Description
The Bomb Mk I consists of a cylindrical steel tube secured to a hollow, sharp pointed nose by a nose adapter (built up externally to streamlined form by a cardboard fairing), a column of seven closed containers, termed fire-pots, accommodated in the body tube, a flanged base adapter which affords a mounting for a cap holder, a tail cone with a cylindrical tail vane secured to it by four vane supports, and a tail tube which accommodates a striker pellet, with a shear wire and creep spring, and a safety rod.
Each of the seven fire pots consists of a cylindrical container made of magnesium alloy and formed with a central tube, which communicates, through a fire hole, with a recess in a central boss on the base of the container. The container is closed by a magnesium alloy lid, which has a shallow central recess in its outer side. Holes through the lid place this recess in communication with the interior of the container. The ignition cap contains a layer of gunpowder and a layer of detonating composition.
The central tube of each of the fire-pots houses a delay charge and is surrounded by a delay charge and a priming charge for the thermite and magnesium filling, which occupies the remainder of the annular chamber in the fire-pot. A loop of quickmatch extends into the bore of the central tube and has its two ends carried out through the slots in the tube and through two of the holes in the lid. An ejection charge of gunpowder is retained in the recess in a central base, which is secured in position by shellac.
The tail cone fits over the flange of the base adapter and is held assembled to the bomb body by a tail nut, which screws onto the rear end of the tad tube against a tail adapter. The tail adapter fits into the tear end of the tail cone.
The striker pellet has a sharp point al the forward end and is held in the safe position by a shear wire passed through holes in the striker pellet and tail tube. The ends of the shear wire are soldered to prevent removal. The rear end of the striker pellet receives the forward threaded end of the safety rod. The creep spring is housed in the forward end of the tail lube and bears against the cap holder and the striker pellet. The safety rod passes through the tail tube and is screwed into the threaded bore of the striker pellet.
The Bomb Mk II has only a slight difference in the tail plate.
Either a Parachute Attachment No. 1 Mk I or a No. 1 Mk II may be used with this bomb. The Attachment No. 1 Mk I consists of a small parachute housed in a container of sheet metal, consisting of a cylindrical housing plate and a cover. It fits loosely in the cylindrical strut of the bomb tail. The chute is 15 in. in diameter and vented at the peak. The Attachment No. 1 Mk II is similar, except that it is housed in a collapsible cardboard container between cardboard packing discs.
There are two striker attachments, the No. 1 Mk I, and the No. 1 Mk II. No. 1 Mk I consists of a coupling fork, snatch rod. striker rod, coupling socket, and a retaining sleeve, which houses a spring. The No. 1 Mk II is similar, except that the coupling fork is fitted with a quick-release pin.
The bombs may be carried in a Small Bomb Container, or from a bomb carrier by a lug on a suspension band.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
See Also
British Bombs - Designation and Classification
Source(s)
OP 1665, British Explosive Ordnance (1946)
