WWII Factory Photos

[US-Subs]

Here are ten shots from Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas, dated from 1944. Pine Bluff was/is a chemical arsenal, and their responsibilities included WP and incendiaries. This series of photos follows the assembly and loading of M50 incendiary submunitions into what referred to as "aimable clusters".

Photos are: Preparing the bodies, assembling the fuzes, assembly of the tetryl explosive charge for the AN M50XA3 (to deter fire-fighting),

 

[US-Subs]

This time with the photos.

Also included is the final assembly line for the bomblets and the beginning of the assembly into the cluster.

 

[US-Subs]

The submunitions go through various stages as they are assembled into the clusters, then they were moved to the final area, where they were packed into waterproof containers for shipment overseas.

 

[US-Subs]

If anyone has a photo, I'm looking for images of the AN M50, T series. Similar to the X series, it was intended to discourage firefighting, but by the use of toxic material in the smoke instead of explosive. It only shows up in 1-2 publications, with no photos. I don't know that it was ever used, but it was standardised. Any photos would be appreciated.

 

[BOMBSaway1980]

I have it one of my submunition pubs

 

[BOMBSaway1980]

A little off here Subs, But this is the PARSONS Munition Plant in Traverse City, Michigan during WWII

 

[E-tech]

Toxic smoke produced by the incendiary?
This wouldn't, by chance, be mentioned as a mixture of powdered aluminum and sulfur, would it?
I will do some serious digging (when my cargo container arrives!) thru my books, but I am pretty sure that the thing was never produced.

 

[US-Subs]

It was produced, it was standardised, it was stored. Whether it was ever used in anger or not is in doubt. The toxic effect was achieved by blending cadmium oxide in with the magnesium.

I have no doubts about its production, I don't need confirmation of that, just a photo. I've got data and diagrams, but somewhere a photograph exists. If I can find it I can include it in a handbook with references listed, one more piece of the puzzle.

 

[BOMBSaway1980]

Alright sub here an old Unknown

 

[US-Subs]

Nice try Bombs. Its the E49, there were at least three modifications, the E49R1 through the R3. It was a 10lb mustard bomb, eventually replaced by the E51, which then became the M125. I think I've got some of the tech drawings if you need them, they may be in the US though.

 

[BOMBSaway1980]

Here's an unknown from back in the 1990s

 

[US-Subs]

Bombs,
can't be sure from the photo (is that a Polaroid!!??) but it looks a lot like one of the experimental variants done for the early M42 project back in the late 60's through the 70s. When the Army decided it wanted to look at smaller submunitions for artillery/rocket dissemination there was a pretty strong competition, everyone wanted a piece of the contract. A number of small pieces were played with, the XM53 Rook was one that made it further than most (story for another day). The M42-type variants went through three general concepts, the spring-finger stabilisation, parachute stabilisation and finally the ribbon version that won out. A lot of experimental variants were pushed through the doors to get there, here are a couple of the them.

The second photo is the XM41, it used a parachute and a spring loaded stand-off for the shaped charge. To the left of it is an earlier body design.