Description
The pistol consists of a vane cap, body, and body extension, all of which are made of brass. The vane cap of the Pistol No. 44 is cast and has five vanes. The No. 55 has four vanes. There are two small holes on opposite sides of the cap for the safety pin. There is a steel stop pin in the top of the vane cap, and a similar one on the pistol body to prevent the cap from being screwed down too tightly. A steel retaining disc is threaded in the upper pistol body above the diaphragm. In this disc are drilled seven holes to allow air passage. Under the retaining disc is a I’/j.-in. sheet-brass diaphragm to which is soldered a 3’s-in. steel needle striker which passes down into the body extension. There are two air-pressure holes in the pistol body to equalize air pressure under the diaphragm, preventing firing due to air compression while the bomb is falling. A brass locking ring is located around the pistol body.
The Pistol No. 44 Mk II is similar to the Mk I except that the two air vents in the side of the pistol are replaced by three air vents in the base of the pistol body.
The Pistol No. 44 Mk III differs from the Pistol Mk II in several respects. The vane cap is retained by a new-type safety clip, the hook end of which locates in a hole in one of the arming vanes, while the plain end passes through the single hole in the vane cap and engages a safety-pin groove in the pistol body. The two safety-pin holes in the vane cap and the four notches in the top edge of the body are omitted. The air-pressure relief groove is diametrically opposite the safety-pin groove, and extends from the top of the body to a point level with the top of the safety pin groove.
The Pistol No. 55 Mk I is identical to the No. 44 Mk III, except that four anemometer type vanes are used. The pistol is used in the two off-center nose fuze pockets of HC bombs having three nose fuze pockets. These pistols are designed to replace the Pistol No. 27.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
