German Parachute Land Mine.

[Alan1]

Can anyone positively id this complicated bit of kit, please.
It has a relatively recent label stating it is a fuze from a WW2 German C Mine.
It has the normal German acceptance marks from that period, but I cannot see the "fuze" per se.
I suspect it came from a Non-Contact Parachute Ground (Land) Mine, Type GC, ie a Luftmine B (LMB) of 1000kg, usually referred to as Admiralty Type C.
What is its function?
Grateful any help.
Alan1.

 

[doctor]

Time clock six days or six hours on German LMB. It's the fuze

 

[millsbomber]

I have a book some where with this in, clever devices these mines had ,there was even a counter that allowed a set number of ships to pass before it fully armed

 

[Alan1]

I'd be grateful and you are right. This eg has a second clockwork mechanism - it can be seen attached to the aluminium brackets - with a form of counter, sometimes called the clicker unit.
And I am obliged to Doctor for his contribution, but this is not the fuse itself, and I hope that Steve will confirm that it was normally fitted with a No 34, wch was installed under a second circular plate in the mine body.
I have checked in my small library, Hogben, Hartley, Jappy et al, but cannot find detail, hence my posting.

 

[doctor]

The fuze N°34 is a device operating by depression and works if less than 8 meters of water or if the mine is raised to the surface.
Arming by mechanical system.
It is not systematically installed and operates independently of any other system...
The ship meter system is on the GG type mines acoustic and depression but that’s not the part you sit. It s a very large system fitted at the base of the mine.

Your UES system (6/6) puts the mine under surveillance by connecting the electric battery (depending on the delay chosen to the system) and is associated with two relays for association with vacuum (abscent in case of magnetic mine only) what you see attached is the sole departure of the through-duct primer.
The systeme 6/6 starts up by means of a sealed hydraulic depression

 

[Alan1]

Dear oh dear. I thought this would prove to be a bit complicated.
Here is a pic of a No 34 fuse, and I guess that the screw thread at the top is to facilitate a sealed pressure release device that will operate, as Doctor says, if the mine is hauled up. It would detonate the mine before it broke surface and act as a deterrent to sweeping etc. Presumably it is this fuse that is lurking behind the second circular cover plate that is visible in the various photographs of the Type C mine .
If that is independent of the main charge initiator, which is the bit of kit that I first posted, does that mean that this initiator is connected to detonators linked to the main charge itself? Pics, or diagrams, contemporary if possible, would be helpful.
I appreciate that the situation at the time was changing rapidly, and there are at least four Admiralty designations to consider as well, together with the complications of PE cells to deter the unwary etc etc.
Alan1