Mark XXIV Depth Bomb Fuze

[EODGUY]

I recently obtained a mint condition, out of the original crate, Mark XXIV depth bomb fuze (It is now inert). Only problem is I cannot find any reference to it. Neither can our EOD Center or anyone else I have contacted. It is WWII vintage and marked: BOMB FUZE MK XXIV - 1 LOT 7-B J.H.F YS&L Co. 1941 204. It is a transverse fuze and very heavy solid brass. Each piece is secured to the bomb by bolts that are included in the container along with brand new copper arming wire clips. The thing that initially caught my eye was the galvanized shipping container. It has a marking on it that I have never seen officially placed on any U.S. ordnance during the war. The general markings are "HIGH EXPLOSIVE KEEP FIRE AWAY. HANDLE CAREFULLY. 1 BOMB FUZE MK 24/BELLVILLE LOADED 1942. LOT No. 7-13 J.J.O.D." and "ASSEMBLED FOR 50 FT DEPTH". In the same style and color stencil that shows that information on the can are the words "LET'S SINK THE RISING SUN", which I thought was highly unusual. Does anyone have a reference to this fuze?

[HAZORD]

Bob,

Try looking in "TM 9-1980 Bombs For Aircraft 1944", pages 92-100. The fuze shown is identical to the one you show, and is listed as the AN MK 224 Hydrostatic transverse. I'm thinking they left the 200 Roman numerals off the front of the designation and stamped it 24, or the book was misprinted and added an extra 2. If you don't have the manual, let me know, and I can scan mine.

Amazingly enough I had just been studying this manual lately and the image was still in short term memory.

John

[EODGUY]

John,

I have no idea what the story is on the marking because all of the cans and fuzes and outer container were clearly marked XXIV, but the AN-Mk 224 certainly is an identical twin if they aren't the same. I do not have the 1944 edition of Bombs for Aircraft. I have the June 42 and Dec 50 editions and neither the Mk 24 of AN-Mk 224 are in those. The window of usage must have been pretty short. Now that you gave me a number though I do have OP No. 988 Bomb Fuzes, May 43 and OP 1548 Bomb Fuze Data, 5 Oct 45 and both have the AN-Mk 224 covered.OP 1548 already lists it as not for US Navy use and obsolete. Thanks for the point in the right direction. I knew our government had some problems, but I thought they could at least count!

Bob

[HAZORD]

Well Bob, be happy it was back in WWII before political correctness took effect and everything was renamed so as to not make anyone uncomfortable. The Bombs for aircraft 1944 goes through disassembly instructions, how to apply grease, etc. PM me your email if you want me to send you the info. The book shows a large booster that went between the two pieces you have pictured. Did you also get the booster? It was a cylinder almost as long as the larger fuze, with cone that engaged the cone on the larger fuze piece.

You mentioned not being able to find it in the more recent manuals. That is the one irritating thing about U.S. manuals, is that you need to have a copy of every printing in order to have all the data. The artillery ammo is the same way.

John

[ordnance]

Really nice fuze and packaging Bob. Especially nice to see the propaganda message on the container. Perhaps a bit unusual but emotions were running pretty high in early 1942.

The only bit of productive information I can add is the maker. YS&L stood for York Safe and Lock of York, PA.

[blu97]

Sure looks the same as the Mk 244.
Here a pic and the text on the Mk 244

[Fuzeman]

Hi Bob
OP1548 Bomb fuze Data October 5 Th 1945 page 16 and 17

[EODGUY]

First of all, thanks to everyone for the posted information. I had not looked at the Mk 224, because the obvious markings in front of me were Mk 24. I looked at the Mk 224 and began to think that among other things, our government could not count well. Then came an e-mail from a friend in England with an extract from the US WWII bomb disposal school with data on the Mk 24. Sorry for the quality of the drawing. The two fuzes are virtually identical and I will have to continue to research to see how the two numbers are related. That's the fun part of collecting these things. Every time you answer a question you end up with another question at some point.