German WW1 U boat incendiary device id

[Rrickoshae]

Good afternoon, I wonder if anyone has any idea what this thing is. It’s 23 x 11.5 cm, made mostly of brass and has the usual Marine M under crown and dated 1916.

There is a similar item in the IWM Manchester with an engraving stating that it is an incendiary bomb from the U boat UC44. But obviously we do not know how knowledgeable the person having the engraving done was.

Does anyone have any thoughts on possible incendiary devices on U boats? (I believe code books and documents were put in a weighted bag and thrown overboard in the event of a likely boarding but that there were also sheets of paper with some form of incendiary compound kept on board)

many thanks, Dave

 

[switch]

Hi Dave
Seriously nice item!
Fairly certain that it is a charge container to be used with Kreigsmarine ZtZ9 and ZtZ55 Clockwork timers. These devices were used for scuttling the vessel before abandonment to prevent them being captured by the enemy.

As far as I am aware, they were filled with an explosive rather than incendiary composition, and there also exists a hollow charge version presumably to pierce hull plating.

View attachment ZtZ9.pdf

Hope this helps.
Cheers
Switch

 

[Rrickoshae]

Well done that man, that’s exactly what it is! There’s always someone out there who has the answer. Thank you very much indeed

Dave