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Read Online Textbook The Outlaws Hidden Heartache Shields Ebook All Chapter PDF
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Methods of Arming.
Spring method.—Let us suppose that after our projectile has
started on its way the sliding block is free to move within a cavity at
the forward end of which is the anvil. If the projectile comes to a
sudden drop or even sudden reduction of velocity the block if
unrestrained will, according to the principle of inertia, keep on going
till something stops it. The something in this case is the anvil and the
fulminate cap is set off. But it is not so simple. For while the projectile
is in flight it is acted upon by the air resistance and slows down but
the block in the cavity of the head is not subjected to this resistance.
It therefore gains on the projectile or creeps forward in the cavity
unless restrained as it is by a spring. Now one more point and this
type of fuze is complete. We supposed that our block was free to
slide. For safety’s sake it is pinned to the cavity. Again we call upon
inertia to bread the pin so as to leave the block free to slide. The
strength of the pin is calculated so that the force of inertia of the
mass of the block is greater than the resistance of the safety pin and
when the projectile starts the pin breaks and the spring forces the
block to the rear of the cavity until the sudden stop of the projectile
permits the block to slide forward as explained. Such a fuze requires
a comparatively high initial velocity and is not adapted to howitzers
using low muzzle velocities.
There are three other methods in use to arm the fuze. They are
inertia of a sleeve; centrifugal force and powder pellet system,
that is, combustion of a grain of powder holding the sliding block
from the anvil by means of an arm resting against the unburned
powder grain. These are more sensitive than the type described.
In the first system, a sleeve fitting around the plunger carrying
the cap slides to the rear by inertia when the projectile starts and two
clips engage in notches on the plunger body making the sleeve and
plunger thereafter move as one body, they are thus held together by
a plunger spring which before arming held the plunger away from the
anvil. The safety spring held the sleeve and plunger away from the
anvil and after arming prevents forward creeping by the plunger and
sleeve now locked together. Upon striking, the plunger and sleeve
move forward as one body and the cap strikes the anvil.
In centrifugal systems the primer plunger is kept safely away
from the anvil by a lock which is kept in place by springs. When the
rotational velocity reaches a certain point the force of the springs is
overcome by the centrifugal force and the locks are thrown aside or
opened and the plunger is free to move forward on impact.
In the powder pellet system (the one largely used by the
Germans) there is a well or channel filled with compressed powder,
this is set off by a fulminate cap which is fired by inertia, a small
plunger-anvil striking the cap. When the powder is consumed it
leaves a channel into which an arm attached to the sliding block
carrying the igniting fulminate for the charge may slide, thus
permitting the block to slide forward to the anvil fixed in the forward
part of the cavity. It is held from creeping forward after the
compressed powder is burned by a safety spring, thus insuring
sufficiently hard an impact to set off the cap.
Heretofore in our service the fulminating cap has been fixed and
the plunger carried the anvil or as we call it the firing pin. Such is
now the system in our base detonating fuzes, and in our combination
fuze.
The new point detonating fuzes are patterned after the French and
are practically French fuzes.
Fuzes Classification.
Fuses are classified as:
(a) Percussion if it acts on impact, producing a low order of
explosion.
(b) Time when it acts in the air at a certain point of the trajectory.
(c) Combination if it is able to act in the air or upon impact.
(d) Detonating when it contains a fulminate which will bring about
detonation upon impact.
The detonator may be separate or incorporated in the fuse. For
the 75-mm gun and the 155-mm howitzer it forms a part of the fuze.
Many fuzes are armed on set-back. An exception to this is the long
detonating fuse, MK 111, which is armed by the unrolling of a brass
spiral holding together two half rings made of steel so fitted as to
prevent the anvil and the head of the fuse from getting close
together. The spiral unrolls when the rotational velocity of the
projectile reaches a certain speed, thus drawing away the two steel
rings and arming the fuse.
DETONATING FUZE—MARK-III.
DETONATING FUZE—MARK-V.
Fuse Tables.
Tables showing American and French fuses to be used by our
Field Artillery, with information concerning markings, color, time of
delay, size of fuse, etc.
DETONATING FUSES.
Size
Corresponding
Time of delay. Color. of Cannon.
to.
Fuse.
2- 3” gun for target
MK I White head. Short. Russian 3GT. practice
100 only.
2-
M II (non delay) 8”, 9.2”,
100
2-
MK II (non delay) White top. Short. 204-m/m.
100
5- Gun and
MK II (short delay) Black top. Short. Modified.
100 Howitzer.
15-
M II (long delay) Black head. Short. Russian.
100
75 G; 3.8”G and
H; 4.7 in. G
MK III
zero No color. Long. French IAL. and H; 6”H;
(Supersensitive)
155H; all
gas shells.
2- French 24/31
MK IV (non-delay) White top. Short. SR (99- Howitzer only.
100 15).
5- French 24/31
MK IV (short delay) Black top. Short. AR (99- Howitzer only.
100 15).
Black top
15- French 24/31
violet
MK IV (long delay) Short. SR (99- Howitzer only.
100 detonator
15).
socket.
2- French 24/31
All guns, but not
MK V (non-delay) White top. Short. SR (99-
100 Howitzers.
08).
MK V (short delay) 5- Black top. Short. French 24/31 All guns, but not
AR (99- Howitzers.
100 08).
Mark—VII (non 2-
White. Short 6” T. M.
delay) 100
Black top with
20- violet
Mark VII (long delay) Short 6” T. M.
100 detonator
socket
COMBINATION FUSES.
Total time By what
Corresponding On what projectile Wt. of
Fuse. burning cannon
French Type. used. fuse.
Sec. fired.
21 s/comb. F. All 3” and
22/31M 1897, Com. Shrapnel.
A., 1907 21 75-mm 1¼ lbs.
24 sec. MKi.
M. guns
21 s/comb. 22/31M 1916, All 3” and
Com. Shrapnel.
F.A., 21 24 sec. 75-mm 1¼ lbs.
MKi.
1915 AA. guns
31 s/comb. F. 30/55M 1889,
31 Com. Shrapnel. 4.7” gun. 2 lbs.
A. 1915 40 sec.
45 s/comb. F.
Same as
A. 1907 45
above.
M.
30/55M 1889, Com. Shrapnel,
155 How.
40 sec. MKi.
30/55M 1913, C. S. Shell AA 4.7” gun
40 sec. MKiii AA. Anti-
AA. Shrapnel. aircraft.