DATA:

OVERALL LENGTH

DIAMETER OF CASE

WEIGHT

WEIGHT OF FLASH POWDER

FIXED DELAY

DURATION OF FLASH

INTENSITY OF FLASH

MOST EFFECTIVE RELEASE

ALTITUDE

4000 - 7000 ft.

USE:

To provide light of high intensity and short duration for night photography from low altitude.

DESCRIPTION:

The bomb case is made of cardboard and closed with metal ends, one of which is marked "Front" to insure proper loading in the rack. This and contains the hang wire as-sembly just forward of the fuze assembly (M23A1). The fuze assembly is made up of the friction wires attached to the hang wire, match composition, quickmatch, delay element, upper and lower rings, and the base ignition charge immediately adjacent to the flashlight powder charge. The hangwire is attached to the arming wire retainer.

METHODS OF RELEASE:

1. If the bomb has suspension lugs it may be released from a shackle or bomb rack.

2. Without suspension lugs it may be released from a flare chuts.

OPERATION:

When the bomb is released the hangwire remains attached to the arming wire retai-ner. As the bomb drops the hang wire pulls the friction wires through the match compo-sition of the fuze. The hang wire also pulls out the hang wire container allowing both the hand wire container and the bomb to fall free. The flame from the match composi-tion ignites a piece of quickmatch which in turn ignites a delay element. After 15 se-conds the delay element ignites the base charge of the fuze which sets the flashlight powder charge. The flash lasts 1/5 of a second.

REMARKS:

1. Although the photoflash bomb M23A1 is considered to be obsolete by the Navy it has been included as the bomb may still be encountered in the field.