Description
This head is designed for use with 3 inch A/C Rocket Motors and may be fired either from aircraft or from ground launchers.
The 3 inch A/C Flare Head Mk I consists of an outer body assembly and an inner canister. The inner canister is brought to an ogive at its forward end to serve as a ballistic cap. A parachute, enclosed in a cardboard housing, is contained in the upper portion of the inner canister. The long cylindrical portion of the canister is then brought down inside the main body assembly, and tabs on the bottom edge of the canister are then bent over a metal lid, retaining the lid in position. The lid consists of a metal disc, perforated in the center to accommodate the ends of two lengths of safety fuse. A baffle plate is located between the lid and the flare candle. Lengths of quickmatch extend from the base of the candle through the center of the baffle plate and into a gunpowder charge located between the baffle plate and the metal lid. This charge constitutes the secondary ejection charge. The safety fuse leading to it is the secondary delay.
A socket is fixed to the lower part of the body assembly, and to the socket is welded a spigot. The spigot is threaded externally to screw into the shell ring of the rocket motor, and is internally threaded to receive the Ejector, Contents, No. 7 Mk I. The contents ejector consists of a threaded body, housing a diaphragm-operated striker, a percussion cap, and a double length of safety fuse, which extends into a gunpowder charge.
A base fairing is loosely assembled over the lower portion of the body assembly. The after end of the fairing is notched to form several tabs, and a metal clip is placed around these tabs and tightened to ensure a firm attachment to the rocket motor. The fairing serves merely to cover the joint between the flare head and the rocket motor, enhancing the streamlining of the complete round.
This flare head may be employed with the following motors: Motor, Rocket, A/C, 3 inch (Rocket Flare) Mk I; Motor, Rocket, A/C, 3 inch No. 1 Mk I; or Motor, Rocket, A/C, 3 inch No. 1 Mks II-IV.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
