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| BRITISH EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE |
| Part 1 - Chapter 4 |
| Medium Capacity Bombs |
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M.C. 500-lb. Mks I - V (Obsolescent), and Mks VI - XII (Service) |
| Data |
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Fuzing |
Nose Pistol No. 27, 42, or 44; Tail Pistol No. 28, 30, or 37 |
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Color markings |
Dark green over-all; ½-in. red band 2 in. from nose; 1-in. light green band around base of ogive |
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Tail No. |
No. 2 Mk I; No. 25 Mks I or II; No. 26 Mk I; or No. 28 Mk I |
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Over-all length |
70.6 in. (with long tail); 57.8 in. (with short tail) |
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Body length |
41 in. |
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Body diameter |
12.9 in. |
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Wall thickness |
0.3 in. Mks I, II, VI, VII; 0.42 in. Mks III, IV, V, VIII - XII |
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Tail length |
No. 25 Mks I, II, 28 in.; No. 28 Mks I, II, 14 in. |
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Tail width |
12.9 in. |
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Total weight |
Mk VIII with short tail, 499 lb. Amatol filled |
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Charge/weight ratio |
50% |
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Body Construction: The bomb has parallel sides, with an ogival nose and a slight rear taper, similar in construction to U.S. General Purpose bombs. |
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With the exceptions as given below, exploder containers screw into the nose and base plate. Mk I: fabricated; rolled steel sheet, welded, with nose and tail welded on. Mk II: drawn tube; nose formed by "bottling" process; tail welded on. Mk III: cast. Mk IV: cast to 500-lb. G.P. dimensions. Mk V: same as Mk III, but center of gravity was off, so all were declared obsolescent immediately; used only with the long tail unit. Mks VI, VII, VIII and IX are same as Mks I, II, III, IV, respectively, with American dual suspension lugs added. Mk X: forged body; solid nose; fuzed only in tail. Mk XI: Mk VII with a solid nose. Mk XII: Mk VII with improved welds at the after end, and fuzed both nose and tail. |
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Tail Construction: The Tails No. 25 and No. 28 are similar in construction, each con-sisting of a cylindrical strut attached to a tail cone by four fins. The tail assembly is se-cured to the body by four spring clips which engage slots in the tail end of the body. Turnbuckle fittings are provided for two of the springs as a locking device. A reach rod running through the tail cone, engages the arming fork of the pistol, and carries the arm-ing vanes at its fits after end. The arming vanes protrude beyond the cylindrical strut and the fins on the short-type Tail Unit No. 28. |
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Suspension: Mks I – V of this bomb have a single suspension lug welded to the body, while Mks VI – XII have dual lugs for suspension from U.S. aircraft welded on in addition to a single lug. |
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Explosive Components |
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Detonator – (See Part 2, chap. 4, Detonators.) |
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Exploders – C.E. pellets |
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Filling – (Mk VIII), 210 lb. Amatol 50/50 or 60/40; 226 lb. Amatex 51/40/9; 222 lb. RDX/TNT 60/40; or 232 lb. Torpex 2. |
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Remarks: These bombs are supplied with a Tail Pistol No. 28 or No. 30, and may or may not be fuzed at the nose. |
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The short-type tail unit, such as the No. 28, Mk I, is used when the bombs are drop-ped from fighter-bomber aircraft. |
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The Anti-Disturbance Fuze No. 845, formerly incorporated in the nose of bombs fuzed with the Tail Pistol No. 37, is now obsolete. |
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Tail fins are usually painted red when time pistol is used. |
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Figure 16 – M.C. 500-lb. Bomb |
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