WW2 American AN-M 110A1 nose fuze

**pzgr40** · 20th April 2020, 08:22 AM

Cutaway model of a WW2 American AN-M 110A1 nose fuze, as used on the 20Lb fragmentation aircraft bom band the 115Lb M70 Chemical bomb.

Functioning of the fuze:
Before bomb release the propeller (01) is blocked by the arming wire stuck trough an extension (02) on the side of the propeller. Upon release the wire is retracted from the extension, allowing the propeller to rotate.
The propeller is connected to a tube (03) which has a gear wheel with 30 teeth fixated to the base (05). The inside of this tube is threaded at the lower part. The assembly rotates over a thrustbearing (04). Inside this assembly another brass tube (06) is placed with a gearwheel with 31 theeth (07) fixated to the base. This inner tube has fine thread on the outside that fits the internal thread on the outer brass tube (03). The firing pin (08) with a pressure spring (09) is placed in the hole in the inner brass tube, held in position in the fuze body by a small radial fixating pin just above the point of the firing pin. Both gearwheels are connected by a small planetary gearwheel (10). The inner tube (06) protrudes above the propeller hub, and a C shaped (or horse shoe shaped) safety segment (11) is placed over it, preventing the firing pin from moving down into the detonator (12). This C shaped segment (11) cannot fall away, as the diameter of the inner tube (06) is larger than the width of the slot in the C shaped segment. The slot is however wide enough to fit over the spring of the firing pin.
As soon as the propeller starts rotating, for each 31 revolutions of the propeller the inner tube (06) rotates once. After 8 revolutions, the inner brass tube (06) has unscrewed and moved down so far that the C-shaped safety segment (11) is allowed to fall away, allowing the firing pin to reach the firing cap upon impact.
Impact will drive the firing pin into the detonator (12), exploding the booster (13) and the main charge.

Regards, DJH

**apfsds** · 20th April 2020, 04:36 PM

YOUR INCREDIBLE! Amazing talent and skills!

Jason

**pzgr40** · 20th April 2020, 09:23 PM

Thanks Jason, I'll try to keep posting more interesting stuff.
Regards, DJH

**pzgr40** · 4th July 2022, 09:15 AM

Cutaway model of a US Bomb Frag 20Lb AN-M41 from the second world war. Six of these bombs were placed in the M1 cluster adepter.
The bomb consists of a thin walled steel pipe, threaded on the outside at the front and back end. A steel cap is placed over the front end and the back end of the pipe; the cap on the back end has a cap srcrewed in it’s center which houses the bomb tail and is also used to cast the TNT into the bomb, The front cap has a threaded hole through in which it receives the M119A1 fuze in the front and a bakelite cap below the fuze. This cap is used when pouring the TNT into the bomb, but left in place after pouring the TNT
A 11x11mm square steel wire has been wound around the body (19 revolutions), forming an efficient fragmentation sleeve. The bomb was meant for defeating personel, soft targets and the attack of airfields.

Weight: 20Lb (9,01 kg)
Total length (including tail eye) : 545mm
Length bomb body (without fuze and tail) : 278 mm
Diameter bomb body : 93mm
Diameter bomb tail : 130 mm
Explosive charge : 0,907 kg TNT (2,6 Lb)

The M1 cluster adapter was used under the wings of fighter aircraft as well as in the bomb bay of bombers. After relaese of the cluster adepter a wire was withdrawn (pict 05 red arrow) releasing the clamp on the end of the steel band that fixates the three bombs in place. Two sets of three bombs were placed on one M1 cluster adapter.