British Ordnance Collectors Network
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BOCN Guess what it is
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Aufschlagscholter or Gleitschaltakt Dave
Snufkin I got this item some time ago and was told that it was an electrically initiated cartridge which was fired to lock the elevators of the V1 missile in the down position. I was not sure of this until I saw the information in the web site www.zenza.se/vw/ . This includes a description of how the missle works and the diagram already posted. I do not know the correct designaion for the component, just thought it was unusual.
Thanks again Buster. I found the system description and a photo from RAe Farnborough in a book aptly called "The Flying Bomb". With acknowledgements to the author Richard Young: "On completion of the pre-set mileage... ...the detonator circuit was completed. The electrical impulse fired two detonators in the tail assembly of the bomb, blowing out a flat steel plate which released a tensioned spring allowing a lever to snap backward about the pivot point". This caused a sequence of events: (a) put the elevator into neutral position; (b) centred the rudder; (c) released two hinged spoilers from under the tailplane to put the bomb into its dive...
Tom,Suppose if you wanted a device to retain a Mills grenade cocked striker using trip wire this object could do it. Would probably mean shortening the striker spring slightly and fitting the cylindrical bit into the striker hole between the shoulders. Just an idea.
Norman, I have indeed given some thought about how such a small and crude but effective device might have been used 30 odd years earlier, combined with other devices. However, it's not grenade related.
