SOME GERMAN FUSES

That fuse was entirely made of brass. Purely percussion-type, this old fuse was equipped with a safety pin, to be removed before the shot. That action allowed the movements of a first percussion system, whose sliding starter-bearer went in contact with the fixed percussion pin, igniting a big gun powder grain.

The burning of this gunpowder grain allowed the movements of a second inertia percussion system, situated in the fuse tail, so that at the shock time, the starter-bearer was violently projected against a fixed percussion pin, provoking the relay-charge explosion.

This fuse was dedicated to the explosive ('Gr' = Granate - Obus explosif) or gaz heavy shells. It was mainly used with the ammunitions of the

• 150mm heavy field howitzers (sFH02, sFH13)
• Long 210mm mortars
• 210mm mortars model 1902 and 1910

Brass fuse, with a steel mantle. This is a classical conception for a percussion fuse with optionnal delay, equipped with two different inertia percussion systems, with a pin for security handling.

A 100 grammes picric acid detonator was integrated at the bottom part of the fuse.

The optionnal delay was selected by a lever rotation, placed on the 'oV' position (Ohne Verzögerung - without delay) or on the 'mV' position (mit Verzögerung - with delay)

That fuse was dedicated to the explosive shells ('Gr' = Granate - Explosive shell) of heavy caliber. It mainly equipped the projectiles of the

• 150 mm heavy field howitzers (sFH02, sFH13)
• 150mm long tube guns
• 150mm bind tube guns
• 210mm howitzers

Those types of heavy shell needed quite a big detonator to explode (100 gr. picric acid)(

Brass or zinc alloy fuse, with steel cover.

The function with optionnal delay implied the presence of two different percussion systems, one having an integrated delay, and the other with no delay. Those systems were selected via a slight rotation of the upper rotating disc ('O/V').

Equipped with a 90 gr. acid picric detonator, it was used with the projectiles of

• 100, 130, 150, 150 (long) mm guns
• 150 mm heavy field howitzers sFH02, sFH13
• 6in & 8in Russian, and 150mm Belgian captured howitzers
• 210 mm mortars
• 210 mm Belgian captured howitzers

The mobile pieces of the percussion systems were blocked at rest condition with a security pin.

A mark, named Gr Z 04/14, has been produced since 1914, using the head of the Gr Z 04, but the detonator of the Gr Z 14, that is without detonator security stem.

Brass fuse with a steel cover, and 45 mm diameter thread. Evolution and simplification of the Gr Z 04, the inertial percussion system was armed by a a concutor with security pin.

The modified version ('n/A' - neue Art) added another security pin on the main percussion system, removed by the centrifugal force.

That fuse was equipped with a 63 gr. acid picric detonator.
It was mostly used with the shells of the

• 90, 100, 120, 150 mm guns
• 150 mm heavy field howitzers sFH02, sFH13
• 150mm Belgian captured guns
• 6in Russian captured howitzers

You will easily find that fuse in big quantities on the former battlefields. Unhopefully, most of these objects are very corroded now, because they were made in aluminium. Only some have a zinc alloy or brass body, and resisted far better.

Basic fuse of the explosive or gaz shell of the 77mm FK 96 n/A field gun, equipped with a 20 grammes acid picric detonator, it had a simple and economic design. Classic functionning of a German percussion system with black powder grain and stem arming.

It was usually used with the explosive and gaz shells of the

• 77 mm FK 96 n/A et FK 16 field guns

4 marks have been developped on the original KZ 14 basis :

• KZ 14 Fb with centrifugal security
• KZ 14 Vorst with safety pin
• KZ 14 mV with delay
• KZ 14 n/A in zinc and steel

That fuse is often impressive because of its weight when found on the battlefields, because entirely made of brass.

The models that followed the first one (HZ 14, introduced in 1914) used a centrifugal force arming system (HZ14 Fb or HZ 14 Vorst. Fliehb.), as well as a safety pin (HZ 14 Vorst. Fliehb.).

Equipped with a 55 gr. acid picric detonator, it was used with the explosive or gaz shells of the

• 90 mm K73/88 guns
• 100 mm K97, K04, K14 guns
• 120 mm sK 12cm heavy guns
• 150 mm lFH 98/09 light howitzers
• 150 mm lFH 16 light howitzers
• lFH Kp Krupp light howitzers
• etc...

