General

In this publication British bombs are classified according to their type and usage. Each chapter of Part 1 deals with a separate type - or closely related types - of bombs in ser-vice use, with the exception of the chapters on miscellaneous bombs and obsolete bombs. The chapter on miscellaneous bombs includes two bombs which do not fall under the regular British classifications; while the chapter on obsolete bombs includes British bombs which have been declared obsolete and withdrawn from service.

Designation and Classification of British Bombs

British bombs are designated by purpose, weight, and mark number. British mark num-bers, which are always written in Roman numerals, correspond roughly to the modifica-tion numbers used by the U.S. Navy, while the British weight designation corresponds to the U.S. Naval mark number. Minor changes in marks of British bombs are indicated by various symbols, consisting of lower case letters, capital letters, or asterisks.

The classification according to purpose is generally indicated by the initials of the specific type. Thus, there is a series of antisubmarine bombs designated "A.S.", a series of general purpose bombs designated "G.P.", semi-armor-piercing bombs designated "S.A.P.", aircraft depth charges designated "D.C.", etc. Occasionally, when no appropri-ate initials can be used, the complete name of the bomb type is employed in the desig-nation, as "Smoke", "Practice", etc.

Therefore, in order to describe a British bomb completely, the use, weight class, and mark number must be given in that sequence; e.g. G.P. 250-lb. Mk V; I.B. 30-lb. Mk IV; Smoke 500-lb. Mk I; S.A.P. 500-lb. Mk IIC.

The following are the type classification of British bombs and the initials used to indi-cate them

Fragmentation Bombs

General Purpose Bombs

Medium Capacity Bombs

High Capacity Bombs

Deep Penetration Bombs

Semi-Armor-Piercing Bombs

Armor-Piercing Bombs

Antisubmarine Bombs

Aircraft Depth Charges

Buoyancy Bombs

Incendiary Bombs

Smoke Bombs

Chemical Bombs

Practice Bombs

Infantry Training Bombs

Target Identification Bombs

Anti-Tank Bomb

A.T.

Construction of British Bombs

British bombs generally are highly stream-lined, although the later designs, such as the M.C. bombs, are parallel sided, resembling the American G.P. bombs in external ap-pearance. G.P. and M.C. bombs are usually of cast, one-piece construction, although some M.C. bombs may be built up in welded sections of cast or forged steel. S.A.P. and A.P. bombs are always forged in one piece and heat-treated for greater strength. The exteriors of these bombs are well machined. H.C. bombs are of thin-walled, "boiler plate" construction.

Fillings of British Bombs

A great variety of main fillings are used by the British. The most common, however, are the following: Amatol for G.P., M.C., and H.C. types; TNT for S.A.P.; and "Shellite" for A.P. bombs. RX/TNT combinations are also commonly employed in M.C. and H.C. bombs. Current fillings are 60/40 Amatol for H.C. bombs, and desensitized Pentolite or RDX/TNT for all others.