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ALLIED BOMBS AND FUZES |
| PART II - U.S. BOMB FUZES |
| A. ARMY FUZES |
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FUZE DATA |
FILE NO.: 2111.B5 |
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NATIONALY: U.S. Army. |
INFORMATION DATE: Sept. 1943 |
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DESIGNATION: |
M-108, and |
TYPE OF MISSILE: |
Chemical bombs |
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M-108 modified |
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CLASSIFICATION: |
Mechanical Impact |
PRINICPAL MARKINGS: |
Nose Bomb |
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- Nose Fuze |
Fuze M-108 |
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MARKINGS: |
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Nose Bomb Fuze M-108 appears on striker band. |
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BOMB USED IN: |
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100 lb. M-47 Series Chemical Bomb. |
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DATA |
M-108 & M-108 Mod. |
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1 |
COLOR |
Brass body; unpainted steel striker. |
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2 |
OVERALL LENGTH |
2.6 inches. |
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3 |
OVERALL WIDTH |
1.3 inches. |
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4 |
MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION |
Cadmium or zinc plated steel striker. Brass fuze body. |
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5 |
PARTS |
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1 |
Safety Block |
8 |
Shear wire | |
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2 |
Safety block spring |
9 |
Firing pin | |
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3 |
Safety block holder |
10 |
Fuze body | |
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4 |
Striker |
11 |
Locking balls and springs | |
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5 |
Arming pin spring |
12 |
Primer | |
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6 |
Arming pin |
13 |
Upper detonator | |
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7 |
Arming wire or cotter |
14 |
Lower detonator |
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6 |
DESCRIPTION |
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The M-108 and M-108 Modified are the construction and principle, the only diffe-rence being that the M-108 Modified has a safety block (1) inserted between the striker head and the fuze body. The body is cylindrical with a channel in the cen-ter to receive the striker (4). The striker head protrudes 0.6 inches above the fuze body in the unarmed position. A hole passes horizontally through the fuze body and the striker. The spring loaded arming pin (6) is inserted in this hole. The M-108 Modified has a small metal plate (3) which is placed behind the arming wire (7) and extends up to the striker head to hold the safety block in place. A light copper shear wire (8) passes through the striker (4). The primer (12) is a push fit into the bottom of the fuze below the striker. Two spring loaded steel balls (11) protrude on each side. |
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7 |
POSITION AND METHOD OF FIXING IN BOMB |
The fuze is pushed down into the nose of the bomb and held there by two spring loaded ball bearings which pro- trude from the side of the fuze. |
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8 |
FUZES LIKELY TO BE FOUND WITH |
Alone |
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9 |
COMPONENTS OF EXPLOSIVE TRAIN |
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The primer cap at the fuze body; full length of tetryl burster used in M-46 and M-47 bombs. |
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10 |
OPERATION |
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Upon being released from the plane, the arming wire (7) is withdrawn, allowing the spring loaded arming pin (5) to spring out and fall away. Also the metal strip (3) is released, allowing the safety block (1) to fall out; the fuze is then completely ar-med. Upon impact, the striker (4) is forced down, breaking the shear wire (8) and the firing pin (9) strikes the primer cap (12) detonating the bomb. |
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11 |
ARMING TIME FUNCTIONING TIME |
Instantaneous on release from plane. |
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Note |
The M-126 is replacing the M-108. |
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