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EOD - bombs and bullets
Thanks to a sharp eyed buddy, I am the lucky owner of this, really cool, still sealed when I got it 3 fuze box for the S Mine 35 Main fuze...
This is the pronged fuze that screwed to the top of the S Mine 35 (Bouncing Betty)....when buried, only the prongs stuck up above the ground, almost impossible to see.
As packed they have the safety pin installed, this prevents the pressure plate from being pushed down. Once you screwed it to the top of the mine, you removed the pin, and planted the mine.
I don't remember off the top of my head exactly how much force pushed down the pressure plate, but as these were anti-personnel, it wasn't a whole lot...
There is a spring loaded striker inside, held in place with small ball bearings...as pressure is placed on the prongs it presses down on the striker, when the pressure overcomes the friction of the ball bearings, the striker shoots down and initiates the percussion cap inside. That is all that is inside these is a primer essentially, like a shotgun primer, that's all it takes to initiate the S. Mine...
The bakelite box was sealed with green tape (looked much like cotton surgical tape. Inside the three fuzes were wrapped in cardboard, with three lengths of cord, and a tissue paper roll with three extra safety pins...
There is a label on top, inside the top, and on the bottom.
This to me was a fantastic find!
Here is a pic showing the new box, a box (empty when I got it) I already had, just to compare labels, then the label inside the lid, and the label inside the bottom...
This is the pronged fuze that screwed to the top of the S Mine 35 (Bouncing Betty)....when buried, only the prongs stuck up above the ground, almost impossible to see.
As packed they have the safety pin installed, this prevents the pressure plate from being pushed down. Once you screwed it to the top of the mine, you removed the pin, and planted the mine.
I don't remember off the top of my head exactly how much force pushed down the pressure plate, but as these were anti-personnel, it wasn't a whole lot...
There is a spring loaded striker inside, held in place with small ball bearings...as pressure is placed on the prongs it presses down on the striker, when the pressure overcomes the friction of the ball bearings, the striker shoots down and initiates the percussion cap inside. That is all that is inside these is a primer essentially, like a shotgun primer, that's all it takes to initiate the S. Mine...
The bakelite box was sealed with green tape (looked much like cotton surgical tape. Inside the three fuzes were wrapped in cardboard, with three lengths of cord, and a tissue paper roll with three extra safety pins...
There is a label on top, inside the top, and on the bottom.
This to me was a fantastic find!
Here is a pic showing the new box, a box (empty when I got it) I already had, just to compare labels, then the label inside the lid, and the label inside the bottom...