Chemical:

In general the chemical bombs are of two types, classified according to case con-struction. The light case bombs have the advantage of higher charge weight ratio, whereas the heavy case bombs have better stowage and handling charachteristics. Both types have full length burster charge to split the bomb case and disperse the filling over the area to be contaminated. Fusing must always be instantaneous or serial burst to maintain maximum dispersion of contents. Various fillings can be employed for different effects.

Incendiaries in use at the present time are classified by their consturction and use into two types. The intensive type burne as a unit, confining its itense heat to a relativ-ely small area. The bombs are small in size and are always dropped in clusters to give area coverage. They are normally employed against targets having a high percentage of roof coverage, such as industrial establishments and crowed residental areas. Since the bombs have heavy nose plugs and substantial case strength, some penetration can be expected, and the high burning temperature of its filling will be effective in industrial areas.

The scatter type is usually a larger bomb which disperses small chunks of its burning material over a larger area to ignite many small fires. It is normaly employed against readily inflammable targets such as frame construction, material storage and grain fields. These bombs explode on impact to throw burning fragments of gasoline gel or other sticky emulsions against its target.

Only the screening smoke will be considered in this section, signalling and illuminating smoke being treated under Pyrotechnics. This division follows in large part and allocation of responsibility for smoke munitions made between the Chemial Warfare Service and the Ordnance Department of the Army. CWS superwises matters relating to screening smokes and the Ordnance Department performs the same functions for signalling and illuminating items.

Chemical bombs have different markings than other types of ordnance. The bomb body is painted light grey, and colored bands indicate the nature of the filling. The bands are located between the dual suspension lugs and forward of the center of gravity. One band indicate a non-persistent filler. Two bands indicate a persistent filler. Green indica-tes casualty agents; red, harrasing agents; yellow, smoke or screening agents; purple, incendiaries.

Incendiary bombs may follow the scheme of chemical bombs, with light grey body co-lor and a purple band, or more recently, an olive drab body color with a purple band has been standardised.

CAUTION:

All of these items represent a different type of hazard than high explosive filled bombs. They are particularly susceptible to fire and proper precautions should be observed. In handling several of the pyrotechnics and incendiar-ies, remenber to avoid friction a swould be caused by rolling or dragging the missile.

Suspension:

Heavy case chemical bombs are suspended in the same manner ais G.P. bombs; that is, by dual lugs or by a single lug welded to be bomb cases. The light case chemical bombs are suspended by lugs welded to bands which fits around the bomb body. Incen-diary bombs of large scatter type have the same suspension as the chemical bombs. The smaller incendiary bombs are always clustered, and for maximum packing efficiency are hexagonal in shape. The clusters employed on incendiaries are of two types, the quick opening variety and the simable type with cluster opening controlled by an serial burst fuze. The quick opening clusters come in two sizes - 100 lb. and 500 lb. The cluster adapters for 4 lb. intensive incendiaries will carry 34 bombs in the 100 lb. size or 128 bombs in the 500 lb. size. The adapters for 6 lb. scatter incendiaries carry 14 bombs or 60 bombs. The cluster adapters consist of steel tubes supported by plates with the bombs assembled around the tubes. The bombs are held in place by spring steel bands secured by an arming wire running through a buckle at the rear end of the band. Removal of the arming wire assembly as the cluster drops release the buckles and the bands open to release the bombs immediately.