Has anyone any information on this fuze, am I correct in stating it is a No 199 MK 10, the white piece is of composite material (like a hard plastic) it is as you know a time and percussion fuze dated 1947 and manufactured in Blackburn Lancashire England,it has never been filled so Inert, thanks
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fuze i.d and information of use
- Thread starter earni74
- Start date
The matching numbers on different components make it look like it may be a developmental item. Common some times to identify components after impact/functioning. If you have a test failure you can ensure that your recovered pieces are from the correct test, identify where each piece was found in relation to the test, etc.
Although 'BN' became the monogram for ROF Blackburn I don't think it was officially changed until 1965. Prior to this it was 'BE' Blackburn, East Block, BW - Blackburn, West Block, BUS - Blackburn, US time mechanism (war time only).
By 1947 mark numbers were shown as Arabic numerals, not Roman.
The 199 was a time fuze.
A photo of the base would be of interest. The 199 was an igniferous fuze and if used in an HE shell would have required a gaine to detonate the main charge. The 199 normally has a flush plug to an internal powder magazine. This example appears to have an external 'C.E. pellet' style magazine, but appears not to have a screw on cap. One would also expect, that the cavity that was once the powder magazine to be modified to accept a safety device.
Are the time rings alloy or coated brass?
TimG
By 1947 mark numbers were shown as Arabic numerals, not Roman.
The 199 was a time fuze.
A photo of the base would be of interest. The 199 was an igniferous fuze and if used in an HE shell would have required a gaine to detonate the main charge. The 199 normally has a flush plug to an internal powder magazine. This example appears to have an external 'C.E. pellet' style magazine, but appears not to have a screw on cap. One would also expect, that the cavity that was once the powder magazine to be modified to accept a safety device.
Are the time rings alloy or coated brass?
TimG
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The use of steel for the time rings comes as a surprise. In respect of the 199 we experimented with a number of different materials: Mazak, Aluminium and even Bakelite, but there's no mention of steel.
The magazine cavity of the fuze appears totally unmodified.
It might be perspective, but the magazine appears much larger, diameter and length than on other detonating fuzes. This would make it very difficult to use with normal projectiles.
I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to its purpose.
TimG
The magazine cavity of the fuze appears totally unmodified.
It might be perspective, but the magazine appears much larger, diameter and length than on other detonating fuzes. This would make it very difficult to use with normal projectiles.
I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to its purpose.
TimG
Some further info -
Blackburn's official use of 'BN' was from 7th February 1963.
Although there were 10 marks of 199 fuze, there wasn't a Mk. 10. The highest introduced mark was the Mk. 9, there was a Mk. 2A which brought the total up to 10. By 1947 the fuze was on its way out, it was declared obsolete in 1951.
ROF Blackburn was known as the 'fuze factory' and it is the sort of establishment you would expect to carry out development and experimental work on fuzes.
TimG
Blackburn's official use of 'BN' was from 7th February 1963.
Although there were 10 marks of 199 fuze, there wasn't a Mk. 10. The highest introduced mark was the Mk. 9, there was a Mk. 2A which brought the total up to 10. By 1947 the fuze was on its way out, it was declared obsolete in 1951.
ROF Blackburn was known as the 'fuze factory' and it is the sort of establishment you would expect to carry out development and experimental work on fuzes.
TimG