What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

Join over 14,000 collectors of inert military ordnance. Get expert identification help for shells, fuzes, grenades, and more — plus access our classifieds marketplace and decades of archived knowledge. Free to register, takes seconds.

British bomb detonator ID

MINENAZ16

MINENAZ16

Well-Known Member
Ordnance approved
Hello,

We found a British 500lb (ww2) fuzed with a Pistol 30 mkIV with a detonator unknown for us.
We usually find detonator with green paint on the bottom.
I know the black circle is for the delay (detonator N°51) but what is the difference between green and black paint on the bottom ?

Regards.

Deto.jpgDeto 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hello,

I think it is the difference between Anvil type detonators and Sensitive detonators. The first type are identified by a colored band of 3/8" wide around the detonator head. The second type are identified by the stem, which is painted green for a length of approx. 1" (2.54 cm) from the closed end and by a green label inside the detonator head.

Rgds,
Mossie
 
Hello,

Thanks guys.
Yes I know green stem meens a sensitive detonator but I have no reference on black stem. As far as I know Pistol No30 with his long striker was used with a sensitive detonator.
What is the difference with Anvil detonator ?

Regards
 
Minenaz16,

I can't find any reference in A.P. 1661C to black stems, is it possible that it is green paint that has become discoloured?

TimG

Detonators 0013.jpgDetonators 0023.jpg
 
Thank you TimG.
Yes maybe a change of color with time and moisture.

Yoda, sorry, I know the difference of construction between anvil and sensitive but I don't know if stems of anvil are painted.

Regards
 
MINENAZ16 said:
Thank you TimG.
Yes maybe a change of color with time and moisture.

Yoda, sorry, I know the difference of construction between anvil and sensitive but I don't know if stems of anvil are painted.

Regards
Click to expand...

OK, if I follow another source (H.Belot), only the sensitive detonators had a green band on the stem. In his Deminest, he let see a drawing of a detonator with the green stem and a black head collar.
Now, for me, I have two solutions on your problem :
- as writed before, it could be a passed green color wich became black
- british manufacturors repeated, for X lots of detonators (it's not frequently !), the head band color on the stem (to verify).

If it is always possible, a X-Ray view of the detonator should let see if it is an anvil detonator or a sensitive detonator !



Yoda
 
Last edited:
One would have to have a photo of the 2 detonators to more accurately see the colors. I am also of the opinion that the color has changed over time into a black green. The detonator was about 70 years in a bomb installed in which chemical processes have played. Gruß an alle!!!! Harry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top