American Projectiles and Explosives
Explosive Bombs
"AN" Series
250-pound G.P. AN-M57 and AN-M57A1
Body length: 36 inches
Body diameter: 10.9 inches
Wall thickness: 0.27 inches
Tail length: 12.1 inches
Tail width: 14.9 inches
Tail weight: 6 pounds
Filling: 50/50 Amatol
Weight of filling: 123.7 pounds
Total weight: 255.9 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 48%
or
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 129 pounds
Total weight: 260 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 50%
500-pound G.P. AN-M43 (Obsolescent), AN-M64, and AN-M64A1
Overall length: 56.8 inches
Body length: 45 inches
Body diameter: 14.2 inches
Wall thickness: 0.3 inches
Tail length: 13.9 inches
Tail width: 18.9 inches
Tail weight: 12.3 pounds
Filling: Amatol
Weight of filling: 262 pounds
Total weight: 510 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 51.2%
or
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 267 pounds
Total weight: 525 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 51%
or
Filling: Composition B
Weight of filling: 274 pounds
Total weight: 535 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 51%
Remarks: The AN-M43, AN-M64, and AN-M64A1 are identical types except for the adapter booster which is employed in the base plate to receive the tail fuze.
1,000-pound G.P. AN-M44 (Obsolescent), AN-M65, and AN-M65A1
Overall length: 67.1 inches
Body length: 53.1 inches
Body diameter: 18.8 inches
Wall thickness: 0.5 inches
Tail length: 18.5 inches
Tail width: 25.4 inches
Tail weight: 21.5 pounds
AN-M44 (Amatol)
Weight of filling: 530 pounds
Total weight: 964 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 54.9%
AN-M44 (TNT)
Weight of filling: 558 pounds
Total weight: 990 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 56%
AN-M65(Amatol)
Weight of filling: 530 pounds
Total weight: 965 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 55.8%
AN-M65(TNT)
Weight of filling: 558 pounds
Total weight: 990 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 56%
AN-M65A1(TNT)
Weight of filling: 558 pounds
Total weight: 990 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 56%
AN-M65A1(Comp. B)
Weight of filling: 595 pounds
Total weight: 1,040 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 57%
2,000-pound G.P. AN-M34 (Obsolescent), AN-M66, AN-M66A1, and AN-M66A2
Overall length: 90.4 inches
Body length: 70 inches
Body diameter: 23.3 inches
Wall thickness: 0.5 inches
Tail length: 25.7 inches
Tail width: 31.6 inches
Tail weight: 38.6 pounds
AN-M34 (Amatol)
Weight of filling: 1,063 pounds
Total weight: 2,049 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 51.9%
AN-M34 (TNT)
Weight of filling: 1,117 pounds
Total weight: 2,103 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 53.1%
AN-M66(Amatol)
Weight of filling: 1,063 pounds
Total weight: 2,052 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 52%
AN-M66(TNT)
Weight of filling: 1,117 pounds
Total weight: 2,106 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 53%
AN-M66A1(TNT)
Weight of filling: 1,117 pounds
Total weight: 2,106 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 53%
AN-M65A1(Comp. B)
Weight of filling: 1,142 pounds
Total weight: 2,140 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 53.3%
Remarks: A heavier nose section distinguishes the AN-M66A2 from the AN-M66A1.
4,000-pound K.C. AN-M56 and AN-M56A1
Overall length: 117.3 inches
Body length: 94.9 inches
Body diameter: 34 inches
Wall thickness: 0.37 inches
Tail length: 28 inches
Tail width: 31.6 inches
Tail weight: 95 pounds
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 3,362 pounds
Total weight: 4,205 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 80%
Filling: Amatol
Weight of filling: 3,245 pounds
Total weight: 4,095 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 79%
Filling: 50/50 Amatol
Weight of filling: 3,238 pounds
Total weight: 4,232 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 76.5%
Construction: The body consists of a nose forging, three rolled plate sections, and a forged base plate. The nose forging is welded to the first plate section, and the three plate sections are welded longitudinally and circumferentially. the female base plate is threaded to the tail section of the body. The side walls have a minimum thickness of 0.3 inch and a maximum thickness of 0.5 inch. Suspension is provided by two lugs welded to the case 30 inches apart (15 inches on either side of the center of gravity). The normal box-type tail is modified on this bomb by eight additional strut rods to give increased stability for this large bomb.
Filling: The standard filling for this bomb as present is cast TNT, but some bombs in the future will be loaded with Tritonal. A full length Auxiliary Booster M111 is employed to insure complete detonation.
Remarks: The 4,000-pound L.C. Bomb AN-M56A1 differs in that provision is made for a hoisting lug to be added at the center of gravity between the suspension lugs and also for two other suspension lugs to be screwed into the bomb body, 22.5 degrees removed, for suspension in British planes.
The AN-M56 and AN-M56A1 are not procured by the Navy at the present time.
Any future production will have inert nose and tail surrounds.
S.A.P. 500-pound AN-M58 (Obsolescent), AN-M58A1, and AN-M58A2;
1,000-pound AN-M59 and AN-M59A1
500 lb
Overall length: 57.8 inches
Body length: 46.8 inches
Body diameter: 11.8 inches
Wall thickness: 0.75 inches
Tail length: 15.05 inches
Tail width: 16.18 inches
Tail weight: 11.4 pounds
1,000 lb
Overall length: 69.3 inches
Body length: 57.3 inches
Body diameter: 15.1 inches
Wall thickness: 1 inch
Tail length: 16.8 inches
Tail width: 20.7 inches
Tail weight: 17 pounds
AN-M58
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 160 pounds
Total weight: 472 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 33.9%
AN-M58A1
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 162 pounds
Total weight: 494 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 33%
AN-M59
Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 320 pounds
Total weight: 995 pounds
Charge/weight ratio: 32%
Construction: S.A.P. bombs are of single-piece construction, either cast or spun, slightly streamlined in shape, with semi-pointed noses. The threaded nose opening receives a fuze-seat liner and a steel nose plug, which can be removed, allowing an instantaneous nose fuze to be inserted when fragmentation effect is desired. Suspension lugs are welded to the case in a manner similar to G.P. bombs; for dive bombing, trunnions on a band may be installed. The box-type tail is characteristic of that used on G.P. bombs.
Filling: Cast TNT is being used currently, with a wax pad employed in the nose to cushion the explosive against premature detonation on impact with an armored target. One Auxiliary Booster M104 is used, positioned just before the Adapter Booster M102. In the future, Army S.A.P. bombs will have, as their main charge, Picratol, the filling now standard for the 2,000-pound S.A.P. Bomb M103.
Markings: Bombs having wax in the nose can be identified by the marking "with pad".
Remarks: In the AN-M58A1, 9.5 pounds of Amatol are removed and replaced by 31.5 pounds of steel to increase the penetration of the bomb. To enable these S.A.P. bombs to be used with anti-withdrawal fuzes, the AN-M58A2 and the AN-M59A1 incorporate base-plate locking pins and the Adapter Booster M102A1, thus preventing removal of the base plate and adapter booster. Present production eliminates Auxiliary Booster M104.