ALLIED BOMBS AND FUZES

SIZE:

R.A.F. 550 lb. Mark I

TYPE:

G.P.-H.E. Bomb

R.L. 550 lb. Mark I

TARGET:

General Bombardement

FUZES:

R.A.F. (Nose):
D.A. No. 8 Mk. I
D.A. No. 19 Mk. I or II

R.L. (Nose):
D.A. No. 19 Mk. I or II
D.A. No. 20 Mk. I, II or III

Both (Tail):
No. 5B Mk. I or II

DATA

R.A.F. Mark. I

R.L.Mark. I

1

OVERALL LENGTH

61.1 inches

60.8 inches

2

LENGTH OF BODY

46.5 inches

42.0 inches

3

DIAMETER OF BODY

15.0 inches

15.0 inches

4

THICKNESS OF WALL

0.9 inch

0.9 inch

5

MATERIAL OF WAL

Steel

Steel

6

CONSTRUCTION OF BODY

Bomb body is constructed of a streamlined single-piece, steel casting threaded at the nose and tail to receive the adapters which hold the central exploder tube in position.

7

TYPE OF SUSPENSION

These bombs are always suspended horizotally.

8

CONSTRUCTION OF SUSPENSION LUG

A U-shaped eyebolt is rivet-ted to a suspension band passing around the body of the bomb.

A U-shaped eyebolt is atta-ched to the body near the center of gravity by four cap screws or bolts.

9

COLOR & MARKINGS ON BOMB AND TAIL

The bomb case and tail assembly are painted yellow; the bomb case having a green band around the largest diameter and a red band around the nose. If the filling is T.N.T., "Totryl" is stencilled in three places on the green band or if Amatol is used, the fraction "80/20" appears in three places on the green band.

10

LENGTH OF TAIL

21.0 inches

24.0 inches

11

WIDTH OF TAIL

15.0 inches

15.0 inches

12

MATERIAL OF TAIL

Mild steel

Mild steel

13

CONSTRUCTION OF TAL

The tail assemblies for these are very similar differing only in profile of tail cylinder and in the method of attaching as-sembly to bomb case. The tail consists of four vanes atta-ched to a clamping band (R.A.F. Mk.) or rivetted to the tail adapter; a cylinder around the vanes, the cylinder having cut-out sections; and stiffening rings at top and bottom of cylinder.

14

WEIGHT OF FILLING

15

TYPE OF FILLING

Two types of fillings may be used in these bombs:
1) Amatol, 80/20, filling or; 2) T.N.T. filling.

16

WEIGHT OF FILLING

1) 157.0 lbs.
2) 200.0 lbs.

17

TOTAL WEIGHT OF BOMB

1) 523.0 lbs.
2) 566.0 lbs.

18

CHARGE/WEIGHT RATIO

1) 30.0%
2) 35.4%