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| U.S. EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| PART 6 - BOMBS AND BOMB FUZES |
| Chapter 17 - EXPLOSIVE BOMBS |
| Section 4 - NAVY "MK" SERIES |
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Cluster Adapter Mk 3 Mod 0 |
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General: The Cluster Adapter Mk 3 Mod 0 is used to cluster three bombs for external suspension on V.B.F.-type aircraft. The purpose of this cluster is to increase the bomb-load capacity of fighter planes. Five types of bombs may be used with this adapter, as outlined below: |
| Bombs | Weight of Cluster (pounds) |
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| 3-100-pound G.P. AN-M30A1 | 364 | |
| 3-90-pound Frag. M82 | 300 | |
| 3-220-pound Frag. AN-M88 | 688 | |
| 3-260-pound Frag. M81 | 800 | |
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3-100-pound Incend. AN-M47A2 |
340 |
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The adapter consists of a band incorporating a take-up, a frame assembly, and a de-lay opening pistol assembly. |
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Operation: When the cluster is dropped, the arming wire are withdrawn and the pistol and tail fuze vanes are free to rotate. After approximately 45 revolutions of the vanes, the arming screw will thread far enough out to allow the firing-pin release levers to cam in. The firing-pin spring, acting through the firing pin on the firing-pin release levers to cam in. The lower portion of the firing-pin release levers then releases the firing pin, allo-wing it to move aft under action of the firing-pin spring, to striker the percussion cap of the caliber .45 blank cartridge. |
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Explosion of the blank cartridge expels the cartridge chamber and cartridge-chamber plug (as a unit) from the pistol cradle, pulling the two cotter pins out as they are ejec-ted. The cluster band clamps were held together by the clamping action between the cartridge chamber and the pistol cradle, and are now free to open. Through the action of the displacing springs, the three bombs are ejected from the cluster. The bomb tail-fuze arming wires are withdrawn when the cluster falls from the plane, and the bomb nose fuzes are free to arm after being ejected from the cluster, freeing their vanes from the fuze arming safety plate. |
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The air-arming delay-opening pistol requires approximately 45 turns to arm, and will allow the cluster to drop approximately ten feet below the releasing aircraft before func-tioning. Minimum release altitudes for these clusters are the same as those issued by the Chief of Naval Operations for bombs of the size used and fuzes installed plus twenty-five feet to allow for cluster opening. These clusters are safe for take-off and landings any-where, including catapult take-offs and arrested landing. |
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Figure 276. Cluster Adapter Mk 3 Mod 0 |
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