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55 (e) Parachute Flares

The training flare has a tinplate body painted black, 30 in. long, 4 in. diameter at the nose, and 5·5 in. at the tail end, which contains the parachute. The filled flare weighs 19 lb.

The 4·5 in. flare has a black-painted iron or tinplate body 33 in. long and 4·5 in. diameter. It may have a fuze at the nose end and should be handled with great care. Its weight is about 21 lb.

The 5·5 in. flare is similar in appearance to the 4·5 in. flare but weighs 41 lb. and is 48 in. long by 5·5 in. in diameter.

The 7 in. flare, which is normally dropped in clusters of four, is a black metal cylinder 63 in. long and 7 in. diameter and weighs 85 lb. There is also a similar flare weighing 58 lb.

(f) Photographic Flash-bomb

The photographic flash-bomb is similar in weight and dimensions to the 4·5 in. flare and contains a very dangerous explosive. An embossed plate on the body is marked "FLASH" in large letters. The closing dome and tail fins are painted red.

(g) Target Indicator Bomb

The target indicator bomb is a black painted bomb of steel construction fitted with a tail. It is 60 in. long and 12 in. diameter and contains a powerful burster charge and incendiary filling.

27. AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS

(a) Flame Floats

The most common type of flame float is the cylindrical wooden body fitted with a metal nose and tail fin assembly. It is 13 in. long overall, 3 in. diameter, and contains a flare composition.

(b) Smoke Bombs

The normal American smoke bomb is the 100 lb. bomb. It is identical in external appearance with the American 100 lb. incendiary bomb except that a yellow band surrounds the body and the filling contains phosphorus.

(c) Flares

The normal American flare has a blue-coloured bomb-shaped case 50 in. long, 8 in. diameter, and weighs approximately 53 lb. when filled. It has four fins attached to the body.

(d) Photographic Flash-bomb

The photographic flash-bomb is 55·2 in. long, 8 in. diameter, weighs 50 lb., and is similar in external appearance to the flare except for the tail, which consists of four vanes welded to a tail cone. Since the flash-bomb contains a dangerous explosive, it is important to note this difference between it and the flare above.

28. BRITISH TRENCH MORTAR BOMB

The type of British trench-mortar bomb shown in Figures 69 and 70, is sometimes mistaken for a German incendiary bomb. It has a cylindrical body 2 in. in diameter and 5½ in. long with a tail fuze unit 3½ in. long terminating in a milled screw cover about 3/4 in. in diameter. There are six vanes with three holes in the stem between each vane;