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81 mm illuminating bomb S3A3
Region
Italy
Category
Ammunition, Missiles and precision weapons
Armament 81 mm TDA and similar medium-pressure mortars. Development By Simmel Difesa for Italian Army mortars and for export. Description This is similar to the base ejection HC smoke bomb S5A1 described previously, differing only in its payload. This consists of a folded parachute and an illuminating flare container carried below the pusher plate in the forebody. The flare container, mouth upwards, is immediately below the pusher plate. The folded parachute is surrounded by two curved metal supports. These serve
to transmit pressure from the flare container to the steel plate in the bottom of the forebody. When the time fuze functions, it fires the expelling charge, and the explosion pressure pushes on the flare container and, via the two metal supports and the bottom disc, against the tailcone of the body. This shears the attachment pins and the tailcone and fin unit are thrown clear. The flame from the expelling charge ignites the illuminating composition inside the flare container and the pressure pushes the container, parachute and supports out of the bomb body. The supports fall away, the parachute deploys and the flare is lowered to the ground, delivering area illumination during its fall. Manufacturer Simmel Difesa SpA.