Repurposed Naval Base Fuze No 501

[Dronic69]

Hi Everyone,

Just curious what this No 501 Naval Base Fuze was "repurposed" to? What is the meaning of the overstamped" PLUG FIRING REP" ?

Further the designation: Mk N3, No 3 etc?

Any thoughts would be most welcome!
Thanks
Cheers
Drew

BTW - I have seen a number of both No 501s and No 480s with the "US" marking - were these US manufactured for the British / Australians?

 

[kiwieod]

i think that REP means representitive,so that its a plug that mimicks the actual firing plug but is not a functional one
a bit like a travelling/shipping plug

 

[Dronic69]

i think that REP means representitive,so that its a plug that mimicks the actual firing plug but is not a functional one
a bit like a travelling/shipping plug

Thank you - makes sense.
Any thoughts on the repurposed Mk N 3 No 3 stamps?

 

[TimG]

I know it's stamped "Plug Firing" but a "PRF" "Plug, Representing Fuze" was an item that was that had the appearance and weight of an actual fuze. The stamping is confusing as I've seen Naval fuzes marked "PRF". With a chamber pressure, probably in the order of 20 tons per square inch, it requires something a lot more substantial than a transit plug.

There is a faint "REP" below the heavy stamping and I would think the fuze was converted to a plug by Woolwich in March 1949. It has then been converted to a plug "N3 MK3". This is the Naval equivalent of the Armies "L" series, which was introduced in 1954, the Navy only half heartedly adopted it. Very early stores were "L number Mk number" as opposed to the more familiar "L number A number"

It does appear there was substantial manufacture of the fuzes in the US, I need to look at the contracts.

TimG

 

[Dronic69]

Thank you Tim,

Now it makes more sense with the Nx MKz comparison to the "L" series.

Recently "converted" to a nice heavy paperweight! LOL

BTW - How "common" are these now? I'm aware of a couple of Naval No 480 & No 501 in collections, but I haven't seen any for a long time