A long time ago I uploaded a Chinese civil defense poster from the thirties, that tended to imply that US early Mark series bombs have been imported/ produced in China, with slight modifications (a 200lbs and a 800lbs bombs appear in this poster, unknown in the original US Mark series).
Since then I have tried to gather period photographs of bombs produced and used by the Chinese. Early bomb production was done at teh Mukden arsenal, but in the mid thirties, the Nanjing Jinling arsenal took the precedence, with a special institute established there, dedicated to teh developmnet of air-dropped weapons.
Not only photographic evidence but also documentation is scarce.
Most of the photographic evidence for Chinese developed and produced bombs comes from Japanese sources (captured Chinese arsenals)
Early production bombs (1931)
"gas bomb" 1931 (originally a mortar bomb but used as an air bomb by France, Italy, Soviet Union and Spanish Republic - is it the same case here?)
1938
French 100kg bombs under a Martin Bomber 1938
Italian 100kg, 250kg and 500kg (produced in China - one of the assets of the Chinese Italian cooperation)
once again under a Martin Bomber.
2 "monuments" erected in front of an exposition in Nanjing in 1934, dedicated to air power and civil defense
the first one is a mystery the second one is a good representation of an Italian pattern bomb.
One must add to that, of course, that the Soviet "volunteers' in China came with their planes (SB-2, I-15,..) and their own Soviet bombs.
Written sources give the following indications:
Mid1920s Mukden arsenal 16lb incendiary and 100lb HE bombs
1925 A supply of Italian 200lb (?) bombs had been obtained about 1925, but all bombs were later made at the Mukden arsenal.
1927: 100lb bombs were usually carried by the Breguet 19A2s but a bomb weighing over 500lbs had been made locally for the Vimy.
1928 Jinling Arsenal: 80lbs bombs
1931 Jinling Arsenal: 18kg bombs
1934 40lb (38.5lb exactly) GP bombs manufactured at the Nanking arsenal, 100lb and 500lb bombs
Manufacture of bombs of 35lb (frag) and 120lb (delayed action adjustable fuze). Both filled with TNT (about 15kg of explosive for the 120lb bomb).
1937 58000 french bombs contract (but deliveries delayed)
1938 21st Arsenal yellow phosphorus bombs
I'll be very grateful for any contribution to such a poorly documented subject
Since then I have tried to gather period photographs of bombs produced and used by the Chinese. Early bomb production was done at teh Mukden arsenal, but in the mid thirties, the Nanjing Jinling arsenal took the precedence, with a special institute established there, dedicated to teh developmnet of air-dropped weapons.
Not only photographic evidence but also documentation is scarce.
Most of the photographic evidence for Chinese developed and produced bombs comes from Japanese sources (captured Chinese arsenals)
Early production bombs (1931)
"gas bomb" 1931 (originally a mortar bomb but used as an air bomb by France, Italy, Soviet Union and Spanish Republic - is it the same case here?)
1938
French 100kg bombs under a Martin Bomber 1938
Italian 100kg, 250kg and 500kg (produced in China - one of the assets of the Chinese Italian cooperation)
once again under a Martin Bomber.
2 "monuments" erected in front of an exposition in Nanjing in 1934, dedicated to air power and civil defense
the first one is a mystery the second one is a good representation of an Italian pattern bomb.
One must add to that, of course, that the Soviet "volunteers' in China came with their planes (SB-2, I-15,..) and their own Soviet bombs.
Written sources give the following indications:
Mid1920s Mukden arsenal 16lb incendiary and 100lb HE bombs
1925 A supply of Italian 200lb (?) bombs had been obtained about 1925, but all bombs were later made at the Mukden arsenal.
1927: 100lb bombs were usually carried by the Breguet 19A2s but a bomb weighing over 500lbs had been made locally for the Vimy.
1928 Jinling Arsenal: 80lbs bombs
1931 Jinling Arsenal: 18kg bombs
1934 40lb (38.5lb exactly) GP bombs manufactured at the Nanking arsenal, 100lb and 500lb bombs
Manufacture of bombs of 35lb (frag) and 120lb (delayed action adjustable fuze). Both filled with TNT (about 15kg of explosive for the 120lb bomb).
1937 58000 french bombs contract (but deliveries delayed)
1938 21st Arsenal yellow phosphorus bombs
I'll be very grateful for any contribution to such a poorly documented subject
