Talk:Fuse (explosives)
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Redirect?
Hi - making a change for clarity.
As the article uses the American spelling 'fuze' throughout surely it should be moved to that title with this spelling (fuse) kept as a redirect? Lisiate 21:59, 8 Mar 2005 (UTC)
"Fuze" is NOT "the American spelling," it is the correct spelling for what is a quite distinct and separate word.
This article is mis-named, it is discussing FUZES, note "fuses." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.5.105.137 (talk) 12:46, 9 May 2009 (UTC)
"Fuze" is most certainly an Americanism. Quote from Brittanica.com
"The United States and some other military forces have adopted the “z” spelling for the device in ordnance munitions; the fuze sets off the munition, regulates its functioning, and causes it to perform only under predetermined conditions. It is distinct from the primer or firing pin that initiates the launching of a rocket or artillery shell. Impact fuzes function as they hit the target. Time fuzes delay the functioning for a certain period from the starting time. Command fuzes function on signal from a remote-control point..."
Fuse vs. Fuze
The article is currently rather confusing on the distinction between the two spellings "fuze" and "fuse". It suggests that "fuze" is the correct spelling in the US and the UK, and "fuse" is correct elsewhere (where?). In the five online dictionaries I checked (OED, WordNet, dictionary.com, MSN encarta dictionary, Merriam-Webster) none give this distinction. All of them list "fuze" as an alternative spelling of "fuse" (in the context of an explosive detonator); some claim that it is used "often" or "usually" (but don't give it its own entry).
The following comes from a textbook on explosives, and is repeated in other chemistry textbooks: "Note the spelling of fuze: a fuze is a device for initiating the explosion of high-explosive shells or of bombs, shrapnel, mines, grenades, etc; a fuse is a device for communicating fire." - Davis, The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives, Angriff (1972). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 169.234.118.181 (talk) 06:50, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
"Fuse," as stated below, is a simple delay device like a burning section of blackpowder-filled cord. A "fuze" is a sophisticated delay or target-sensing initiator such as a mechanical-time or variable time fuze, a proximity-sensing fuze or similar.
This is current and previous (of long standing) US military usage. It may be otherwise in British or other English-language military usage, but if so, I have not observed it.
Google is not an adequate source. Check the nomenclature used in any of the US military Field Manuals and Technical Manuals; they quite consistently use those spellings for those different categories. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.5.105.137 (talk) 12:40, 9 May 2009 (UTC)
An older version of this page claimed that "fuse" was for simple detonators (like the cord on a firecracker) and "fuze" was for actual detonating devices. It was taken out with a comment about "artificial distinction". Some cursory Googling supports this usage.
What is the real distinction, if any? --Andrew 22:12, Mar 8, 2005 (UTC)
- The distinction you took out is exactly what I was taught in my military service, i.e. fuSe is a piece of safety fuse or similar material which burns down at a set rate to provide a simple pyrotechnic time delay to a charge, while a fuZe is a complex device used to control the detonation of an explosive weapon. However a few google tests do not support this as being a common usage, at least in Internet land; in every word combination I tried, fuZe came up as much rarer than fuSe. It might be most correct then to say that fuZe is used mainly by military ordnance types. Securiger 15:30, 20 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Just to clarify: I didn't take it out, and in fact, I favour your usage (since I think it's what people who know what they're talking about use). --Andrew 23:04, Apr 4, 2005 (UTC)
- My apologies, I misparsed "It was taken out" as passive voice! Securiger 17:23, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
Isn't 'fuze' just another Americanism, like 'analyze'? My Oxford English dictionary says fuze is the American spelling of fuse. I had not heard of a fuze, until I stumbled across this page. Sprintstar 14:48, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
- Well, I'm Australian. Securiger 17:23, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
No,
Fuze and fuse are NOT interchangeable, nor an Americanism. In addition to NATO, most unfriendly nations also agree that a fuse is different from fuze. Military usage supercedes common usage. As a Bomb Tech, I see our usage as no different than if we were arguing a plumbing term. I would trust the plumbers over a dictionary.
-Shawn srh@esper.com 7/4/2005
Here are some sources from the US Gov. that deal with fuzes
- MIL-STD-331 Fuze And Fuze Components, Environmental And Performance Tests For
- MIL-HDBK-777 Fuze Catalog Procurement Standard And Development Fuze Explosive Components
and these sources are ratified by other countries in NATO
- NATO STANAG 4369 Design Requirements for Inductive Setting of Large Calibre Projectile Fuzes
- NATO AOP-22 Design Criteria and Test Methods for Inductive Setting of Electronic Projectile Fuzes
- NATO STANAG 2916 Nose Fuze Contours and Matching Projectile Cavities for Artillery and Mortar Projectiles
The tiles to these documents can be found by seaching here. This site also in lists some other standards with fuze in title.--138.162.0.43 19:02, 23 December 2005 (UTC)
General dictionaries describe how words and spellings are used by populations at large, which includes the mentally lazy and ill-informed. This implies that if a population constantly mis-spells or misuses a word or phrase, that is what the dictionary must and does list. It is not an authority on correct usage. I agree with the poster above, about trusting the plumber's usage of his specialist terms - and militaries in English-speaking countries use fuze for gadgets to ignite ammo. z = bang. No confuzion. So in Wikipedia articles specifically about ordnance and ammo, z is the way to go. Rcbutcher (talk) 12:55, 8 May 2008 (UTC)
Remove merge recommendation
Can we remove the merge articles suggestion, as it's clearly in error and a result of someone's fuse/fuze confusion? I will do it in a week if nobody objects. Georgewilliamherbert 03:20, 28 August 2005 (UTC)
I agree that the merge articles suggestion should be removed 138.162.0.41 13:20, 9 November 2005 (UTC)


