Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20

~ S1AsEVOI SOLDIEh ANU n
4,00o-POUND DEMOLITION BOMB,
DRAWN TO SAME SCALE.
tCourtesy Of Scientific American.)
bombs, some to be even larger than
those used during the war.
For several years the ordnance de-
partment has been engaged in per-
fecting the designs of the smaller
bombs and until the present year nc
work was undertaken on bombs
larger in size than those weighing
bombs obtained from British and Ger.
| man sources during the war were
studied and tested.
When it became known that exten.
! sive bombing tests were to be held
| with the ex-German ships, turned
over to this country, it was appre-
ciated that these tests would afford a
great opportunity to obtain infor-
nation as to the value of large demo
lition bombs. AS a result the devel-
opment of q 2,000-pound bomb was
Immediately started, and in a few
months the production of several OF
this type, for use in the bombing ma
used against the ex-German ships
and ex-U. S. S. Alabama with highly
satisfactory results from a bomb
design standpoint, but since it was
realized that bombs even larger might
be required to destroy the largest
naval targets or demolish land tar
gets. such rs great munition fac
tories, seacoast gun emyplacements
railroad terminals and storage de-
pots, it was decided to extend the de-
velopment program already outlined
to include the design Of a 4,000-pound
bomb.
X X + +
iOF all bombs those Of the demolition
type have the widest field Of ap-
plication and are therefore Of great
military Importance. They carry a
large amount of high explosive, the
charge being from SO to so per cent
Of the total weight of the bomb. and
when they strike a terrific blast is
produced by the detonation of the
charge, which, within its destructive
range, causes tremendous damage.
Demolition bombs are used in at
lacking manufacturing plants of
all types, storehouses. ammunition
dumps, railroads. railroad termi-
nails. docks. locks, naval vessels OF
all types and similar material targets.
that size Of bomb is used which will
insure. If possible. not partial. but
complete destruction Of the target.
To the average person bombs are
merely large cannon balls filled with
some sort Of explosive, but to those Sc
very complicated mechanisms which
must fulnll certain very definite re-
quirements.
In designing demolition bomb the
main object Is to produce bomo
body which will hold the greatest
possible amount of high explosive
and yet be strong enough to with
stand impact with a target. or even
to- penetrate 1t. When a factory Is
attacked the maximum amount or
damage is produced II the bomb pen
building and functions only after it
has reached the ground floor or base
ment, for then the force OF the de-
tonation fairly bursts the building
apart. OF course, bomb Of this type
will not penetrate heavy armoT' put
through the roof and floors Of the
ordinary factory or warehouse.
These bombs must be equipped with
two fuses, one in the nose and the
other in the tail. so that II one fails
tain conditions the fuses must be
furnished with delay elements SO that
ON impact the bomb will have time
to penetrate before 1t functions. as,
for instance, In the case OF an at
tack against . manufacturing plant
Where only surface destruction is
desired the fuses should be set for
instantaneous action upon impact
For example, when q city is attacked
and the bomb strikes in q street. il
should function instantaneousiy. SO
that the force of the defamation will
not be absorbed in the formation of 9
crater, but will be directed as a blast
against the walls Of the adjacent
buildings. Also, for surface effect
fragments Of the bomb case are par
ticuiarly effective. but if the action
will bury itself. and when 1t func-
/ tions q large number Of fragments