Cluster Projectile 500-lb. No. 7 Mk I (Service)

Description: This cluster consists of eight fagots of seven 8-lb. F. bombs each. The fagots are retained by top and bottom beams, front and rear end plates, side fairings, and four tensioning straps. The tensioning straps are held by lateral pegs on the release rod, which is located in the top beam. The release rod is connected to a lever and piston mechanism, the cylinder of which also serves as the adapter for the barometric fuze and is located on the rear end plate. Before the fuze is fitted, the adapter is closed by the inverted cup portion of the safety device for the release mechanism.

To convert the cluster into an aimable cluster, ablunt nose fairing and drum-type tail are fitted to the front and rear end plates, respectively. A special streamlined nose fair-ing is provided for use when the cluster is to be stowed externally on the plane.

Functioning: On release from the aircraft, the cluster falls until the fuze functions. The explosion of the magazine forces the piston forward in its housing and causes a rocking motion of the pivoted lever. The sudden movement of the lever exerts a pull on the retaining bar and breaks the shear wire, disengaging the lateral pins from the tabs of the tensioning straps. The straps are thus released and fly outwards, releasing the con-tained bombs.

Figure 108 - Cluster Projectile 500-lb. No. 7 Mk I

Figure 109 - Cluster Projectile 500-lb. No. 7 Mk I