This is a classical German percussion fuse with arming by the combustion of a compacted powder grain ignited by a concutor, blocking a stem in contact with the inertia block.

This type of fuse is quite commonly found on the former battlefields. Its characteristic is in being of a very simple look, since te visible part of the shell is a steel cone. In fact, this part is a hat (that can be made of steel or of another grey alloy), that covers the brass percussion mechanism.

The fuse mechanism is composed by a double security system based on the centrifugal force :

• two security pieces, blocked by springs but allowed to move thanks to the shell spin are stopping the starter-bearer movements at rest condition,
• a lock that can slide horizontally under the effects of the same force is separating the percussion mechanism from the relay-charge.

, The delayed models have a little picric acid relay charge in this sliding lock ('L.K.Z.16 m.V.'). This relay charge is not present in the non-delayed models ('L.K.Z.16 o.V.').

Equipped with a 23 gr. picric acid charge, it was in use with the explosive projectiles of the

• 77 mm FK 96 n/A et FK 16 field guns
• 3 inches infantry guns (mountain russian guns model 1909)

This item was a percussion fuse, equipped with a long percussion rod, similar to the one of the EKZ16. Just like in this latter, the percussion rod was blocked at rest by two centrifugal locks maintained by springs, that were removed under the action of the shell spin during its flight.

A double centrifugal security, identical to the one described in the HZ16 fuse, equipped the inertia block and the detonator (excentric sliding drawer).

That fuse was in use with the high explosive shells of the

• 10cm Mle 1897, 1904, 1907, 1914, 1917 guns (10cm.K.97, 04, 07, 14, 17)
• 10cm guns under shelled mounting (10cm.K.I.S.L.)
• 10cm guns under turret (10cm.T.K. et T.K. verst.)
• 10cm short guns under turret (Kz.10cm.T.K.)

The fuse KZ16f10cmK, made of steel, alumium or zinc alloy, seemed to be used as a substitution of the HZ14 vorst, for the above mentionned guns.

Detonator charge : 70 grammes of picric acid.

This percussion fuse, with optionnal delay, is typical of the middle-war years, by its materials choice : the head and the detonator are in steel, the body and the mechanism are in zinc-alloy.

The classical percussion mechannism (inertia block and percussion pin) was blocked at rest by a centrifugal security system composed of two diametrically opposed pins equipped with springs. It was communicating to the rear of the fuse by two parallel channels.

One of the channels was equipped with a black powder grain delay. A external selector allowed, by screwing a rod, to close the non-dealyed channel when one wanted to use the delayed function ('m.V. position).

An additionnal security, comparable to the one of the LKZ 16 fuse was added at the rear of the fuse. It was composed by a drawer, sliding in a notch under the action of the centrifugal force : blocked at rest by two centrifugal pins equipped with springs, it sealed the communicating channel between the detonator and the fuse head. Under the action of the shell spin, during its flight, it slided and put an exploding channel in the pyrotechnic axis.

That fuse equipped the gas and explosive shells of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Krupp ('Kp')

The EHZ16 fuze is a variation of the HZ16 fuze that has been presented above.

It consists in the addition of an axial metallic rod that pushes directly on the percussion pin. Thus, at target contact, the percussion pin is thrown onto the starter-bearer, giving an instantaneous function of the fuse, igniting the main charge just before the shell enters in the earth.

The rod was only put into place before the shooting, and only if an instantaneous function was required. When the rod was not inserted, the EHZ16 fusze behaved just as the HZ16.

That fuse equipped the gas and explosive shells of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Krupp ('Kp')

Detonator charge : 58 grams picric acid

Very similar, at the first sight, with the fuse LKZ 16 because of its conical shape, this fuse is indeed quite different. It is an intantaneous model, whose explosion was occuring before the shell could dig into the ground, at the very first contact with the objective.

In order to function that way, a magnesium alloy percussion stem was axially inserted in the iron or zinc alloy fuse. When the stem hitted the goal, it was pushed towards the concutor, making this piece hit the starter-bearer located at the base.

The safety system was simple, based on a radial spring stopping the stem movements, but compressed by the centrifugal force during the shell flight.

With a 23 gr. picric acid detonator, this fuse equipped the high explosive and gaz shells of the

• 77 mm FK 96 n/A et FK 16 field guns

The EKZ17 fuse is typically used for the mighty 77 mm gaz shells, with green, yellow or blue crosses, indicating a different chemical composition.

