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| BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| Part 1 - Chapter 3 |
| General Purpose Bombs |
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G.P. 40-lb. Stabilized, Mks I, II, III (Service) and Mk IV (Obsolescent) |
| 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 1 in. from nose; 1-in light. green band 5½ in. from nose |
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Over-all length |
27.25 in. |
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Body length |
15.90 in. |
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Body diameter |
Mk I 5.01 in; Mks II and III 5.06 in. |
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Wall thickness |
0.47 in. |
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Tail length |
11.4 in. |
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Tail width |
4.88 in. |
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Total weight |
38.5 lb. (Mk III) |
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Charge/weight ratio |
17% |
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Body Construction: The bomb body is made of cast steel. The open nose end is threaded internally to receive an exploder container, which is screwed and cemented in position and locked by a set-screw. The rear end of the bomb is closed and reduced in diameter to form a spigot. A boss on the spigot is drilled and tapped to receive the for-ward threaded end of a tail rod. The exploder container is in the form of a tube closed at one end, the open end of which is threaded internally to take the pistol. |
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Tail Construction: A cylindrical strut is attached to a tail cone by four fins. The tail unit is secured to the body by a tail rod which extends axially through the tail cone. The forward end of the rod, which screws into the central boss on the spigot at the rear of the bomb body, is locked by a spring washer and a lock-nut. The rear end of tail cone is fitted with an internally threaded flanged adapter, which screws on the threaded rear end of tail rod, correctly locating the tail cone on the bomb body. The tail is locked in position by a spring washer and lock-nut screwed against the adapter. |
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Suspension |
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Mk I – Normally carried 6 in the 250-lb. Small Bomb Container, although a limited num-ber have a single suspension lug. |
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Mk II – Normally carried 6 in the 250-lb. Small Bomb Container; may be fitted with a suspension band. |
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MK III – Has a suspension lug, and may be carried 6 in the 250-lb. Small bomb Contai-ner, or on Light Series bomb carriers. |
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Explosive Components |
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Detonator – (See Part 2, chap. 4 Detonators.) |
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Exploders – TNT (1 oz. 7 dr.) and C.E. (4 oz. 6 dr.) retained by a waxed felt washer. |
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Filling – Mk I, 6.3 lb. Amatol 80/20; Mk II, 6.5 lb. TNT, or 6.7 lb. RDX/TNT 60/40; Mk III, 6.5 lb. Amatol 60/40, or 6.7 lb. of RDX/TNT 60/40. |
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Remarks: This bomb is ussually used as a fragmentation bomb, being almost identical to the 20-lb. fragmentation bomb, except for size. |
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The exploder system of the Bomb Mk IV was changed to use only C.E. pellets, and a special retrader tail was incorporated. |
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Figure 7 – G.P. 40-lb. Bomb Mk III (Stabilized) |
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