Description
The Flame Float Mk II consists of two main parts, a body and a container. The body is a cylindrical casting, to one end of which three strut supports are riveted. A cylindrical strut is riveted to the supports. Secured to the fin by a securing wire is a punch to which is attached an instruction tag. The body is thickened at the nose end, and has an attached conical nose of thin sheet steel. A protecting cap is fitted over the nose, and a safety pin passes through holes in both the cap and nose.
The container consists of a sheet-metal cylinder, to one end of which is attached a sheetmetal tail cone. The opposite end of the container is closed by a cap. The cap is apertured and carries a correspondingly apertured spigot and a wire gauze socket on the side facing the tail cone. Passing axially along the container is a central tube, one end of which is soldered to the narrow end of the tail cone, while the other end fits into the socket. Near the tail end, the tube is closed by a sealing cup, projecting from which is a punch sleeve closed by a paper cap. On the side opposite the spigot the cap carries a diaphragm, which retains a striker.
The striker is bored to receive the safety pin.
The lower part of the container is filled with granular calcium phosphide, which is held in position by a closing disc. This material surrounds the slotted portion of the central tube. Beyond the closing disc the annular space between the container and the central tube forms a sealed buoyancy chamber.
The inner body of the Navigation Flame Float No. 4 Mk I is identical to the inner body of the Float Mk II.
The Message Carrying Flame Float Mk 1 is almost identical to the Navigation Flame Float Mk II in dimensions and construction. The essential difference is that a message container is suspended in the buoyancy chamber by a fixing wire secured to a plug, which is screwed into a bush in the tail cone. The plug is provided with a handle to facilitate its removal from the bush, and a washer on the plug insures a water-tight joint. An arrow and the words MESSAGE HERE are painted on the tail cone to direct attention to the message.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Message Carrying Flame Float Mk 1
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
