No. 87 - detail
Hi Graeme, I'll be publishing my illustrated book on British WW1 fuzes in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here's some extracts: - The growing use and development of anti-aircraft guns required longer times than the ‘standard’ shrapnel designs, and it was decided to convert No. 80 fuzes by the substitution of a long burning powder in the time rings and to designate the ‘new’ fuze as No. 87. In an air raid on London on 2/3 Sept 1916 these fuzes gave an abnormal number of blinds, and after a number of trials, issues ceased and the fuze was replaced by the No. 80.
Design RL22270.
The early marks were defined as conversions from No. 80 fuzes in L of C §18501, and the later marks apparently manufactured as new, with similarities to the No. 80, as follows: -
Mk I from MkIII or IV
Mk IA fromMk IVA
MK II fromMk V
Mk III fromMk VI
Mk IV similar to Mk VII
Mk V similarto Mk V
Mk VI similarto Mk V
Regards,
Depotman