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us navy hand fired flares.
- Thread starter slumpy
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mkk41
US Veteran
Yep , know them well as they were in my gear as a Navy P-3 Aircrewman. I still have a few of the launchers. Basically a big zip-gun. Not very powerful , and don't think flares are available commercially. Held straight up , flare hit adound 500-600 ft.
mkk41
US Veteran
Yep , actually IIRC , they contain 2 red pyrotechnic balls.
canoeguy
US Veteran
You also want to store the flare projector in the "Cocked" position, if you screw a flare into the projector while it is in the "Fired" position (which you show in the picture), the flare will fire....
I was a P-3 Aircrewman as well, we got to fire the Flare Projector in training, SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) School in California. One of my instructors in SERE School shot flares at every jackrabbit he saw, he finally hit one and the flare just bounced off the rabbit, so they are probably not a good defensive weapon.
I was a P-3 Aircrewman as well, we got to fire the Flare Projector in training, SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) School in California. One of my instructors in SERE School shot flares at every jackrabbit he saw, he finally hit one and the flare just bounced off the rabbit, so they are probably not a good defensive weapon.
rburg
Member
I've got one someplace. It was the commercial model, and I've got (from memory) a few of the original tear gas cartridges (as shown) and a few later model gas cartrdiges (black).
I've also got a NATO launcher with both flares (red and green) and I used to have some report signals. Just flying M80s as I recall. We used all of those while out playing in the woods.
I've also got a NATO launcher with both flares (red and green) and I used to have some report signals. Just flying M80s as I recall. We used all of those while out playing in the woods.
canoeguy
US Veteran
I have never seen replacement flares offered for sale, when I was in the Navy I used to get expired flares from the Parachute Riggers who maintaned that sort of thing, since leaving the Navy I haven't seen any spare flares, I think there are regulations about disposing of them properly.
rburg
Member
I still see them from time to time at the larger gun shows. They're not cheap when they do appear. There was one this fall, and I think the seller wanted $60 for the launcher and 3 flares.
A few years back a guy had an entire display of Penguin flares and launchers. It probably had a dozen on the display type card (the kind with a fold out section that acted as a leg. I kind of remember them from the 1960s in gun stores. But that seller wanted $1800 for the lot of them.
I'd suggest you not shoot it.
A few years back a guy had an entire display of Penguin flares and launchers. It probably had a dozen on the display type card (the kind with a fold out section that acted as a leg. I kind of remember them from the 1960s in gun stores. But that seller wanted $1800 for the lot of them.
I'd suggest you not shoot it.
They're fun to shoot!! I was an AO2 on the USS America.. We stored them for the P-3 guys.
sheriffoconee
Member
I have two launchers and a variety of flares that fit it....I will take some pics tomorrow and post....
I got out in 1984 with some expierd flares. From what I remember, I shot mine off within 3 years of that with no problems.
sheriffoconee
Member
I fired a flare three nights ago dated 72......it worked just fine
squidsix
Member
these things are in the pilothouse of every floating gray USS out there. We use them all the time. i dislike the pencil launcher (everyone calls them pencil flares) but the flares are surprising for their size.
Better, and becoming much more prolific, are the 40mm flares. Easy to fire out of the 203 grenade launcher, and they are brighter and shoot farther.
Better, and becoming much more prolific, are the 40mm flares. Easy to fire out of the 203 grenade launcher, and they are brighter and shoot farther.
Had one back in the 70's and it worked great! Fired red pyro several hundred feet into the air. Used be able to buy the replacement cartridges for these, and I kept mine in my "survival gear". Probably still have the darn thing somewhere. I don't see these as more than a curio, though - value wise.
XAVMECH
XAVMECH
sheriffoconee
Member
sheriffoconee
Member
the long, thinner flares are dated 8-66....one of the short fat ones is dated 72, and the other knurled flare on top has no date....powder is some smokeless type....I have another complete set that hasn't been touched in the safe...
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