This fusze is very similar to the instantaneous fuse EKZ17 presenteed above, but for the head shape and the thread diameter.

With a detonator of 23 gr. of picric acid, it equipped the gas and explosive shelles of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Krupp ('Kp')

Double effect fuse, this item included a classical percussion system in the tail, and a single rotating disc time system. The graduation figures from 3 to 44 seconds, and with a cross for a pure percussion function, were engraved on the upper mobile upper cone.

Fully made of brass, it had a security pin (two rods) blocking the time system concutor. The arming system of the percussion device was quite special, based on the movements of a tube sheltering the starter-bearer, blocked by a powder grain ignited by the concutor at the shooting time, and therefore without any stem, unlike most of the German fuses.

That fuse mostly equipped the projectiles of the :

• 90 mm guns (explosive and shrapnel shells)

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Double effect fuse, this model was an evolution of the Dopp Z 91, based on the same principles, therefore having a classic percussion system in the tail and a rotating discs time system in the upper cone.

The lower disc, mobile, was engraved with graduations from 1 to 29 seconds, and a roman cross for the pure impact percussion function.

Entirely made of brass, it had a security pin blocking the concutor of the time system. The same specific arming system of the percussion device (with a powder grain in spite of the classical German stem system).

Different marks have been produced :

1. Dopp Z c/92 : graduated from 1 to 28 seconds
2. Dopp Z c/92 F H : graduated from 3 to 36 hectometers
3. Dopp Z c/92 K15 & 10cmK : graduated from 1 to 26 seconds
4. Dopp Z c/92 Brlg. : graduated from 2 to 41 seconds

That fuse mostly equipped the projectiles of the :

• 90, 120, 130 and 150 mm (shrapnel) guns
• 150, 160 and 210 mm (shrapnel and explosive) howitzers

The inner mechanism of this Dopp Z92 nF fuse is strictly identical to the famous Dopp Z92 fuse (here above), as this appears evidently on the scheme. The only differnec between the two fuses is the shape, more round, and the material (either all brass or aluminium plus brass).

The lower disc (that disappered on the showed item) was graduated from 2 to 41 seconds, and with a special mark for the pure percussion functionning.

This fuse was mostly equipping the projectiles of the :

• 90, 100 et 150 mm guns (shrapnel shells)
• 150 mm sFH 13 and sFH 02 howitzers (incendiary and explosive shells)

That revolving discs time fuse was also equipped with a percussion system, giving a sense to the name 'double effect' : 'Dopp' = Doppler (double). It was very common, since at the beginning of the war it was only used with the shells of the

• 77mm FK96 n/A and FK 16 field gun.

It is therefore often found on the former battlefields, or in the museums.

Used without modification on the shrapnel shells, or added with a detonator in the case of the explosive shells, its static disc was graduated from 0 to 50, for an ignition after a flight from 0 to 5000 meters (the n/A marks were successively graduated up to 5350, 7150, 6500 and 7000 metres), and the mobile disc was engraved with the index.

The concutor (for the ignition of the time system) was located in the axis of the head, and the classical percussion system (for an occasionnal function at the impact time) in the tail. The most ancient models were equipped, at rest, with a safty pin. The newer ones (n/A) saw the disappear of this safty pin.

That fuse was developped in 1915, and was a two-discs type. The lower disc was the rotating one, and was graduated from 0 to 41 seconds. At the departure, this rotating disc was fixed by a double inertia pin.

Two percussion systems, one with delay, the other without delay, that could be selected by an external lever, allowed to choose the depth of the explosion. A security pin was inserted into two holes in stock condition.

That fuse mainly equipped the explosive, test and smoke shells of the :

• 100mm K, K 04 and K 14 guns.
• 130mm K guns
• 150mm long guns
• 150mm Heavy field howitzers sFH 13, 18 and 04

90 g picric acid charge

The HZ05 fuse was designed for the German famous universal shell of the light howitzers lFH 98/04. But the lack of success of those hybrid munitions (both high-explosive and shrapnell) induced the specialisation of a new series of derivated fuses, allowing a high level of simplication of the mechanism.

The HZ05 Gr. (for 'Granate' - high-explosive shell) is the simplification destinated to the high explosive shells only, then having no cental canal nor radial windows for the communication of a flame to the charge, but included a detonator and a relay-charge.

