mm mortar illum bomb in use by the British army.
Thanks for the info AMMOTECHXT. The three we found are from 81mm L39A1. One fuze I have off the body, the rotatable head does not move. The other two are still attached to the forward section of the bomb body. The rotatable heads both rotate on these ones. These haven't been used here for sometime and I am not familiar with the specifics of this fuze (although I understand the principals). I am hoping to get one apart and make a cut away as a training aid for the others in my shop. We will see how things progress. This is the first one.
