650-pound Depth Mk 38 (TNT) and Mk 49 (Torpex) (Obsolete)

Over-all length, inches

Body length, inches

Body diameter, inches

Wall thickness, inch

Tail length, inches

Tail width, inches

Filling

Weight of filling

Total weight

Charge/weight ratio

Fuzing

Nose - AN-M103; AN-M103A1 (Instantaneous setting only) with modified arming vane. AN-Mk 219 (Instantaneous).

Athwartship - AN-Mk 224 or AN-Mk 234.

Tail - Mk 229, Mk 229 Mod 3; AN-Mk 230 and Mods.

Body construction: The body is constructed in three pieces, the flat nose and tail piece being welded onto the sheet-steel center tube. The suspension lugs are reinforced with a strip of sheet steel.

Suspension: Horizontal suspension is provided by the usual two suspension lugs, with threaded holes on each side 90° removed to reveice trunnion lugs for the displacement gear of dive bombers.

Color and markings: TNT-loaded bombs have Mark numbers and weight stencilled in yellow; Torpex-loaded bombs have markings in blue.

Tail construction: Four vanes are supported by a circular strut.

Remarks: Nose Fuze AN-Mk 219 will not arm if dropped from under 2,500 feet. An Adapter Mk 219 and an additional Auxiliary Booster Mk 1 must be used with this fuze.

Mk 221 arms with difficulty, and should not be used because of delay.

An extender is supplied with each bomb to permit installation of the Hydrostatic Fuze AN-Mk 224 or AN-Mk 234 in the longer athwartship tube.

Nose Fuzes AN-M103 and AN-M103A1 must have special flat-nose depth-bomb vane.

Because of numerous instances in water crash landings where depth bombs fuzed with the Athwartship Fuze AN-Mk 224 or AN-Mk 234 exploded, these two fuzes have been suspended from use. As a consequence, the 650-pound Depth Bombs Mk 38 and Mk 49 may be used only if a nose impact fuze is installed.

Figure 272. 650-pound Depth Bombs Mk 38 and Mk 49