Description
This bomb is designed to be dropped from clusters to produce an incendiary effect. It is of the scatter type and is filled with an incendiary oil.
The incendiary bomb is contained within a hexagonal light steel case 19.5 inches long and 2.9 inches wide. This outer case is divided into three compartments. The tail compartment contains 9.5 feet of 3-inch gauze which occupies 1.5 inches. In the main body of the bomb is loaded the oil emulsion filler. The Fuze, Bomb, M1, occupies about 1.5 inches in the nose end and is separated from the filler by an impact diaphragm. The fuze should be inserted in the side of the bomb with the arrows pointing to the rear. The bomb is designed to be packed in clusters.
Functioning
Upon release from the plane, the cluster breaks apart and the safety plunger of each bomb which was imprisoned by intimate contact with the bomb next to it, is free to move partially out under spring action. This arms the fuze. At the same time, the gauze streamer is forced out by air pressure and serves to stabilize the bomb in flight.
Upon impact, the striker moves down against its spring and strikes the primer. The flame ignites the spitter fuse which functions a black powder and magnesium mixture. The combined action of these charges ruptures the impact diaphragm and ignites the oil filler. The mixture is spread over an area of 100 yards. The oil emulsion which is known as IM or NP burns at a temperature of 700 C.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
TM 9-1904, Ammunition Inspection Guide (1944)
