1. The Smoke Bomb Cluster E44 consists primarily of an M4 cluster adapter, in which fourteen 10-lb. HC Smoke Bombs M77 are secured. The complete cluster, weighing 193 pounds, is issued fully assembled and ready for installation in the airplane.

2. The cluster adapter consists of two parallel channelized bars; one forms the base of the adapter while the other, termed the suspension bar, affords means for attaching the cluster to a rack or shackle. Two twin steel end plates at right angles to the bars com-plete the adapter frame. The bombs are held within the adapter in two bundles of seven, each bundle being supported by two steel bands circumscribing the cluster. The ends of the bands are brought together above the suspension bar and secured by a buckle-type fastener. When packed for shipping the buckles are prevented from opening by both the arming wire and safety wire. Upon installation, the safety wire is withdrawn and the swi-vel loop of the forward arming wire is attached to the arming mechanism of the rack or shackle.

3. Three suspension lugs are set in reinforcing plates directly the upper suspension bar. The lugs are held up by cotter pins inserted just above the suspension bar. When pack-ed in the shipping box, these cotter pins are removed, allowing the lugs to assume a lowered position. The three cotter pins will be found wired to the center suspension lug. Before installation of the cluster is attempted, the cotter pins must be removed from their shipping position and inserted to hold up the desired suspension lugs. That is, if the cluster is to be suspended from a double hook rack or shackle, the center lug will be left in the lowered position and cotter pins inserted through the fore and aft lugs only. If suspension from a single hook rack or shackle is disered, only the center lug is raised and positioned by a cotter pin.

4. When the cluster is released armed, the arming wire is withdrawn, freeing the strap buckles and allowing the bombs (and the cluster adapter) to fall independently toward the intended target. When released safe, the whole cluster plus arming wire is dropped from the rack or shackle and, as the bombs are retained in the cluster, the fuzes cannot arm. If the cluster is not dropped, the safety wire should again be inserted through the holes provided in the buckle-type fasteners and the entire cluster stowed in its original shipping box.

5. Painting and Marking-On one end of the 100-lb. Quick-Opening Cluster E44 the follo-wing is stenciled in black:

Cluster Adapter M4 (100-lb. size)

Cluster, Smoke Bomb, E44 (100-lb. size)

14 10-lb. (HC) M77

FRONT

WT. 193 lbs.

6. Packing - The 100-lb. Quick-Opening Cluster M25 is packed in a watertight cylindrical steel container 40 7/8 inches long and 10¾ inches in diameter (the total weight of the container and contents is approximately 223 pounds). The container is painted olive drab with a ½-inch yellow band painted around the container. The following is stenciled in ½-inch letters on the container:

1-cluster, Smoke Bomb E44 (100-lb. size)

14 10-lb. (HC) M77

Name of contractor

Contract Number - and/or Purchase Order Number

Date Packed

Inspection Number

Case Number

Lot Number

Navy Requisition Number

CWS Mfg. Order No. 1