Description
Gray. Label just below carrying handles reads: "Manufacturing Date - September 1940. Naval Aerial Factory Illuminating Flare Bomb."
Consists of three distinct parts - nose, body, and tail. Nose is a solid metal weight which is hemispherical in shape. It is welded to the body. The body is of sheet-metal construction and conical in shape. It is welded to the nose and secured to the tail portion by eight small screws. On the exterior of the body is a tear strip which covers a small water inlet hole. Inside the body is a long central tube which extends the full length of the flare. This tube contains the illuminating composition. It is held in place by a large wooden spacer disk situated at the junction of the body and the tail with another wooden spacer at the junction of the body and the nose. Spacers are held in place by small screws, six at the nose and eight at the tail.
Constructed of light sheet metal with 4 fins soldered to it. A metal cap is soldered over the end of the tail and fits around the central cylinder. There is a small air outlet in the cap. A percussion igniter is inserted through a hole in the cap and soldered into position. Over the end of the central cylinder is a lead cap which is soldered to the end cap. This lead cap has a central disk of the same metal but much thinner. Central cylinder is surrounded by an asbestos liner covered by a metal sheath. This extends down to the wooden spacer, also covered by a metal disk.
Before dropping, remove tear strip and safety wire and pull the igniter cord. When catch has been pulled out approximately 3/4 inch, the spring loaded striker is released. The striker then impinges on the primer. A 10 inch safety fuze is ignited by the flash from the cap and after burning for 35 seconds the safety fuze ignites a coil of black powder. Resultant heat melts lead cap allowing flash to escape. Illuminant burns rapidly with brilliant greenish-white flame which lasts approximately 1 minute and 20 seconds.
Hazardous Components
Pull igniter fuze.
Illuminant (5.13 lb, 2.3 kg)
See Also
General Information, Japanese Navy Bombs
Source(s)
