DATA:

BOMBS USED IN

TYPE

FUZE

BURSTER

CAP (ADAPTER)

FUNCTIONING

ARMED CONDITION

IGNITERS USED WITH

ARMING TIME

OVERALL LENGHT

MAXIMUM DIAMETER

GENERAL:

Thirteen igniters were developed simultaneously for use with the "fire bombs" of which four have been standardized - namely, the M13, M14, M15 and M16. Considered on this page are the igniters which use the M154 (E9R17) fuze, a modification of the M142, greatest emphasis being placed on the M13 (E3R3) and M14 (E4R5) which will eventually supplant all other igniters using the M154.

The M13 and M14 differ in that the M13 is designed to be attached to the outside of the bomb by means of a clamp, while the M14 has an adapter which allows the igniter to be installed in the filler cap opening in the tank. Because of this difference, the M13 is known as an External igniter, while the M14 is called an Internal igniter. The M13 and M14 igniters consist of either a sodium (Na) or white phosphorous (WP) M15 hand gre-nade and a C8R1 burster (DuPont C56 blasting cap and 2.5 grams of tetryl) fitted to a M154 all-ways action fuze.

If the bombs are to be dropped at sea, the Na grenade is used, while if the bombs are employed against land targets the WP grenade is attached. At the present time, the Na filled M13 is restricted and the WP filled M13 is to be dumped by Navy activities. Both the WP and Na filled M14 are available. Neither the M13 or M14 are considered safe for carrier landings.

OPERATION:

When the bomb is released, the arming wire is pulled permitting the spring loaded arming pin to move upwards, thus allowing the safety pin to fly inward, arming the fuze. On impact the striker pin are forced together igniting the M26 primer. Flash from the primer initates the black powder booster and latterlyy the C8R1 burster, which in turn breaks the grenade case allowing the WP or Na ignites the incendiary mixture scattered by the bursting tank.

MODIFICATIONS:

The followings are experimental igniters developed concurrently with the M13 and the M14.

The E3R1, E4R1, and E4R2 differ from the M13 and M14 respectively in that they use an Infallable Powder burster (similar to Ballistite) instead of the C8R1 burster of the standardized models. In addition the E3R1 has an unsupported cap instead of a sup-ported one as in the M14 and the E4R2. The unsupported cap is a standard filling cap modified for use as an igniter. The supported cap is one specifically designed for the ig-niter. All three use the M154 fuze; they are restricted by the Navy to land base training use only.

The E3R2, E4R3, and E4R4 differ from the M13 and M14 respectively in that they use a C8 burster, known commercially as the DuPont C56 blasting cap, instead of the C8R1 which is similar except for a supplementary 2.5 grams of tetryl. In addition, the E4R4 has and unsupported rather than a supported cap as in the E4R3 and the M14. All three use the M154 fuze; for the Navy the WP filled igniters using the C8 burster are un-serviceable and should be dumped; and the Na filled ones are restricted.

The E3R4 and the E3R7 differ from the M13 and M14 respectively in that they use the E9R20 fuze rather than the M154. The E9R20 is an anemometer arming all-ways action fuze converted from the M154 (E9R17). The C8R1 burster is present in both igni-ters as in the M13 and M14, and the E4R7 has a supported cap. Both Na and WP filled igniters are unserviceable under Navy order and should be dumped.

The E4R6 is identical with the M14 except that it has an unsupported cap. It use the M154 fuze and has a C8R1 burster. The WP filled E4R6 is to be dumped.

REMARKS:

The M15 igniter is designed to be clamped externally to the tank of fin assembly at any convenient point at which a suitable clamp has been provided or improvided. In cases where no clamp has been provided, the local ordnance officer must insure that the igniter is rigged in accordnance with the best ordnance practice. The clamp must be installed so that the axis of the igniter is at 90° to the axis of the tank.

See page 219 for further Remarks on Fire Bomb igniters; see page 131 for jettison-able fuel tanks.

These igniters are nno longer being produced for naval use.