1,000-pound Chemical AN-M79

Over-all length, inches

Body length, inches

Body diameter, inches

Wall thickness, inch

Tail length, inches

Tail width, inches

Tail weight, pounds

Filling

Weight of filling, pounds

Total weight, pounds

Charge/weight ratio

Fuzing

Regular missions

Nose: AN-M103A1, AN-M103, M103, M127 (Army only with Adapter Booster M117), M128 (Navy only), M135, M135A1, M136, M136A1, M139, M139A1, AN-M139A1, M140, M140A1, AN-M140A1, M163, M164, M165.

Tail: AN-M102A2, AN-M102A1, M162.

V.T. mission

Nose: T50E4, M166, T82.

Construction: This chemical bomb resembles the 1,000-pound G.P. Bomb AN-M65, taking the same tail assembly, arming wires, and fuzes. The body is of one-piece cast-steel construction and has a steel burster well 2.5 inches in diameter which is placed axially through it and expanded in both the nose and the base plate before welding, thus eliminating any possibility of decomposition of chemical fillers due to the presence of crevices. The base plate differs from that of the standard G.P. bomb in that it is a spe-cial forging welded to the case and containing the Needle Valve M1. it also has a 1.25-inch filling hole closed by a soft iron gasket, a hard steel gasket plug, and a threaded closing plug. The Booster M16 is used in the burster well and consists of a waterproof fiber tube filled with 4.45 pounds of tetrytol. The standard 1,000-pound G.P. tail assemb-ly consists of four fins welded to a sleeve which is held onto the base plate by a locking nut. Horizontal suspension is accomplished by dual lugs 7 inches on either side of the center of garvity, or by a single lug 180° removed at the center of gravity.

Operation: On impact with the ground, the tetrytol booster breaks the bomb case into a few large pieces without causing the chemical agent to "flash". The initial cloud formed by the burst of this bomb, when filled with CG, covers an area of 100 yards in diameter within approximately eight to ten seconds.

Remarks: Attempts to disassemble the bomb or any of its components are to be avoided, except for the fuzes, which may be removed provided it is necessary to return the bomb to storage. Release of the filler is dangerous, and should not be undertaken except under exceptional circumstances. In handling any damaged chemical bombs or in conducting surveillance tests by means of the Needle Valve M1, personnel should be equipped with rubber gloves and a gas mask. The Adapter Booster M115A1 can be used in place of the M115.

Figure 309. 1,000-pound Chemical Bomb AN-M79