CONSTRUCTION. The cluster is built around two longitudinal channel plates 1/8 inch thick. They are pressed into splayed U-shaped channels at the top and the bottom of the assembly respectively and joined together by two steel plates which form a central longitudinal bulkhead with a double wall. Triangular plates welded between the bulkheads and the outer ends of the upper channel acts as stiffeners. (See fig. 112.)

At about the middle the two plates, forming the bulkhead, are then shaped to form a rectangular compartment. It is presumed that when German bombs are carried this com-partment contains a junction box and charging attachment for the Rheinmetall fuzes mounted in the bombs. Holes are punched in each side of the compartment and are sha-ped to take fuze head attachments. A hole is drilled in the top main supporting plate to enable a connecting cable to be threaded through the bulkhead.

At each end of the top channel a pair of shaped steel crutch pads are pivoted on either side of the plate. They are to fold over the top bombs and act as pressure plates for steadying brackets in the aircraft bomb rack.

Wood packing, shaped like saddle pieces for the bombs, are clipped to the sides of the central bulkhead.

Two wide this sheet steel carrying bands are hinged to the top channel and locked into the bottom channel by the release mechanism. Each band is in two halves compled by an adjustable right and left handed screw which functions as a turnbuckle.

Suspended from the nose of the top channel is a rigid structure of steel strip in the form of two inverted Y's. This is presumed to carry a locking device for mechanically armed nose fuzes, mounted in French bombs.

The container has a electropyrotechnic fuze of the 69 series. A Ladekopf charging head is mounted on a steel pressing, welded within the top channel towards the rear end. An electric cable passes from this, through the central bulkhead to the 69 fuze which is mounted on the side of the release mechanism, within the bottom channel. A second cable may be connected to a junction box within the rectangular compartment, when the container is loaded with German bombs.

A rectangular pressed steel box is secured to the end of the suspension bar, within the bottom channel, by a nut. Steel box angles slotted to engage round the bar, and which are riveted to the loops, slide into one another and beneath the steel box. The loops are hinged to the bottom of the carrying bands. Steel wedges are riveted to the reverse si-des of the loops to keep the assembly wedged within the channel.

Small steel triangular boxes are welded to the bottom of the carrying bands to facilitate release.

The assembly is locked while there is upward tension on the supsension bar.

On either side of the assembly, two brackets are welded within the channel. A third bracket supports the fuze pocket. A steel pin, attached to the remote end of the fuze pocket is threaded through holes drilled on the bracket and locks the suspension bar and assembly in the "up" position should tension on the bar be released. When the container is released from the aircraft, an electric current is pressed via the charging head to the 69 fuze. After a set delay the fuze fires, forcing off the remote end of the fuze pocket, which carries the band then forces the suspension bar down and the locking assembly is released.

When German bombs are carried, a second circuit from the charging head passes the electric current, via a junction box, in the central rectangular compartment, to the Rheinmetall fuzes in the bomb.

COLOR AND MARKINGS. Khaki over-all. Stenciled in black on body:

Figure 112 – AB 500-3A Cluster Adapter