In this publication British bombs are classified according to their type and usage, one section of the book dealing with each type of the bomb presently in service use. In ad-dition, such obsolete ordnance as might be encountered in bomb disposal operations has been assembled in a sepparate section.

Designation and Classification of British Bombs

British bombs are designated by purpose, weight, and Mark number. British Mark num-bers, always written in Roman numerals, correspond roughly to the modification numbers used by the U.S. Navy, while the British weight designation corresponds to the U.S. Na-val mark number. Minor changes in Marks of British bombs are indicated by various sym-bols, consisting of small letters, capital letters, or asterisks.

The classification according to purpose is generally indicated by the initials of the specifics type. Thus, there is a series of anti.submarine bombs designated "A.S.", a se-ries of general purpose bombs designated "G.P.", semi-armor piercing bombs designated "S.A.P.", aircraft depth charges designated "D.C.", etc. Occasionally, when no appropris-te initials can be used, the complete name of the bomb type is employed in the desig-nation, as "Smoke", "Practice", etc.

Therefore, in order to describe a British bomb completely, the use, weight class, and Mark number must be given in that sequence; e.g., G.P. 250 lb. Mark V; I.B. 30 lb. Mark IV; Smoke 500 lb. Mark I; S.A.P. 500 lb. Mark IIIC.

The following are the type classifications of British bombs and the initials used to indi-cate them:

Aircraft Depht Charges

– D.C.

British bomb generally are highly streamlined, althrough the latest designs, the M.C. bombs, are parallel sided, resembling the American G.P. bombs in external appearance. G.P. and M.C. bombs are usually of cast one-piece construction, althrough some M.C. bombs may be built up in welded sections of cast or forged steel. S.A.P. and A.P. bombs are always forged in one piece and heat threated for greater strength. The exteriors of these bombs are well machined. H.C. bombs are of 'boiler plate' conctruction.

Fillings of British Bombs

A great variety of fillers are used by the British. The most common, however are the following: Amatol for G.P., M.C. and H.C. types; T.N.T.  for S.A.P. and 'Shellite' for A.P. T.N.T./R.D.X. combinations are commonly employed in M.C. and H.C. bombs. Current fil-lings are 60/40 Amatol for H.C. bombs; desensitized Pentolite or RDX/TNT for all others.

Suspension of British Bombs

British bombs are always suspensed by a single suspension lug attached to the bomb body by machine screws. Later designs of British bombs, e.g. the M.C. series, are fitted with additionel dual suspension luge for carrying in American planes. Crutches or sway bars are used with larger size bombs.

British Tail Assembles

A unique type of tail assembly is regularly employed by the British, consisting of a sheet steel cone with a cylindrical strut attached by means of four sheet steel fins. The unique feature is that the arming vanes are an integral part of the tail assembly, attach-ed to the tail pistol by means of a reach rod, with a fork on its lower extremly engaging a similar fork on the tail pistol. A special short tail, originally designed for use in American built planes, is sometime used to permit a greater bomb load. A third type tail assembly, rarely used, is designed to be used in conjunction with certain tail fuzes which have their own arming vanes. The arming vanes on the tail assembly are omitted, and the tail cons is truncated to give clearance to the vanes on the fuze.