Activators percussion primers

Type 93 A/Tk (Antitank) and A/P (Antipersonnel) Land Mine, known as Tape Measure Mine, was a light metal cylinder 6% inches diam and 1% inches high, filled with 2-lbs of cast PA and Booster of pressed PA. It was activated by pressure on Percussion Primer, located on top of Mine (pp 202—03, Fig 152). Described in Ref 7>, p 183 as Land Mine Model 93 (1933)... 

Primers fall into two categories according to the mode of activation —by impact or by electricity. Impact-initiated primers can in turn be divided into stab primers (detonators) and percussion primers. Electrical initiation is generally performed by means of a heated resistor that in most cases is a short piece of very fine resistance wire. The items are called electric matches, electric primers, squibs, actuators, etc. 

Thermal batteries are activated by applying an external signal to an initiation device that is incorporated in the battery. There are four generally used methods of activation electric signal to an electric igniter mechanical impulse to a percussion primer mechanical shock to an inertial activator and optical energy (laser) signal to a pyrotechnic material. 

Percussion primers are pyrotechnic devices that are activated by impact from a mechanical striking device. Typically, a primer is activated by an impact of 2016 to 2880 g-cm applied with a 0.6 to 1.1 mm spherical radius firing pin. Primers are installed in primer holders that are integral parts of the battery enclosure. 

Electric Primer MK34 Mod O is similar in construction to MK15 primer, except that it is designed for electrical initiation only and cannot be activated by percussion (Ref 52, p 2-129)... 

In an explosive train, that component which, when detonated by the primer, in turn detonates a less sensitive but larger high explosive (usually the booster) or when containing its own primer initiates the detonation. The detonator can be activated by either an explosive impulse (primer) or a non-explosive impulse. When activated by a nonexplosive impulse, the detonator contains its own primer. Detonators are generally classified as percussion, stab, electric, or flash, according to the method of initiation. Explosive charge placed in certain equipment and set to destroy the equipment under certain conditions (-> Initiator). 

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