The choice of the with or without delay functionning was made by a rotation of the upper disc marked 'mV', selectionning one of the two existing percussion systems. The time system, that could be set by the rotation of the lower disc, was graduated from 3 to 53 hundreds of meters and a cross for the percussion function.

The time system mechanism was ignited by a classical concutor system situated in the tail, blocked in rest condition by a safety pin. The classical German percussion mechanism, also locatoed in the tail, was armed by a usual 'black powder grain + stem'.

Hybrid (body, head and upper rings in brass, lower rings in aluminium, and some parts in steel), most of those fuses that can be seen nowadays have lost their aluminium parts due to corrosion.

That fuse usually equipped the high explosive or gas projectiles of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Kupp ('Kp')

The HZ05 fuse was designed for the German famous universal shell of the light howitzers lFH 98/04. But the lack of success of those hybrid munitions (both high-explosive and shrapnell) induced the specialisation o a new series of derivated fuses, allowing a high level of simplication of the mechanism.

The HZ05 Schr. (for 'Schrapnell') showned here did not have an attached detonator, and was therefore only dedicated to the shrapnel shells.

Composite (steel or zinc alloy cap, aluminium discs, steel and zinc alloy body), it was engraved with graduations from 3 to 70 hundred of meters and a roman cross for impact percussion function on its lower mobile rotating disc. The time system was ignited by a classical concutor, fixed at rest condition by a safety pin.

The classical percussion system, located in the tail, was armed by a slightly new 'gunpowder grain + blocking stem' German system.

That fuse was usually used on the shrapnel projectiles of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Kupp ('Kp')

The HZ05 existed through different marks, most of them being fuse-detonators. The HZ05 Schr. (for 'Schrapnell') showned here does not have an attached detonator, and was therefore only dedicated to the shrapnel shells.

Composite (steel or zinc alloy cap, aluminium discs, steel and zinc alloy body), it was engraved with graduations from 3 to 70 hundred of meters and a roman cross for impact percussion function on its lower mobile rotating disc. The time system was ignited by a classical concutor, fixed at rest condition by a safety pin.

The classical percussion system, located in the tail, was armed by a slightly new 'gunpowder grain + blocking stem' German system.

That fuse was usually used on the shrapnel projectiles of the

• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 98/09
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH 16
• 105 mm light field howitzers lFH Kupp ('Kp')

In its successive marks, this fuse has been designed to equip the famous German 'universal shells', that was studied in the 'projectiles' webpage of this site.

This particuliar shell (with lead balls and back gunpowder room for the shrapnel function, thickened steel walls and TNT bedding of the balls for the explosive function) implied the use of specific fuses.

In addition to the classical percussion system and revolving disc time system (the upper rotating disc was engraved with graduations fron 2 to 50 hundred meters) and powder grain concutor, classical for a German 'double effect' fuse, the HZ 11 model was equipped with a lever the direction of the lower disc flame, either to the 23 gramms picric acid detonator (explosive function, position 'G' - 'Granate'), either to 8 lateral windows communicating with the back gunpowder room (shrapnel function, position 'S' - 'Shrapnel').

That fuse was mainly used with the projectiles of the

• 77 mm FK 96 n/A and FK 16 (universal shells)

That additionnal sophistication had a cost : this was one of the most complex fuses of the period, with more than 105 different brass parts !

The name of that fuse, 'I.W.M. Zdr.' - 'Leichte Wurf-Minen Zünder', specified its exclusive use with the bombs of the 77 mm light minenwerfers :

• 77 mm light trench mortars 'lWM', explosive or light gaz shells
• 77 mm light trench mortars mod 1916 lWM n/A, light gaz shells

Entirely built in brass, it was made of a classical revolving discs time system (with the lower mobile disc graduated from 7 to 24 seconds, and a central concutor blocked by a safety pin), and a classical gunpowder grain + stem arming system.

That fuse was a slight modification of the previous IWMZdr, therefore dedicated to light trenchmortars.

The only modifications were :

• a relay-charge screwed on the detonator
• a double rods safety pin

Note that one of the models shown in the pictures shows a strange intermediate disc. It is probably the result of a trench art modification.

This fuse name, 'Z.s.u.m.W.M.' - 'Zünder für schwerer und mitteler Wurf-Minen', specifies its exclusive use with the bombs of the middle and heavy minenwerfers.

