pzgr40
Well-Known Member
I bought this set of which I was told it is meant to sink anchored seamines by naval divers.
The canvas strip measures 71x15 cm , in both ends an appr. 1 kg rectangular block of iron is sewed in. Three square plates with a pipe -each housing a clamp screw- are sewed in the canvas strip. The three shaped charges are placed in the pipes and tightened by the screws.
The three shaped charges are hand made and tin soldered together. They silightly differ in size and material used. The average size is;
Complete length : 146 mm
Body length : 109 mm
Body diameter : 22 mm
Nut diameter : 24 mm
Detonator pipe diameter : 13 mm
After polishing and some repairs it occured to me that if a diver places this over the top of a ball shaped sea mine, it wil just punch three holes in the upper side of the mine, and as the explosive charge of a seamine is normally placed in the bottom part it will probably just sink the mine instead of detonating it. If you want to detonate it, you place a larger charge at the bottom half. I therefore suspect this set is meant to sink seamines without the enemy noticing their seamines are rendered inert, as with a sunk and flooded sea mine the electric circuits of the fuzes are short circuited.
Does anybody know this type of naval destruction charge and does it have an official name? What country does it come from. What era?
Thanks in advance,
Regards, DJH
The canvas strip measures 71x15 cm , in both ends an appr. 1 kg rectangular block of iron is sewed in. Three square plates with a pipe -each housing a clamp screw- are sewed in the canvas strip. The three shaped charges are placed in the pipes and tightened by the screws.
The three shaped charges are hand made and tin soldered together. They silightly differ in size and material used. The average size is;
Complete length : 146 mm
Body length : 109 mm
Body diameter : 22 mm
Nut diameter : 24 mm
Detonator pipe diameter : 13 mm
After polishing and some repairs it occured to me that if a diver places this over the top of a ball shaped sea mine, it wil just punch three holes in the upper side of the mine, and as the explosive charge of a seamine is normally placed in the bottom part it will probably just sink the mine instead of detonating it. If you want to detonate it, you place a larger charge at the bottom half. I therefore suspect this set is meant to sink seamines without the enemy noticing their seamines are rendered inert, as with a sunk and flooded sea mine the electric circuits of the fuzes are short circuited.
Does anybody know this type of naval destruction charge and does it have an official name? What country does it come from. What era?
Thanks in advance,
Regards, DJH
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