some identification help please

[sonofhss]

this is for sale here and identified as a ww2 practice bomb
any identification help is appreciated
Robert Smith
Edinboro, PA, USA

 

[Dreamk]

it's a US interwar demolition bomb.
There is a thread on this forum with pics and drawings on these bombs
http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/83853-WWI-to-1930-s-U-S-Bombs-and-other-small-bombs

 

[US-Subs]

Looks like a 25lb practice. Generally considered WWI, though as mentioned carried over between the wars. As time went on there were modifications, allowing the bombs to be used for practice on newer aircraft.

 

[Dreamk]

although some outdated bombs were used as practice the issue of ww1 and interwar US bombs is more complex: Here the development of these bombs, that I compiled some time ago - not a very easy business as some identical appellations was re-used to designate different models....while the same models also changed their designation at each re-organization.

Type Gros Andreau 1917-1918
25lb Demolition Mk I
50lb demolition Mk I
100lb Demolition Mk I

Fragmentation 1917-1918
17 lbs (rejected 3 in artillery shells)
25 lbs (British Cooper bombs)

1918
High Capacity Drop (Demolition)
Olive drab stenciled in black with 1 in black band at the center of gravity
Mk I 104 lbs 47 in x 7.5 in
Mk II 22lbs 28.25 in x 4.75 in
MkIII 51.5 lbs 36 in x 6 in
Mk IV 260lbs 47.25 in x 12.20 in
Mk IV-A (duplicate of theFrench 100 kg)
Mk V 550lbs 59.04 in x 16.53 in
Mk VI-A 1,000lbs 62.75 in x 20.875 in
Fragmentation
Olive drab stenciled in black with 1 in blue band at the center of gravity
Mk I 94lbs 58.3 in x 6 in
MkII 19lbs 30.1 in x 2.925 in
MkII-A 19lbs 30.2 in x 3 in
MkII-B (copy of the English Cooper bomb)
MkIII 49lbs 50.38 in x 4.7 in
Incendiary
Olive drab stenciled in black with 2x 1in red bands 3 inches from tip, 2 inches apart
Mk I 40lbs 36 inx 6 in (balck powder and turpentine)
Mk II 46lbs 36 in x 6 in (intensive - thermite)
Mk III 100lbs under development


1918-30
Mk I Drop 100lb
Mk II Drop 25 lb
Mk III Drop 50 lb
MkIV Drop 300lb
MkV Drop 600lb
MkVI Drop 1100lb

1930s
MkI series Demolition:
welded joints circumferential and longitudinal. tail fuze only (no arming vanes)
25lb (previously drop Mk II)
50lb (previously drop Mk IIII)
100lb
MkI MI series Demolition:
nose fuze with arming vanes (and for 300 and 600lb, tail fuze too with arming vanes)
Fins strengthening braces
100lb
300lb
600lb
MkIII series demolition:
both noze and tail fuzes with arming vanes
No longitudinal welds, only circumferential ones
Fins build at a single unit, with stengthening fin braces.
100lb (previously drop Mk I-C)
300lb (previously drop Mk IV-C)
600lb (previously drop Mk V-C)
1100lb (previously drop Mk VI-C)
Cylindrical body series:
Nose and tail fuzes with arming vanes
fina ssembly designed as a unit, with strenghtening braces.
2000lb Mk I,
2000lb MkI MI,
2000lb MkI MII

Standard production 1930
MkIII series demolition:
100lb MkIII
300lb MkIII
600lb MkIII
1100lb MkIII
2000lb MkI MII
Substitute standard for production
100lb MkI MI
300lb MkI MI
2000lb MkI MI
Obsolete (Training)
25lb Mk I
50lb Mk I
Limited standard (War reserve)
100 lb Mk I (previously drop Mk I)
600lb Mk I MI
2000lb Mk I

1930 Fragmentation
Standard production 1930
30lb M5 (ring type body)
Limited standard (War reserve)
17lb Mk II (previously fragmentation drop Mk II-A)
25lb Mk III (previously fragmentation drop Mk II-B)

1930 Dummy bombs (empty)
40 lb Incendiary Mk I
40 lb Incendiary Mk II
25 lb Demolition Mk I
50 lb Demolition Mk I
100 lb Demolition Mk I
300 lb Demolition Mk I

1930 Chemical
Nose fuzes only 9with vane for 30lb)
30 lb MI chemical
50ln Mk I demonstration

The bomb shown on the photos has an "Eiffel pattern" (Gros Andreau), without reinforcing fin struts, and with circumferential as well as longitudinal wielding lines and a MarkIII lettering on the mid band - if it is an original and not a fake, we have here one of the earliest patterns "drop MkIII" 51lbs bomb.

 

[sonofhss]

thanks very much, guys, I really appreciate the information.