Smoke unit L1A2

[sgtlynn]

Another of the items I picked up this weekend. Couldn't resist it......

Smoke Unit L1A2?? Obviously a practice item due to the colour. But, practice for what.... It appears to be a type of practice unit for use in Anti Tank mines or some such thing.. Hopefully someone can tell me for sure. Nice sectioning job on it, which is why I couldn't resist (I love sectioned pieces).

 

[25thapril]

Looks very similar to the No 68 rifle grenade minus the fins ?? Could it have been converted to use on tank mounted smoke dischargers for smoke screens??

Just a guess
Regards daryl

 

[spotter]

The L1A2 smoke unit is used in conjunction with the L2A1 Practice anti tank mine a practice version of the Mk7 anti tank mine
The Mine Anti-Tank Practice L2 and Smoke Unit Anti-Tank Mine Practice L1 were developed to meet a training requirement for testing the effectiveness of a minefield.
The minefield is laid using practice mines and attempts are made to penetrate the field using tanks or lorries. Should a vehicle run over a mine the smoke unit functions, indicating a casualty.
A slight delay fitted in the fuze of the smoke unit enables the vehicles to clear the mine position before the smoke appears.

 

[sgtlynn]

Thanks Spotter, much appreciated.

Daryl, it does look a lot like the No. 68, but its quite a bit larger. The similarity was what initially caught my eye, then I noticed it was sectioned and that made my decision :bigsmile:

 

[roller63]

A nice unusual item. Is the sticker/label on the top original or a later addition, I can't quite make out what it says ? Are there smoke emission holes in it or do you think it would blow the lid off when it functions ? Tony.

 

[Snufkin]

The label reads "WARNING FAILURE TO REMOVE CAP CAN BE LETHAL" which suggests the lid should probably be removed if only smoke effects are required.


Tom.

 

[roller63]

Thanks for that Tom, I was thinking that if the lid was left screwed on, it would be one hell of a bang with bits of steel flying all over the place, lethal, yes !

 

[sgtlynn]

absolutely correct on the label. What I question is that when the cover is removed it seems to leave it open for moisture to enter unless of course there is something like a thin tinfoil cover on it (nothing on this one).

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Spotter's reply is totally correct. These little babies regularly killed the unwary soldier who thought that since they were practice items they could `test' them by jumping up and down on them. It surprised me how regularly (usually one or two a year) these things killed people. Any such events were summarised in the 6 monthly accidents and defects report produced by DLSA (the Directorate of Land Service Ammunition). The L2A1 Anti-tank Practice mine was inert, filled with pitch and sand. The central steel cap screwed into the top cavity had a smoke emission hole. The steel transit covers were removed from both ends of the L1A2 smoke unit and the smoke unit was screwed into the mine cavity. The striker was held in place by a shear pin, designed to break when sufficient pressure was applied. The striker would then be forced by a spring onto a percussion cap linked to a short length of safety fuze. When the safety fuze burned it passed on the flame to the 7 oz smoke composition, designed to burn for 15 seconds, producing orange smoke. Filling details were the stencilled info immediately below `Smoke Unit L1A2', by date of filling, filler and lot number. Empty details was the lowest line of stencilled info, by date made, maker and empty lot number.