Spotting Charges (Army)

M1A1

Over-all length, inches

Diameter, inches

Weight, pounds

Black-powder charge, pounds

Bomb used in

Fuze

Integral inertia-type

This type of spotting charge fits in the after end of the 100-pound Practice Bomb M38A2. It produces a flash of flame and white smoke for observaton of bombing accura-cy. When assembled in the bomb, the can of the charge protrudes two to three inches out of the bomb body.

The fuze is an integral part of the spotting charge assembly. When the arming wire is pulled, the spring-loaded arming pin jumps out, leaving the inertia weight supported only by the combination firing pin and creep spring. On impact, the inertia weight drives this firing pin into the shotgun-type primer, which, in turn, ignites the black powder.

Figure 315. Spotting Charge M1A1

M3: The Spotting charge M3 has a 2 1/3-pound dark smoke filling and a black-powder igniter. It is 5/8 inch longer than the Spotting Charge M1A1, but otherwise is like it. The M3, with its dark smoke filler, is well adapted for bombing practice over snow-covered terraun. The black-powder igniter charge contains approximately 425 grains. It is used in the Practice Bomb M38A2.

M5

Over-all length, inches

Diameter, inches

Material

FS filler, fluid ounces

14.4

The Spotting Charge M5 consists of a glass bottle filled with FS smoke mixture. An oridnary bottle cap seals the mixture. The bottle is held to the Practice Bomb M38A2 by a wire tached to the tail vanes. The charge assembly weighs 2.54 pounds.

Figure 316. Spotting Charges M3 (right) and M5 (left)