WWI to 1930's U.S. Bombs and other small bombs

[HAZORD]

Had a request to take some photos for a friend, and thought I would share.

Photo 1, all WWI to 1930's U.S. except the darker one on the right which is U.K.
Photo 2, Left is in the 300 Lb. range.
Photo 3, Leftmost dark one appears to be brass plated, Rightmost is a 75mm projectile with fins attached.
Photo 4, 30 Lb. Chem U.S., Cooper (color questionable), British, and last one unidentified

 

[US-Subs]

Thanks for the pictures. Your 20lb British bomb in the last photo is interesting with its engraved name and such, was this a common thing to do? This is probably the fourth one I've seen defaced that way.

 

[HAZORD]

Jeff,

The 20 Lb. British bomb was imported into the states by someone we know, and I believe all of the ones he had were engraved that way, as I asked when I got it.

I picked up the other small British bomb, the dark one with the filler on the ogive in Toronto in a militaria shop. Somewhere I have a photo, showing these being hand thrown out of WWI aircraft.

Does anyone know the proper designation for that British/Canadian bomb?

 

[EOD]

image #4. the last one looks like a Finnish Tolfan design.

 

[shelldude]

Really beautiful ordnance John!, Thanks for showing it to the group.

Best regards,

Randall

 

[SG500]

Great photos and great specimens John, thanks for showing them.

Dave.

 

[DEADLINE222]

Hazord. Would you mind telling us where you came upon that 300 lb. MK IV?

Other than yours, I have only seen one example of anything larger than the 100 lb. MKI outside of a museum.

 

[HAZORD]

Having been an active member of the Ordnance Community for about 35 years, I have found that establishing long term friendships with collectors and being ready to take posession of things when they become available is the best way to obtain hard-to-find items. Having a pickup truck and being nice to people also helps. The largest 2 bombs and maybe 3 largest items came from a museum that was closing. That was at least 20 years ago. In addition, another painful lesson I learned was that if something is available , you best get it if you want it, or the chance will most likely never occur again. Get it when the getting is good!

 

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

A great collection Hazord. Thanks to people like you some real rare pieces will remain in our midst. It is a known fact that privatecollectors have obtained more ordnance than state or federal efforts. I believe your collection will rival EODS, perhaps surpass it.
All theBest,
John

 

[kahu1]

Very nice collection.
I think this is what you want for the cooper bomb.



cheers
Bob

 

[HAZORD]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Here is the ID info on the small British bomb, Royal Laboratories 18 Lb. light case, MK. I, II, or III:

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/83388-WW1-Bomb?highlight=bomb

 

[Dreamk]

Poor quality picture but with Detailed dimensions of US Interwar bombs

The bombs are fully detailed in the war department document TR-1370-G Ammunition Bombs for Aircraft from October 25th, 1930
Sadly I succeeded to put a hand on a copy of only the first half of this document (106 first pages on a total of 270 pages) and teh detailed decription of each bomb appears in the lacking part.
Information that can be however extracted from this shortened documents shows that the design of US bombs was based upon the shape of ....the Eiffel dirigible IV, and painted similarly to the French practice of the period: dull yellow (HE), or grey (Chemical) or white (practice).
4 bomb sizes were standardized: 100lbs. 200lbs, 600lbs, 1100lbs. In the mid-thirties, a new cylindrical body bomb was introduced of 2000lb weight.

 

[US-Subs]

Minor corrections, the TR is 166 pages complete, the 2000lb bomb is included in the 1930 dated pages that you are missing and Change one to the document (the only change I am aware of) brings it up to 1937. This document was then superceded by a TM (9-1980?) in 1940 which I have not seen, followed by TM 9-1980 in 1942 and again later in 1950.

 

[Dreamk]

BTW Does soemeone know whether these bombs been used by others forces than the US? for in instance on American built planes sold to the Chinese? I have found photos of Chinese Martin B-10/ 139W bombers with French and Italian bombs being loaded on them but have not seen American bombs till now - though photographs of chinese bombs of the pre-ww2 period are by all ways scarce.

 

[DEADLINE222]

I am going to expand a bit on this subject, because I have recently acquired a new piece. (Ebay $113.00 USD)

Like Hazord, I have a MK II A, 17 pound fragmentation bomb. This bomb is described in ODN840 Handbook on Fragmentation Drop Bombs II, IIa I and III.

They were later reclassified as practice bombs in the 1930's, and are described in TR-1370 US Bombs for Aircraft.

These bombs were originally 3 inch high explosive shells that were unfit for artillery use. They were machined, and sheet metal fins added. The details of their manufacture can be found on pages 305 and 306 in America's Munitions 1917-1918.

They were painted olive drab with a 1" blue stripe, three inches from the tip, with a 1" black stripe around the center of gravity. Like all other US made bombs of the period, within the black stripe was white painted nomenclature detailing the manufacture information. My specimen is to be painted (with some creative licensing) as if it was made at the Wheeling Mold and Foundery Corporation in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was received by me with a awful chrome plating, and missing the suspension lug - in which I have made a replacement.



If anyone has any detailed pictures of a vintage fuse for this type, I would very much appreciate seeing them.

 

[US-Subs]

There might be one in some archive stuff I copied a couple of months ago, not sure. I'm buried right now and cannot do any checking for another day or two, if I forget remind me and I'll check then.

 

[US-Subs]

Best so far, but I may have another ref I can check.

 

[US-Subs]

Not the greatest images, but slightly better than the originals.

 

[DEADLINE222]

Very, very helpful; especially in revealing how the vertical suspension hook on the tail attaches to the shell.

I will put this information to good use.

 

[Dreamk]

some more details:tinysmile_grin_t: - the 1921 models