To All Interested;
Although well engineered and probably difficult to manufacture, this fuse was unreliable and prone to premature functioning which caused in- flight detonations during a prolonged flight of over 7-8 seconds. The premature detonations was usually caused by melt down of the fuse body. The patent model was made of brass, had the productionmodels been made of brass instead of the white metal it might hve given good service.
Although Schenkl claimed a combination feature, the percussion feature failed to work as designed. In Schenkl's second model, having the side locking pin rotor cap, he connected the fuse body holes with an annular groove containing powder in a paste form and was said to have assisted propagation of the flame to the main projectile filler. The percussion feature, was by design, luck. When at impact the fuse body opened up like a can of Pillsbury Dough Boy biscuits as noted by Dolug Adams in his research of fired fuses.
In operation the gunner pulled the large safety pin, lifted the rotor locking pin and set desired time. At setback the sharp edged slider sheared a second shear pin and struck a percussion cap which ignited a small powder charge igniting the time mixture. The mix burrned down until a hole in the mix container matched up with a hole in the fuse body and ignited the annular powder groove.
Does anyone know if this fuse was used in anyother projectile except the Schenkl Case Shot having a rather un-streamlined nose? Comments encourged.
Regards,
John
