|
|
| U.S.N.B.D. - BRITISH BOMBS AND FUZES; PYROTECHNICS; DETONATORS |
| CLUSTER PROJECTILES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRITISH BOMB |
||
|
FUZING |
Tail Fuze No. 885 Mk. I |
CLUSTER PROJ. |
|
|
COLOR |
Dark green overall; one | ||
|
|
tensioning strap painted | ||
|
|
red. | ||
|
CONTENTS: |
No. 23: 14 (U.S. 20 lb.) |
350 lb. No. 23 Mk. I |
|
|
|
No. 24: 20 (Frag. Bombs) |
|
|
|
|
No. 23 | No. 24 |
500 lb. No. 24 Mk. I |
|
TAIL NO. |
65 Mk. I | 66 Mk. I |
|
|
OVERALL LENGTH |
62.25" | 62.25" |
(Service) |
|
MAXIMUM BODY DIAM. |
11.1" | 14.5" |
|
|
TAIL LENGTH |
27.5" | 30.5" |
|
|
TAIL WIDTH |
12.6" | 18.0" | |
|
TOTAL WEIGHT |
335 lbs. | 467 lbs. | |
|
DESCRIPTION: |
|
These clusters are identical in construction and function in a similar manner. The No. 23 Mk. I cluster, however, is approximately hexagonal in cross-section, while the No. 24 Mk. I is roughly octagonal. |
|
The bombs forming the cluster are retained in two faggots of 7 or 10 bombs each by means of top and bottom beams, front and rear end plates, side fairings, and four ten-sioning straps. The tensioning straps are held in position by lateral pegs on the release rod, which is carried on the top beam. The release rod is connected to a lever and pis-ton mechanism, the cylinder of which also forms an adapter for the barometric fuze and is located on the rear end plate. Before the fuze is fitted the adapter is closed by a washered plug. |
|
The cluster is converted into an aimable cluster by the addition of a blunt nose fair-ing and a drum type tail A special streamline nose fairing is designed only for the No. 24 Mk. I cluster, when it is to be stowed externally on the aircraft. |
|
A British type suspension lug is fitted to the top beam, and two crutching pads bolt-ed to the beam are used when a British type bomb carrier is fitted to the cluster. Two sets of four tapped holes are provided in the top beam for the attachment of American type suspension lugs. Two of the four holes at the nose end of the beam nromally house the bolts securing one of the crutching pads to the beam. If American type lug are fitted, the British type lug and crutching pade must firing be removed. |
|
OPERATION: |
|
On release from the aircraft, the cluster falls until the fuze functions. The explosion in the magazone forces the piston foreward in its housing and causes a rocking move-ment of the pivoted lever. The sudden movement of the lever exerts a pull on the re-taining 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 bombs. |
|
|
|
|
 |
