Description
The bomb body consists of a sheet-steel case with a filling plug in the base. The four tail vanes are welded to the truncated cone with box-type interior struts. The complete body assembly consists of this Practice Bomb Case M38A2, a train tube, a grenade train, a closing plug, and a fuze. The train tube is a seamless steel tubing three inches in diameter and 10 inches long, with a fuze adapter brazed to the after end. Eight modified Grenades M18 filled with fast-burning mixture are inserted into the tube to form the grenade train. Each grenade is modified by cutting a center hole in its base, and the bouchon fuze is omitted. The top of each grenade is coated with a starter compound which acts as the igniter for the adjacent grenade. Four strands of quick match are knotted and inserted in the center hole of the top grenade in such a manner as to leave the knot and loose ends at the top to receive the fuze Hash. The eight grenades are held apart by spring steel separators. A threaded closing plug seals the tube and protects the grenade train from moisture. This plug must be removed just prior to use. The bomb is brought up to the weight of approximately 98 pounds by filling the balance of the internal space with sand.
The Fuze M143 consists of a fuze body support mounting four bouchon grenade type fuzes and an arming washer, and is threaded to fit the fuze adapter of the tube train. The arming washer is 2.5-inch in diameter and has four arms 0.75-inch wide and one inch long. The arming wire holds the arming washer over the bouchon levers until it is withdrawn.
The colored streamer smoke bomb is used as a visual signal to be dropped by the lead plane of a bomber formation when the target has been determined. Smoke emission begins approximately one second after release from the plane and continues for approximately 7,000 to 10,000 feet.
Hazardous Components
See Also
Source(s)
OP 1664, Volume 1 - US Explosive Ordnance (1947)
