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Navigation: Fuzes > Bombs, Clusters and Dispensers > United States

Nose, MT, AN-M146, AN-M146A1, M146 (T55E2)

Description

Nose fuzes of this type are armed by mechanical time mechanisms. Detonation after release can be preset; time settings range from 5 to 92 seconds. Should the time setting be greater than flight time of the bomb, impact will cause the fuze to function instantaneously, provided it is armed. It takes air travel of 1000 to 1300 feet to arm these fuzes. Fuzes AN-M145A1, AN-M146A1 and AN-M147A1 are identical except for their boosters. The AN-M146A1 has a booster containing black powder; the AN-M145A1 and AN-M147A1 have boosters containing tetryl and a tetryl lead charge. The fuzes have low temperature clockwork mechanisms. These fuzes are detonator safe. A spinner device to force safety blocks to rotate with the arming vane assures positive ejection of the safety block after the arming sleeve has withdrawn.

Fuze M146E1 is fuze AN-M146 with the booster charge increased from 70 to 100 grains of black powder. Fuze AN-M146E2 is fuze AN-M146E1 with a low temperature clockwork mechanism. Fuze AN-M146E3, which is standardized to become the fuze AN-M146A1, is fuze AN-M146A2 with an added protective finish.

A detonator, a booster lead-in and a booster constitute the explosive components of this type fuze. The detonator is held out of alignment until arming occurs.