Description
This bomb was designed to meet the needs for a base ejection airburst bomb for the dispersal of liquid agents.
The bomb was developed from a modified hexagonal M69 bomb case to give improved dispersion of H by adding an inner canister, which was ejected upon impact, and burst at a height of 100 to 250 feet.
The modified M69 bombs were designated EK-1. The delay fuze used in the EK-1 bomb consisted of a holder and a short length of safety fuze, held in place by means of two screws and half-washers. A piece of Navy No. 1 quick match was fastened to both ends of the fuze, and the ends were covered with a mixture of collodion and Type II fuze powder.
The design of the EK-1 bomb was modified to increase the strength of the inner case and to facilitate its commercial manufacture. This model was designated EK-3.
A stamped nose plate replaced the flat nose plate so the assembly could be copper brazed. The tail cup was soft soldered in place, so that tail ejection of the agent would occur.
A compressed black powder train was initially used as a fuze for the EK-3 but later, a short length of lead covered spitter fuze was substituted for the loose powder and was pressed into the holder. The ends of the powder train were exposed and one end was coated with a booster mixture.
It was apparent from impact tests that the EK-1 and EK-3 were not suitable due to the inner case deformation upon impact.
The EK-3 was used with quick opening cluster (M4-adapter-14 bombs) or 500-pound aimable cluster (E22R2 adapter- 38 bombs)
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Bomb, 6 lb Incendiary, AN-M69, AN-M69X, E1
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons and Related Materiel Reference Guide (2018)
