[Illustration: FIG. 109.—German Incendiary Bomb, Scatter Type.]
Later the Germans used a scatter type of bomb (Fig. 109) which was
designed to give 46 points of conflagration. Each of these 46 small
cylinders contained 50 grams of an air incendiary material. They were
arranged in layers, packed in with very fine gun powder. The bomb
is ignited by a friction lighter which is pulled automatically when
the bomb is released from the aeroplane. The bomb is constructed to
burst in the air and not on striking the ground. The upper part of the
projectile consists of a cast iron nose riveted to the sheet iron body
of the bomb. When the explosion occurs, the nose is blown away and the
small incendiary cylinders are scattered in the air.
The incendiary material appears to be a mixture of barium nitrate and
tar. Its incendiary power is very low because combustion takes the form
of a small flame of very short duration. It should, however, be very
valuable for firing inflammable materials.
=British Bombs.= The early British bombs were petrol bombs, which were
used without great success for crop burning. Phosphorus bombs were
then used for attacking aircraft. But the most successful incendiary
is the so-called “Baby Incendiary Bomb.” This is a 6.5-ounce bomb with
an incendiary charge of special thermit. These small bombs are carried
in containers holding either 144 or 272 bombs. The former container
approximates in size and weight one 50-pound H.E. bomb and the latter
one 120-pound H.E. bomb. The bomb contains a cartridge very much like a
shot gun shell which, on impact, sets down on the striker point in the
base of the body, and causes the ignition of the charge. It is claimed
that the cartridge of the B.I. bomb burns when totally immersed in any
liquid (water included) and in depths up to two feet the flame breaks
through the surface.
=French Bombs.= The French used three types of incendiary bombs, a
special thermit (calonite), the Chenard and the Davidsen. The Chenard
bomb is a true intensive type and is thought to be very successful.
It functions by means of a time fuse operated by the unscrewing of
a propeller, before striking the ground, and reaches its target in
flames. Its chief disadvantage is the small amount of incendiary
material which it carries. The Davidsen bomb expels its charge as a
single unit and is not considered as valuable or as successful as the
Chenard.
=American Bombs.= The program of the Chemical Warfare Service included
three types of bombs:
Mark II Incendiary drop bomb
Mark III Incendiary drop bomb
Mark I Scatter bomb
=Mark II Bomb.= The incendiary Mark II drop bomb is designed to be
dropped from an aeroplane and is intended for use against buildings,
etc., when penetrating effect followed by an intensive incendiary
action is sought.
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