World War I Ordnance fuzes

[shelldude]

Here are the main artillery fuzes used by the United States during WWI. The three French design PD fuzes manufactured in the U.S. have left hand threads on the detonator cup vs. right hand threads on the French manufactured types. The fuzes in the first photograph L to R are:

Point detonating fuze, Mk III with centrifugal interrupter safety feature.
Point detonating fuze, Mk. IV
Point detonating fuze, Mk. V
Adapter and booster casing, Mk.III
75 second Antiaircraft Mechnical time fuze, Waltham Mark I - 1918.
23 second Antiaircraft combustion time fuze, Mark II, type "S" with point style closing cap.
23 second Antiaircraft combustion time fuse, Mark II, type "S" with pagoda style closing cap.
21 second Antiaircraft combustion time fuze, Mk. III A1

Second Photograph, L to R:

45 second Time/Percussion fuze, M-1907-M
31 second Time/Percussion fuze, M-1907-M
21 second Time/Percussin fuze, M-1907-M
Stokes Trench mortar fuze, Mark III
Base percussion fuze, minor caliber, Mark I (Baldwin type)
Base percussion fuze, minor caliber, Mark II ( Cartwright model)

 

[DICKAREN]

Great collection Shelldude.
Richard

 

[HAZORD]

Yes, they are very nice! Its good to see them all together.

 

[dano1917]

thanks

Thanks shelldude, Very informative and some nice fuzes. "Sharing is caring" Dano

 

[shelldude]

WWI Ordnance fuzes

I just realized I reversed the identification of two of the PD fuzes in my first photograph. The second PD fuze is the Mk. V, while the third PD fuze is the Mk. IV. THANKS guys for the nice comments regarding the collection!

 

[Weasel]

What a great collection of fuzes Shelldude, be carefull before you know it they will start multiplying and you will need another shelf or two.
Best regards Weasel.

 

[shelldude]

WWI Ordnance fuzes

Hi Weasel, You're ABSOLUTELY correct!
Best regards,

Randall

 

[Gspragge]

Minor caliber fuses

This is the first time I have seen a name on the two body styles, is the MKll marked MKll, I have both if I recall they are both marked Ml , what is the reference for the names, both are FA ring safety types I believe. The short body seems to appear on the 1075 series projectiles and the longer on 1089 & 1090 series. Then what is the MKlll ? The MKlV is like the short bodied but has a detonator instead of the flat brass end with flash holes, for the MKll HE projectile, on that account I think they are scarse, mine is an empty body due to removing the detonator end, nothing remains then to keep the rest intack as the ends of these are crimped over. I will recheck my MKll, the image is unclear, these are difficult to get a clear image of. The MK1 projectile was not made after 1928 so likely the MKl & MKll fuses were also discontinued. The MKlV fuse would have lasted from during WW1 into WW2 or at whatever point the MKll HE projectile was discontinued as HE and used as a powder filled subcaliber projectile with the M38 fuse.

 

[shelldude]

WWI Ordnance fuzes

Hello Gspragge, The Mark I & Mark II minor caliber fuzes are pictured in the fantastic HANDBOOK OF ORDNANCE DATE - November 15, 1918. The two photographs are from that reference. Copies of the handbook are sometimes available on ebay. The base of my Mark II is also scratched and illegible. I'll check some of my other references regarding the Mark IV and possible Mark III. I'm assuming they are post WWI designs. Your M38 is NICE, all mine have been fired! Best regards, Randall

 

[Gspragge]

MKll Fuse

Very lightly stamped, but at 600 resolution and at 300 % I got this, reproduced here at 100 res. Maybe somebody has one that is clearer.

 

[richardwb1]

These are the Mark I BPF fuzes, obviously. The little brass guy is the setback sleeve.

 

[richardwb1]

This is the mystery to me... These quite clearly are indicating Mark I as well but are quite different than the A.M. fuzes. T.S.P. (Toledo Screw Products) is the manufacturer here. The setback sleeve here is brass too but so is the firing pin. The firing pin on the A.M. fuzes is steel and is normally rusted away.