M23A1 (Obsolete)

Over-all length, inches

Diameter of case, inches

Weight, pounds

Weight of flash powder, pounds

Fixed delay, seconds

Duration of flash, second

Intensity of flash, candlepower

Release altitude, feet

Use: This bomb is used to provide light of high intensity and short duration for night photography from low altitudes.

Description: The bomb case is made of cardboard and closed with metal ends, one of which is marked "Front" to insure proper loading in the rack. This end contains the hang-wire assembly just before the Fuze Assembly M23A1. The fuze assembly is made up of the friction wires attached to the hang wire, match composition, quick match, delay ele-ment, upper and lower rings, and base ignition charge immediately adjacent to the flash-light powder charge. The hand wire is attached to the arming-wire retainer.

Operation: When the bomb is released, the hang wire remains attached to the arm-ing-wire retainer. As the bomb drops, the hang wire pulls the friction wires through the match composition of the fuze. The hang wire also pulls out the hang-wire container, al-lowing both the hang wire container and the bomb to fall free. The flame from the match composition ignites a piece of quick match, which in turn ignites a delay element. After 15 seconds, the delay element ignites the base charge of the fuze, which sets off the flashlight powder charge. The flash lasts a fifth of a second.

Figure 193. Photoflash Bomb M23A1