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| BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| Part 1 - Chapter 2 |
| Fragmentation Bombs |
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F. 20-lb., Stabilized, Mks I and II (Obsolescent), Mk III (Service), and Mk IV (Obsolecent) |
| Data |
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Fuzing |
Nose Pistol No. 29, 34, 38, or 45; Nose Fuze No. 873 |
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Color markings |
Dark green over-all; ½-in. red band around nose; 1-in. light green band 4 in from nose |
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Over-all length |
21.8 in. |
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Body length |
11.9 in. |
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Body diameter |
3.95 in. |
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Wall thickness |
0.35 in. |
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Tail length |
9 in. |
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Tail width |
3.83 in. |
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Total weight |
20 lb. (approx. with pistol) |
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Charge/weight ration |
15% |
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Body Construction: This bomb has a stream-lined, one-piece, cast-steel body, with the nose open to take the exploder container. The rear end is reduced to form a spigot for taking then tail assembly. The boss on the spigot is tapped and threaded to receive the tail-securing rod. The exploder container is cemented in position, and locked by a locking screw. |
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Tail Construction: A cylindrical strut is attached to the tail cone by four fins. The tail is secured to the body by a tail rod screwed into a boss on the body spigot, and passing through a threaded adapter on the narrow end of the tail cone. The locking nut and spring washer at both the outer and inner ends of the rod lock it in position. |
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Suspension |
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Mk I – Carried 12 in Small Bomb Container, or on Light Series bomb carrier if fitted with a suspension lug. |
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Mk II – Carried 12 in Small Bomb Container, or on Light Series bomb carrier if fitted with suspension lug or band. |
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Mk III – Suspension lug welded in bomb body at center of gravitiy for carrying on Light Series bomb carrier; can be carried 12 in Small Bomb Container. |
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Explosive Components |
| Detonators – (See Part 2, chap. 4, Detonators.) |
| Exploders – C.E. and TNT pellets (C.E. only being used now). |
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Filling – 3.3 lb. TNT or RDX/TNT. (When RDX/TNT is used, a ¼-in. to 3/8-in. topping of TNT is used in the nose.) |
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Remarks: The Small Bomb Container, 160 lb. contains eight of these bombs. The Small Bomb Container, 250 lb., will hold 12 of these bombs. These bombs are no longer being manufactured. However, they may be encountered in the field. They are being re-placed by the 8-lb.-fragmentation bomb. |
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In the Mk IV Bomb the exploder system was changed to use only C.E. pellets, and a special retrader tail was incorporated. |
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Figure 3 – F. 20-lb. Bomb Mk I (Stabilized) |
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