The items stamped 'Z.m.W.M.' were strictly dedicated to middle trench mortars :

• 170 mm middle trench mortars mWM 13 or o/A, explosive, incendiary or gaz shells
• 170 mm middle trench mortars mWM 16 or n/A, explosive, incendiary or gaz shells
• Smooth 180 mm bomb-laucher (Projector), gaz or blue-crossed shells
• 250 mm heavy trench mortars sWM, explosive long shells, explosive or gaz half-bombs
• 250 mm heavy trench mortars sWM 16 or n/A, long explosive bombs.

made of brass, like the small IWMZ item of the 77 mm minenwerfer, this fuse is also composed of a classical time-delayed disc mechanism, where the mobile inferior disc is graduated from 7 to 21 seconds, with central concutor blocked by a safety pin. Some models have a centrifugal force security.

A symetrical percussion system with two opposite starters and percussion pins (to the front and to the rear) made sure the explosion occured whenever the shell felt on his back or on the nose (but theoritically not on the side !).

That fuse could be covered with an aluminium or thin steel cap for hiding the flames during night time use.

This fuse name, 'Z.s.W.M' - 'Zünder für Schwerer Wurf-Minen', specifies its exclusive use with the projectiles of the higher calibre minenwerfers of the beginning of the WW1 :

• Heavy trench mortars sWM, cal. 250 mm, elongated explosive bombs or gaz half-bombs

Made with brass and aluminium head, it had, like the fuse above, a symetrical percussion system with two opposite starters and percussion pins (to the front and to the rear) making sure that the explosion occured whenever the shell felt on his back or on the nose. The time-delay mechanism was a classical disc mechanism, where the mobile superior disc was graduated from 1 to 15 seconds.

A safety pin and a hat were protecting the percussion system during the handling and transport

This fuse has been replaced by the here above ZsumWM fuse

This time again, the German spelling of this fuse is quite clear : 'Boden Zunder' means 'bottom fuse'.

It was then a fuse that was screwed on the bottom of heavy explosive shells, whose nose cone was massive to improve the penetrating properties of the projectile.

This fuse was mainly used with the projectiles of the :

• 130 mm guns (explosive shells)
• 150 mm guns on coast mounting Mle 97 (explosive shells)
• 210 mm mortars 'Morser' (explosive shells)
• 280 mm coast howitzers (explosive shells)

Entirely made of brass, this fuse has two percussion systems aligned in the same central axial canal, blocked by a bolt hold by a grain powder ignited by the departure gazes.

In the case of a non-delayed function, programmed by a positionning of the bottom lever on the 'o/V' mark, both the percussion systems are freed at the departure. At the arrival, the top percussion systems hits its percussion pin at the same time than the rear percussion system hits its own. This latter instantaneously ignites the detonator charge.

In the case of a delayed function, programmed by a positionning of the bottom lever on the 'M/V' mark, only the top percussion system is freed at the departure. At the arrival, it is projected against its percussion pin, and ignites a 0.3 seconds delay charge, before igniting the detonator.

A complementary security system hides the relay-charge into a safety room at rest. Only the arrival shock allowed to place that relay-charge in front of the windows communicating with the detonator.

1910 evolution of the Bd Z 06 fuse dated 1906, the Bd Z 10 fuse had three different selectable delays. This fuse was mainly used with the projectiles of the :

• 130 mm guns (explosive shells)
• 150 mm guns on protected mounting (explosive shells)
• 150 mm guns on coast mounting Mle 97 (explosive shells)
• 210 mm binded guns (explosive shells)
• 210 mm mortars 'Morser' (explosive shells)
• 280 mm coast howitzers (explosive shells)

This fuse only has a single percussion system, massive, parallel to the axis, with a fixed percussion pin at the top. The flame of this percussion system can be communicated to the detonator via three different ways : one way without delay, one way with a short delay, and one way with a loger delay.

These ways are selected by a selection lever at the bottom of the fuse (positions 0/V, 1/V and 2/V)

The principal percussion system is blocked at rest by a safety pin with spring resting on a black powder grain. This grain is ignited at the departure by the combustion gazes in the gun tube, via windows made in a disc at the fuse base.

The fuse named 'kz BdZ10' is a modified verion with a shortened relay-charge (25 g. picric acid instead of 100 g.)