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British pre-WW1 Fuzes

V

Vasco Da Gama

Well-Known Member
Pictured are 2 early British time&percussion fuzes. I believe the smaller made in 1898 by the Royal Laboratories to be a number 54 (time ring marked to 18 seconds), also shown is a picture of the component parts. The second larger fuze made in 1903 by Kings Norton I am less sure about, single time ring marked to 30 seconds. Very glad to have a steer on the correct nomenclature for the larger item.
 

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The larger one is Fuze, Time and Percussion Middle, No 54 Mk III /C/ and the smaller one is Fuze, Time and Percussion, No 56 Mk IV /C/ I believe (away from notes).
 
Very many thanks, I used the table on fuzes contained within Hogg&Thurston book on WW1 artillery. I will correct my copy with the information you have provided, they make no mention of a 54 running to 30 seconds.

Once again thanks for your help.
 
Vasco Da Gama said:
Very many thanks, I used the table on fuzes contained within Hogg&Thurston book on WW1 artillery. I will correct my copy with the information you have provided, they make no mention of a 54 running to 30 seconds.

Once again thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

It was graduated 0 - 30 but I think it only ran for 18 sec. In fact the Mk III may have been a 16 seconds fuze. I will have a look in a Treatise of Ammunition to confirm.

Edit: The 1902 Treatise confirms the above.
 
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