The purpose of demolition bombs is clearly indicated by the name itself; they are designed to demolish and destroy enemy objectives by the detonation of its high explosive content, which normally is T.N.T. The blast caused by the detonation is the principal destructive element, this blast causing structures to shake down, walls to crumble, and in general, to break down fortifications, blow up ships, penetrate armored and otherwise protected ground units.
These bombs can be equipped with instantaneous or various 0.05 and 0.1 second delay action fuses. In the case of instantaneous action fuses, the bombs detonate on contact, and there will be added [o the blast effect, the fragmentation of the bomb case itself. These fragments are thrown outward for great distances at tremendous velocities, and they are particularly effective against personnel. Blast is limited to a more local area around the point of bomb explosion, but will cause greater damage. The use of delay action fuses enables bombs to be exploded below the surface of the ground, beneath foundations, through armor plate, and through flooring, and the effect is to accomplish more direct destruction of the target, and in cases where the surface is hit, to produce a mining effect which develops great craters.
Most of the standard demolition bombs today are thinwalled, sufficiently strong only to hold up under impact with the target. The explosive content represents about 50 per cent of the total weight. Heavier walls would reduce the explosive content and consequently the effectiveness, while adding nothing to the net result.
All bombs are more than merely heavy eases containing explosives. Actually, they embody numerous parts, each one of which must function perfectly to assure proper suspension of the bombs in the bomb racks while in flight, proper release as desired by the bombardiers, safety elements which prevent explosion before release, different types of fuses to explode the bomb either on contact with the target or delayed action, and finally, special elements to explode the main explosive charge efficiently, tliese elements composing a series of actions known as the explosive train.
The explosive train is made up of a fuse or fuses, nose or tail or both, which in turn acts upon a primer detonator, the detonation of which actually sets the explosive train in action. The primer detonator's action is transmitted to an adapter booster, which sets off the main explosive charge.
The sensitivity of the train begins with the primer detonator, which is extremely sensitive, since it must react to the comparatively weak blow from the firing pin, while the main explosive charge is more insensitive and must be detonated by an intermediate charge contained in the booster, the name of which denotes its duty.
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