Cluster Projectile 140-lb. No. 2 Mk I (Service)

Description: This cluster is designed to hold four 4.5-in flares. The components of the cluster consist of a nose unit, four flat cap which replace the dome-shaped tail clo-sing caps of the flares, a T-bar, a panel locating plate, a tail plate, two clamping bars, two panels, and a tail unit.

When the cluster projectile is assembled, the four flares are loacted between the nose unit and the panel locating plate, and assemby is held together by the clamping bars. The tail plate is also retained in position by the clamping bars, and the tail unit is secured to the tail plate by a nut and washer fitted to one end of a tierod, whose other end is screwed into the tail plate. The panels enclose the flares, and the T-bar, which positions the panel loacting plate and the tail plate relative to the nose unit, carries a suspension lug by which the cluster projectile is attached to a bomb carrier.

Tail Construction: Tail Unit No. 70 Mk I consists of a shortened tail cone, the base of which fits over the rim of the tail plate, and a tail strut secured to the tail cone by four fins. The tail unit is attached to the tail plate of the cluster by a tie-rod which passes down the center axis of the tail cone.

Functioning: The fuzed cluster projectile is released from the aircraft, and the fuze is set in operation. When the gunpowder in the fuze magazine explodes, the flash ignites the gunpowder contained in the small bag in the fuze adapter of the nose unit. The boosted flash passes through the six flash tubes, initiates the igniters fitted to the four flares, and fires the gunpowder in the piston housings.

The gases formed by the ignition of the gunpowder in the piston housings force the pistons out of the housings, shearing the brass shear pins, and  so causing the clamping bars to swing outward on the U-bolts. This outward movement of the clamping bars re-leases the nose unit, the panels, and the initiated flares. The parts of the distintegrated cluster fall separately, and the flares, initiated by their igniters, function in the normal manner.

Suspension: This cluster is designed for suspension in British aircraft only. A single suspension lug is fitted to the T-bar of the cluster.

Remarks: In addition to normal stencilling in English, propaganda messages in German are stencilled in white paint on the sides of the panels.

Figure 104 - Cluster Projectile 140-lb. No. 2 Mk I