Clarke Auto Submarine Aero Bombs 1918-1920

[Dreamk]

Seven years ago I posted a few low quality pics of unknown US Navy bombs, dated 1919. Drew (Dronic69) recognized their fuze as a Clarke Bomb fuze but could not provide more details.
These last days, I was able to access the NARA online catalog and discovered a wealth of photographic documentation on these bombs and their fuze (as well as of other US interwar bombs, bomb racks and bomb sights)
The name of these bombs is rather strange "auto submarine bombs" - depth bombs? or what?
On photographs these bombs are seen mounted on USN Seaplanes, Dirigibles and Martin Bombers.
Here the stuff:
First the bombs - quite advanced design for the period with their cylindrical bodies and above all their box tail-fins unit.


Now the Fuze:
and a photo of the real thing posted by Drew

Then the Bomb Racks (why is there need for a cover for the fuze?):



and a couple of pics "in situ":

 

[ordnance]

Great images. I was not aware these NARA photo catalog cards could be accessed online. Can you provide a link to their search engine for this online catalog? Thank you.

 

[Snufkin]

Try this

https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=manufacturing aero bombs

Or this with your own search terms:

https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog

 

[ordnance]

Thank you. That should keep me busy for the next month or two.

 

[MINENAZ16]

Thanks for the link, I like US ww1 pictures series : https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=*:*&f.ancestorNaIds=533461&sort=naIdSort asc

 

[sgdbdr]

There is also a miniature practice bomb : https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45511906?&sp={"q":"navy ordnance","f.ancestorNaIds":"533461"}&sr=1

 

[Dronic69]

Seven years ago I posted a few low quality pics of unknown US Navy bombs, dated 1919. Drew (Dronic69) recognized their fuze as a Clarke Bomb fuze but could not provide more details.

Some progress since then including tracking down the original patent by Louis Clark (attached)

Due to the complexity of the fuze design it was deem unreliable in service and withdrawn after a short production run of approx. 1 year - hence quite an uncommon /rare fuze to find now.

The name of these bombs is rather strange "auto submarine bombs" - depth bombs? or what?

It was one of the first anti-submarine aerial bombs developed - please refer to page 4 of the patent:

"The primary purpose of my invention is for use in connection with a bomb intended to be dropped from an aerial craft for attack upon a vessel, especially a submarine or upon a mine field"............

Reference mark "20" (p4) states that "it is desirable for such a bomb to miss the object at which it is aimed, provided the explosion can be made to occur in close proximity thereto, and after submersion of the bomb itself".................

Great photos - thank you!!!

Cheers
Drew

 

[Dronic69]

Some additional real photos of the complete fuse assembly kindly posted by US-Subs a while back - I believe these were of the one at the Aberdeen collection.