Lately I have been in touch with Tigbrand about one inch signal pistol cartridges and thought that for those interested in them I would share information from my basic AT course notes of 1979. Please note that my information will not be as comprehensive as some might like but is all that I have. The 1 Inch cartridges were classed as Pyrotechnics, filled with low explosive.
Pistol, Signal No 1 was used to fire 1 inch cartridges. There were four main effects:
1. Illuminating - range 200 yards at 45 degree firing angle, with a delay to ignition of about 25 feet after firing. The star illuminated for seven seconds. The earlier version was the J Mk 4T and was a paper case. This was marked as no longer in use by 1992. The J Mk 4T was superceded by the L3A1 and L3A2 that were aluminium cased. The rim of the case was milled around half of its circumference, in a similar but more pronounced way than say a 10 pence coin, for night identification. The L3A1 had a tinplate star container; the L3A2 had an aluminium star container. The closure for the case was embossed with a raised cone for night identification and the body of the case was marked with a white label. Three cartridges were contained in an inner container and this was also marked with an embossed cone, on the lid. The inner containers were sealed with half inch wide black tape. Both the L3A1 and the L3A2 were still on the inventory in 1992.
2. Green - could reach a height of 300 feet, igniting at 25 feet after firing and burned for about 6.5 seconds. The earlier version was the paper cased Mk 12T and the case was shorter than that used for the illuminating cartridge. This was no longer in use by 1992 and in fact did not appear on the inventory, even to say that. This was superceded by the L4A1 and L4A2. Again the model numbers differed due to the metal that the star container was made from. A star was marked on the case in the colour (green) of the effect produced. Green effect cartridges were smooth, having no milling around the rim of the case. The closure for the case was embossed with a raised triangle for night identification. The lid of the inner container was similarly marked. The L4A1 and L4A2 were both still on the inventory in 1992.
3. Red - similar detail as for illuminating and green. The earlier version was the paper cased Mk 13T, replaced by the L5A1 and L5A2. The Mk 13T, L5A1 and L5A2 versions were all still on the inventory in 1992. The rim of the cartridge case was completely milled. The cartridge closure disc and inner container lid were embossed with a raised cross.
4. Yellow - similar detail as for illuminating, green and red. There is no mention in my course notes that there was an earlier, paper cased version, although there may have been. Night identification features were an embossed circle on the cartridge closure and inner container lid and a quarter of the rim of the case was milled. By 1992 the L6A1, although still listed in the inventory, was described as no longer in use, leaving just the L6A2. Perhaps it was considered that yellow signal flares would have less of a part to play than illuminating, red and green.
Paper cartridge cases were replaced with metal cases because, even when they were varnished, moisture still had a habit of getting in and swelling the case, to the extent that cartridges could not be loaded into the signal pistol in extreme circumstances. Also, any ingress of moisture would lower the reliability of the ammunition, as many pyrotechnic powders will readily suck up moisture.
Pistol, Signal No 1 was used to fire 1 inch cartridges. There were four main effects:
1. Illuminating - range 200 yards at 45 degree firing angle, with a delay to ignition of about 25 feet after firing. The star illuminated for seven seconds. The earlier version was the J Mk 4T and was a paper case. This was marked as no longer in use by 1992. The J Mk 4T was superceded by the L3A1 and L3A2 that were aluminium cased. The rim of the case was milled around half of its circumference, in a similar but more pronounced way than say a 10 pence coin, for night identification. The L3A1 had a tinplate star container; the L3A2 had an aluminium star container. The closure for the case was embossed with a raised cone for night identification and the body of the case was marked with a white label. Three cartridges were contained in an inner container and this was also marked with an embossed cone, on the lid. The inner containers were sealed with half inch wide black tape. Both the L3A1 and the L3A2 were still on the inventory in 1992.
2. Green - could reach a height of 300 feet, igniting at 25 feet after firing and burned for about 6.5 seconds. The earlier version was the paper cased Mk 12T and the case was shorter than that used for the illuminating cartridge. This was no longer in use by 1992 and in fact did not appear on the inventory, even to say that. This was superceded by the L4A1 and L4A2. Again the model numbers differed due to the metal that the star container was made from. A star was marked on the case in the colour (green) of the effect produced. Green effect cartridges were smooth, having no milling around the rim of the case. The closure for the case was embossed with a raised triangle for night identification. The lid of the inner container was similarly marked. The L4A1 and L4A2 were both still on the inventory in 1992.
3. Red - similar detail as for illuminating and green. The earlier version was the paper cased Mk 13T, replaced by the L5A1 and L5A2. The Mk 13T, L5A1 and L5A2 versions were all still on the inventory in 1992. The rim of the cartridge case was completely milled. The cartridge closure disc and inner container lid were embossed with a raised cross.
4. Yellow - similar detail as for illuminating, green and red. There is no mention in my course notes that there was an earlier, paper cased version, although there may have been. Night identification features were an embossed circle on the cartridge closure and inner container lid and a quarter of the rim of the case was milled. By 1992 the L6A1, although still listed in the inventory, was described as no longer in use, leaving just the L6A2. Perhaps it was considered that yellow signal flares would have less of a part to play than illuminating, red and green.
Paper cartridge cases were replaced with metal cases because, even when they were varnished, moisture still had a habit of getting in and swelling the case, to the extent that cartridges could not be loaded into the signal pistol in extreme circumstances. Also, any ingress of moisture would lower the reliability of the ammunition, as many pyrotechnic powders will readily suck up moisture.
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