Description
The EK-2 bomb was developed to meet the needs for a base ejection airburst bomb for the dispersal of liquid agents.
Improvement of the EK-3 bomb required that the entire unit be strengthened. The EK-2 round bomb was therefore developed because of its greater strength and ease of manufacture. The first-round model was designated EK-2, and was constructed by hand and tested by firing the bomb from a mortar and by dropping them from an airplane. The EK-2 used an inertia type fuze, which was made safe by inserting an arming pin between two steel balls and the firing pin. This fuze went through several modifications until it resulted in the fuze used in the EK-4 bomb. These models showed improvement over the EK-3 bomb and the development was continued until functioning was acceptable. This model was designated EK-4.
The EK-4 consists of an inner case made from 2 9/16 inches outer diameter, 20-gauge, steel tubing. A stamped cup containing an impact collar and the filling hole is copper brazed in the nose of the case. The tail cup is also copper brazed in place. This cup has a circular groove stamped in it so that the thickness of the remaining metal is slightly less than half of the wall thickness of the case. The groove weakens the cup to ensure that it would blow open at this point. A compressed black powder train was initially used as the delay fuze for the EK-4 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.
The outer case has a stamped nose cup containing the threaded hole where the fuze is copper brazed in place. A dome-shaped diaphragm absorbs some of the impact of the inner case and provides a chamber for the powder bags. Four oval shaped powder bags are used to eject the inner case.
Three cloth streamers, each 40 inches long and three inches wide, are used to stabilize the bomb while falling. The streamers are hemmed and threaded onto a wire ring which is fastened to a similar ring with three nylon shroud lines ten inches long. These shroud lines increase the effectiveness of the streamers and permit the use of a shorter streamer.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
Bomb, 10 lb Chemical, EK-1, EK-3
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons and Related Materiel Reference Guide (2018)
