M166 (V.T.)

Bombs

Functioning

Arming time

Fuzes used with

Over-all length, inches

Body diameter, inches

Material

Steel body, plastic top, two aluminum bars athwartships, plastic vanes

General: This is a V.T. fuze of the bar type. This fuze is more sensitive to head-on approach to a target than the ring type and less sensitive to "passing" objects. It can be used interchangeable in any bomb which will take the Nose Mechanical Impact Fuze AN-M103A1 when air burst is desired, except in the depth bombs noted above, where the air stream does not give sufficient velocity to the vanes because of the flat nose. At the present stage of development, approximately 85 per cent of the fuzes will function pro-perly on approach to the target; a small percentage will be incorperative; and the re-mainder will function spontaneously after arming but before approaching the target.

Operation: Similar to the T50 type.

Remarks: Arming may be further delayed by use of Air-Travel Arming Delay M1. The device clamps onto a bracket, preventing the vane locking arm from releasing the vanes until the pre-set air travel on the M1 device has been completed.

This fuze has a safety pin running along-side the booster to secure the detonator ro-tor in the unarmed position. Before installation in a bomb, the safety pin should be remo-ved and reinserted. If it cannot be reinserted, the fuze is armed or partially armed and should be destroyed.

The bars of this fuze should not be used to tighten the fuze into the bomb and should be carefully protected from strain or shock. This fuze is not generally recommended for use in bombs less than 10 inches in diameter, because of the possibility of damaging the bars in "bombing up" the plane and in releasing the bombs. Damage to the bars will cause a mal-functioning of the fuze. A few fuzes of this type were issued as the T51 with a 4,500-foot minimum S.A.T. but with other characteristics identical to the M166 (T51E1).

Modifications now in development on this fuze provide for a sensitivity control switch which will allow for two settings, and a strengthening of the metal bars so that they will stand 400 pounds of troque and allow their being used as a wrench in inserting the fuze.

Figure 354. V.T. Fuze M166