Bellifortis
Well-Known Member
Today I want to share an unusual item with you that is not actually a munition, but a signaling device. The first picture shows the item in its original packing box, a factorydummy as used in trade show displays. The second photo is from the export catalog of the meanwhile defunct manufacturer and pictures the use of this item. It's a flare used to mark a flightlane for incoming helicopters at night at sea. The flare is ignited with a manual pull/percussion igniter and thrown overboard. Most fast burning flares are designed with a casing that burns away together with the receding composition while slow burning types, like road flares, are designed to burn horizontally, so the slag of the burnt comp can drip off as otherwise a chimney of slag will be produced in which the flame disappears. This Sea Marker is unusual in that its long tubecasing does not burn away in the water but the flame of the 75cm long compositionrod will burn and be seen at the mouth of the tube up till the end. In the cutaway the 2 valves for the inflow of water and the upper for the escape of air can be seen in the bulbous flotation chamber. After burnout this will fill with water and the burnt out empty casing will sink to the seabottom. Those who are interested in the technology can look up the patent US5144906
Stay save,
Bellifortis.
Stay save,
Bellifortis.
