Description
The flare consists of a cylindrical body, which houses three illuminating stars. At the lower end of the body is a conical wooden nose, which insures easy entry of the flare into the funnel tube of an ignition chute. The upper end of the body is closed by a wooden plug and a metal disc, the weight of which facilitates the passage of the flare through the chute and offsets the up-draught and air drag as the flare leaves the aircraft.
Each star is primed at both ends and has a short strip of primed fabric wrapped around the star and held in position by two threads. A long strip of primed fabric extends along the sides of the three stars and is held in position by three additional threads, one around each star, at a position between the threads securing the short strip.
Between, the metal disc and the top of the upper star is an apertured felt washer which contains a charge of gunpowder. A primed fabric disc is located between the bottom of the lower star and the upper surface of the nose. Vent holes are provided in the nose, whose open ends are sealed with paper sealing discs.
Two copper strips pass along the outside of the body beneath a paper wrapper surrounding the body. Their lower ends are connected to the leads from the electric fuze, and their upper ends emerge from, and are secured by, wire staples to the wrapper. The portion of the outer surface of the paper wrapper surrounding the staples is sprayed with zinc to form contact bands.
The Flare No. 1 Mk II is identical to the Flare Mk I, with the following exceptions. The upper end of the body is closed by a metal cap, and the nose is made of moulded plastic material.
A pellet of delay composition is used instead of the length of delay safety fuse, and a length of quickmatch is located between the bottom of the lowest star and the priming composition.
A delay of approximately two seconds occurs between the release of the flare and its ignition.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
