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 Author  Topic: MK. XIII TORPEDO IGNITION
Steve Tuhy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Steve Tuhy   Send Email To Steve Tuhy Posted on: Mar 26, 2011 - 8:49pm
I KNOW THAT WHEN THE STARTER TOGGLE WAS LIFTED (PULLED) THE COMPRESSED AIR AND ALCOHOL VALVES WERE OPENED AND THE OILPUMPS, FUEL PUMPS AND GYROS WERE SET IN MOTION. MY QUESTION IS ' WHAT WAS THE METHOD OF FUEL/AIR IGNITION? WAS IT A 'QUICKMATCH' OR FLINT AND STEEL COMBINATION?

Steve Tuhy

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 5:41am
Go here:http://www.hnsa.org/doc/torpedo/part2.htm#pg55. This is the manual for the MK14 torpedo, a contemporary of the MK13. Both were steam-powered and may have had similar ignition systems.

Al Ross


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 8:49am
Steve and AL,
Here is the section from the Mk13 Tech manual. Jerry






Jerry Gilmartin

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Steve Tuhy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Steve Tuhy   Send Email To Steve Tuhy Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 9:14am
THANKS AL. FROM WHAT I COULD GET FROM THE MANUAL, 250 PSI AIR PUSHES ON THE DIAPHRAM UNTIL IT RELEASES THE DUAL FIRING PINS AGAINST THE PRIMER CAPS. THE FLASH FROM THE PRIMER CAPS GOES DOWN THE FLASH TUBES AND IGNITES THE END OF A 'QUICKMATCH' OR SOLID ROCKET TYPE GRAIN. THE PRESSURE FROM THE COMBUSTION POPS OFF THE METALLIC SEAL. THE ENDBURNING GRAIN PROVIDES IGNITION FOR THE FUEL/AIR/ WATER MIXTURE IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER THROUGHOUT THE RUN. IS THAT ABOUT IT?

Steve Tuhy

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Steve Tuhy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Steve Tuhy   Send Email To Steve Tuhy Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 9:20am
THANKS GERRY. THE IGNITOR LASTS ABOUT TEN SECONDS.
I WOULD HAVE GOT IT RIGHT AFTER READING YOUR MATERIAL, BUT I WAS STUDYING AL'S MANUAL.
THANKS AGAIN GENTELMEN.

Steve Tuhy

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 10:04am
Thanks, Gerry. Here are the relevant pages from the MK14 manual:




I'd be happy to scan the MK13 manual if you're willing to loan it....??

Al Ross


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 12:05pm
Hi Al and Steve,
From reading the text of both manuals, it seems that they work about the same way, so I bet that Al surmised correctly that they are pretty much the identical parts. I wish there was a better photograph of it! Anyway, Al I wrote you an email about scanning the Mk13 Manual. Good detective work Steve! I wonder what the actual chemical substance was for this "quickfuse" stuff. Solid rocket fuel made from what? Any ideas you guys?

Jerry Gilmartin

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Steve Tuhy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Steve Tuhy   Send Email To Steve Tuhy Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 1:06pm
I'M JUST GUESSING, BUT IT MIGHT BE A COMPRESSED GRAIN OF SMOKELESS PROPELLANT OR COMPRESSED BLACK POWDER. AS LONG AS THE GRAIN HAS NO CRACKS OR AIR BUBBLES IN IT, IT WILL BURN LIKE ROCKET FUEL. I'M LEANING TOWARD BLACK POWDER. ( I'M A CHEAPSKATE).

Steve Tuhy

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 1:22pm
Quote:

I wish there was a better photograph of it! Jerry Gilmartin



Jerry,

The photos on the HNSA site are much clearer than what I uploaded, so you might want to visit it.

Al Ross



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TGConnelly

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 1:26pm
I BELIEVE it was black powder Steve.

I mean, wasn't that what flashed up sometimes and gave the boat's position away?

Isn't that one of the reasons why the PTs went to the Mark XIII torpedoes in roll-off racks? Yeah, I realize another reason was to save weight with the added guns ...

But wasn't the flashing issue another factor?


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