Fuzes: Mechanical impact tail fuze.

Over-all length: 15 3/4 inches.

Length of body: 6 3/4 inches.

Diameter of body: 3 11/16 inches.

Thickness of wall: 1/8 inch.

Material of wall: Welded steel tube.

Type of suspension: Horizontal.

Suspension lug: 3/4 inch steel band which secured around the body by a nut and bolt, 5/16 inch hole drilled in the extension of the band to accept metal hook.

Color and marking: Bomb body: Black or olive drab. Tail: Unpainted tin color.

Length of tail: 9 inches.

Width of tail: 3 11/16 inches.

Width of tail fins: None.

Dimensions of tail struts: None.

Material of tail: Tin-plated sheet steel.

Type of filling: Incendiary, consisting of a first fire charge and a main charge.

Total weight of bomb: 11 pounds.

Construction of body: The bomb body consists of a 1/8 inch thick steel tube welded longitudinally and closed at the forward end by a 3/4 inch thick nose plug which is wel-ded in place. A cylindrical wooden block is fitted part way into the aft end of the body and secured by six countersunk wood screws. The block contains the simple impact fuze and spring-loaded safety pin and also acts as the connecting element between the body and the tail. Two 3/8 inch vent holes are drilled longitudinally through the block 180° apart. The fuze is 2 7/8 inches long and has a 1 3/16 inch diameter. The tubular alumi-num body contains a striker and a creep spring. A solid threaded plug closes the aft end and a plug containing the primer screws into the forward end. A spring-loaded safety pin holds the striker in position. The incendiary filling in the bomb body consist of a  first fire charge which is adjacent to the primer and a main charge below it. The first fire charge is a compressed black powder composed of magnesium, barium peroxide and potassium nitrate. The main charge is thermite.

Construction of tail: The tail, consisting of a tinned sheet steel tube closed at the after end, is secured to the wooden block by five wooden screws. The tail and body sections rest flush against one another, completely concealing the wooden block to which they are attached. A slot in the tail receives the brass safety pin housing which is contained in the wooden block.

Operation: When the bomb is released the arming wire is withdrawn, allowing the spring-loaded safety pin to fly out, arming the fuze. On impact, the striker compresses the creep spring and hits the primer. The explosion of the primer ignites the first fire charge and the thermite.

Figure 12 - 5-kg. Thermite Incendiary Bomb.