Mk 72 Mod 1

Length, inches

Diameter, inches

Filling

Total weight, pounds

Fuzing

Construction: This target identifiaction bomb consists of two units, a sheet-steel bomb body casing and a parachute assembly packed in a molded container or pack which is attached to the bomb body by means of four bajonet joints. The parachute pack hou-ses a four-foot baseball-type parachute, the chute shroud lines, the load cables, the ig-niter cable, and a static cord which extends out of the top of the pack. Bomb body cas-ing contains a base block in the tail which incorporates the igniter assembly, 12 vent ho-les, and four eye bolts. Load cables are attached to the eye bolts; igniter cable is atta-ched to the pull-type igniters. Between base block and the nose are the upper and lower candle assemblies.

Suspension: Horizontal suspension is provided by two lugs 14 inches apart, welded onto suspension bands which are bolted to the bomb case.

Operation: Upon release of the bomb, the static cord is retained by the rack or shackle to which it is attached. The static cord, through a series of short lines inside the pack, removes the molded cover of the pack and pulls the parachute out. After the para-chute is out, the static cord separates from the parachute and is retained by the rack or shackle. As parachute opens, the igniter cable jerks out the four pull igniters, which ig-nite the primers. The primers ignite the firecracker fuse running through the upper cand-le, which in turn ignites the candle. The candle burns from the inside toward the outside, evolving colored smoke that permeates holes in the candle case and escape through vent holes in the bomb case. The lower candle is ignited by the firecracker fuse about the time the upper candle burns out.

The total burning time is approximately five minutes, during which time the bomb pro-duces a red-orange smoke in sufficient volume to be seen at 15,000 feet for 10 miles, under normal conditions.

Remarks: Target Identinfication Bomb Mk 72 Mod 1 is used by air-coordinator planes or by scout planes from battleships to pin-point shore targets.

This colored smoke marker is for use over land only, as the bomb does not float.

Greatest accuracy can be obtained by releasing the bomb from altitude of 500 to 1,000 feet.

This bomb can be carried on all external double-suspension racks and shackles. In ad-dition to the use of this bomb on double-suspension racks or shackles, it can be suspen-ded from the Bomb Adapter Mk 5 Mod 0 (used with Launchers Mk 5 and Mods) when that item is available. These bombs have been successfully released from external suspension on all types of planes in any flight attitude. They can successfully withstand catapult launching and arrested landings.

Figure 189. Target Identification Bomb Mk 72 Mod 1