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British Mortar Fuze

N

nutzzz93

Member
Ordnance approved
On my last CMD tasking i was handed this fuze it has been rendered safe by alternative means.

The only information i have is as follows:

Its a British Fuze for mortars. Its a PD fuze no.162


That is the only information i have and i am required to write up a technical document on it. There is no information on our current systems of technical pams about this fuze attached is a picture of the item (photo was taken from the initial report i have subsequently taken this photo from there).


photo.jpg



Hopefully someone can help

Nutzzz93
 
The `ADAC list' of September 1992 (x-ref document for ammo data acquisition codes and NATO stock numbers) listed the 81 mm HE L15A3 mortar bomb fuzed No 162 (no Mk stated) as still current. The L15A1 HE fuzed No 162 (no Mk stated) was by then obsolete, as was the Fuze No 162 Mk 8. There is no mention of a 162 Mk 9. The 162 Mks 10 & 11 were listed as still current. From this it can be deduced that the L15A3 bomb was most likely fitted with the 162 Mk 10 or 162 Mk 11 fuze. The L15A2 (obsolete) and L15A4 HE bombs were at that time listed as fitted with fuze L35. I have a sneaking suspicion that earlier L15A4 bombs may have formerly been fitted with the No 162 before the introduction of the L35, although there is no mention of this combination in the ADAC list. Stocks if fitted may have been subject to a defuze / refuze task to upgrade the fuze from the 162 to the L35. Ammo & Explosives Regulations (A & ER) Volume 3 Pamphlet 15 (Mortars) (and then I forget which Part) used to detail the info about the 81 mm mortar and associated components, including fuzes used. Info about the fuze may be found in A & ER Vol 3 Pam 9. When publications such as these were revised, the old version was sent for conversion to microfiche, which would be held by the Directorate of Land Service (DLSA) Technical Intelligence Section (TIS). I assume that although DLSA has since been wound up / amalgamated with another MOD branch, this information should still be available somewhere within the MOD. May I suggest you contact HQ 11 EOD Regt and ask them how they would go about finding that information. Other info concerning packaging and NEQ in my time was detailed in the RAOC Statistics Pamphlet. Sorry to repeat stuff you might already know, but just in case you don't, there it is. In 1979 the L35 fuze was already in service and the 162 Mk 8 was not yet obsolete. The L10 81 mm HE bomb was also in service at that time. I don't know whether the L35 fuze was approved for use with the L10 bomb.
 
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