MOBILE EXPLOSIVES INVESTIGATION UNIT No.

4
FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO. CALIF

INTELLIGENCE REPORT

RESTRICTED

2 APRIL 1945

NUMBER 63

JAPANESE ARMY

I kg INCENDIARY BOMB
Introduction.
This bomb was recovered on February 18th by Army
Bomb Disposal personnel near the Eisloy #1 Air Strip on Saipan.
Since there had been no enemy air raids for some time previous, it
is presumed that this incendiary had been in the area since early
December 1944, when 1/3 kg. AA bombs are known to have been dropped
in a raid on this field,
Description.
The bomb consists of three (3) main parts: nose
piece, incendiary filled body, and explosive filled tail.
A. Nose Piece.
The nose piece is made of magnesium. In the center
of the flat, forward end is a Circular hole one (1) inch in diameter with two (2) spanner holes, 180 apart, outside of this circular hole, The central hole is internally threaded (R/H) to receive the fixed firing pin holder. The firing pin holder is constructed of brass and has'two (2) spanner holes, 180 apart, in its
outer surface. Rigidly attached to the inside is a sharp-pointed,
steel firing pin. Between the firing pin and movable detonator
carrier is a comparatively strong anti-creep spring. The detonator
carrier is made of brass, recessed at the forward end to seat the
anti-creep spring. Its central hole is enlarged at the after end
to increase the flash going into the incendiary filling of the
borrib, One-half inch (*-inch) abaft the end of the nose piece is a
shoulder, 5/16" wide and 3/16" deep. In the assembled-bomb this
shoulder has the appearance of an annular groove. An off-center
hole, drilled transversely through the shoulder,contains the safety
pin, which, when in place, prevents the detonator carrier from
moving against the firing pin. The after end of the nose piece is
externally threaded (R/H) to fit into the bomb body.
B. Body.
The body is a cylindrical, magnesium tube. The forward end is internally threaded (R/H) to receive the nose piece.
The conical tail cone fits over the boat-tailed after end of the
body. The filling of the bomb is thermite, Three-fourths (3/4)
inch aft of the forward end are four (4) vent holes, 90 apart.
A central igniting cord, black powder coated, runs from the detonator into the thermite filling.

C.

Tail.

The conical tail cone, made of light sheet metal,

slips over the boat-tailed afterbiody of the bomb, and is securbd
to it by four (4) screws. Three (3) fins, made of the same material as the cone, have their inner edge turned and held to the cone
by four (4) rivets each. Where the three (3) fins meet behind the
apex of the tail cone, they are braced and held together by angular
metal strips, which are riveted onto both sides of each fin by two
(2) rivets. The outer edge of the fins are turned for a distance
of 3/4". from the after end. Six (6) rivets hold these turned edges
to a circular strut. Filling the inside of the tail cone is a conical cloth bag containing a pyrotechnic mixture which may have explosive properties.
--.61111.
Da
Total weight
Length
Overall - - - Body
- - - - Tail
- - - Tail fin
- - Diameter of body - Thiekness of bo(l_y wall
Width
Tail
Tail fin
- - Strut - - - IV,

2 lb. 11 3/4 oz.

13 1/2
8 5/16
5 1/8
4 7/8
2 1/8
- - - 3/8

in,
in,
in,
in,
in,
in.

2 1/8 in.
1 1/16 in.
13/16 in,

Color & Markinge,

The bomb nose, body, and tail are painted black.

Beneath the black on the bomb body (only) is a coating Of gold
metallic paint.- Stenciled on the body are characters which are
translated:
1 Kg.
Incendiary
December 1941, Oaaka Army Arsenal.
These characters are white, except the one for
"Incendiary", which is the uSual red. Stamped into the body is an
unidentified
manufacturer's mark 0
and the crossed guns
s,
syMbol
of the Osaka Army Arsenal.

6.4 'al
(RMO:grp)
DISTRIBUTION:
Lists A, B, & C,

A, B. HALEY
Lieutenant, USNR
Officer-in-Charge

JAPANESE ARMY I kg INCENDIARY BOMB

CIRCULAR STRUT
TAIL. FINS

TA 1 L CON E
BAG

THERWTE
FILLING

i"

BOMB BODY

MOVABLE
DET CARRIER-

VENTS

ANTI-CREEP SPRING
SAFETY PIN
NOSE PIECE

FIXED FIRING PIN

FIRING PIN HOLDER

4