Description
This pistol is similar in appearance to the No. 37 Mk IV, except that the notch around the knurled exterior is painted white, and there is no anti-withdrawal device incorporated. Internally, the fuse differs from the No. 37 Mk IV in that a modified striker assembly is used to enable shorter delays to be obtained. The striker is retained by a row of balls around its head. The balls retain the striker by their contact with a chamfered thrust sleeve, which, in turn, is located by a celluloid disc. The pistol is fitted with a device, similar to that incorporated in the No. 37 Mk V, consisting of a blotting-paper ring fixed to the base of the pistol head. The arming screw is provided with three slots along a portion of its screwed length. If an ampoule breaks, the tinted acetone passes through these slots into the head of the pistol and stains the blotting paper.
The 30 minute delay is obtained with Pistol No. 53, and the one hour delay with Pistol No. 53A. The alternative delays are provided by varying the strength of the acetone, which is tinted green for the thirty minute delay and violet for the one hour delay. The pistols are shipped with the ampoules assembled, and the ampoules are not to be changed. The times of delay quoted are subject to a variation of approximately plus or minus 30%. Should a bomb fuzed with a Pistol No. 53 or No. 53A be dropped from a height of 12 inches or more, the bomb must be considered armed. It is the practice of the RAF Bomber Command to paint the arming vanes of the tail unit white, but this practice is not general.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
