Fuzes: D-4 (a).

Over-all length: 42 1/4 inches.

Length of body: 39 inches.

Diameter of body: 9 1/2 inches.

Thickness of wall: 1/16 inch.

Material of wall: Sheet steel.

Type of suspension: Horizontal.

Suspension lug: Normal Navy suspension lug is held in place by a steel plate that fits over it and is riveted to the body section.

Color and markings: Gray over all with a green-tipped nose and a brown nose band.

Length of tail: 3 1/4 inches.

Width of tail: 11 inches.

Width of tail fins: 2 1/8 inches; length of tail fins, 8 inches.

Dimensions of tail struts: None.

Material of tail: 1/16 inch sheet steel.

Type of filling: 36 1-kilogram high-explosive bombs.

Weight of filling: 80 pounds.

Total weight of bomb: 109 pounds.

Charge/weight ratio: 72 percent.

Description: The hexagonally shaped bomb container consists of a blunt-nose assembly and a light tailpiece around which are fitted three sheet steel sections held together by three metal retaining bands. Two steel wires run longitudually along the exterior of the container and pass through the three retaining band buckles. One wire is attached to the nosepiece; the other is a safety wire which is removed after the container has been pla-ced in the bomb rack.

The nose section is of two-piece construction. The after piece is attached to the sheet-steel sides by a welded stud for each section. The forward piece is attached to the after one by three lead sealing strips. The nose-piece, which has a fuze pocket to take the D-4 (a) is filled by a wooden block. A round metal can containing the burster charge in an annular silk bag is set off-center in the wooden block. The initiating charge in the burster is directly beneath the fuze magazine. The balance of the charge is off-center toward the point where the retaining band release wire is secured to the nosepiece. The purpo-se of this offset is to exert a more direct pull on the release wire when the charge is de-tonated.

The tailpiece is held in place by a bungee cord fastened to a hook on the after end of each body section.

Two tail fins are riveted to the after portion of the sheet steel section to which the sus-pension lug is attached.

Two metal plates divide the container into three sections in each of which are packed 12 1-kilogram bombs.

Operation: After the bomb container is released from the plane, the aerial burst fuze functions. The burster charge shears the lead sealing strips between the two sections of the nose, blowing the outer piece free from the container and withdrawing the release wire from the retaining band buckles. The retaining bands open and the container sec-tions separate allowing the 36 1-kilogram bombs to fall individually.

Figure 62 - Type 2 No. 6 Mk 21 Bomb Model 2.