What's the designation of this short M116-type napalm container?

[Rob de Bie]

Recently I made a 3D CAD model of the 750 lbs M116 napalm bomb with open fuses/igniters, as used on prop aircraft.

 

 

 

But I also see a 'short' version of this weapon, like on the A-1E's below.

 

 

This photo shows the same load I believe, and it clearly shows they have exactly the same design for the nose section.

 

 

In this video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T-07nQhv8M the same weapon can be seen at least four times. I made screenshots.

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know what the designation was? I checked all the weapon technical manuals that I have as PDFs (like TM9-1325) but there's no trace of it. And to modify the CAD model into this version, I would love to know the length, of course. Thanks in advance!   Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob de Bie]

I have to add something : the details visible on the nose of both the long M116 and the short Mxxx are very specific. The have recessed beads in the 'bulkhead', there's a big igniter, on the top side there's a triangular piece to guide the fuse wire, and on the bottom side there a spur-like bracket, that rotates 90 degrees if a nose fairing is fitted.

 

The navy Mk 77 has completely different details on the nose. This is the best picture I could find quickly. Therefore the weapon shown above is not a Mk 77.

 

 

Rob

[Niels]

The MK77 came with different ends, some tippet, some blunt. 

Copied this overview freely from Wiki showing it came in many sizes; 

• Mk 77 Mod 0 - 750 lb (340 kg) total weight with 110 U.S. gallons (416 L; 92 imp gal) of petroleum oil.
• Mk 77 Mod 1 - 500 lb (230 kg) total weight with 75 U.S. gallons (284 L; 62 imp gal) of petroleum oil.
• Mk 77 Mod 2
• Mk 77 Mod 3
• Mk 77 Mod 4 - Approx 507 lb (230 kg) total weight with 75 U.S. gallons (284 L; 62 imp gal) of fuel (Used during the 1991 Gulf War)
• Mk 77 Mod 5 - Approx 507 lb (230 kg) total weight with 75 U.S. gallons (284 L; 62 imp gal) of JP-4/JP-5 or JP-8 fuel and thickener (Used during the 2003 invasion of Iraq)
• Mk 78 - 750 lb (340 kg) total weight with 110 U.S. gallons (416 L; 92 imp gal) of petroleum oil. No longer in service.
• Mk 79 - 1,000 lb (450 kg) total weight with 112 U.S. gallons (424 L; 93 imp gal) of napalm and petrol. No longer in service.

 as you see form the various weights it did come in differnt sizes. 

 

You also have the BLU-series which is described further here: 
BAK to BSU/BSG - Equipment Listing (designation-systems.net)

 

Both BLU-series and the Mk77 are quite similar in appearance and sizes, but covers most of the Napalm bombs around. 

 

 

 

 

[Rob de Bie]

Niels, thanks for the Mk 77 deatails, but it turns out it is a BLU-11. In manual TM 9-1325-200 it is described as a shortened 500 lbs version of the M116. The centersection is 25 inches shorter, and that is exactly what I needed to know.

 

Rob

[ChesshireCat]

On 4/13/2021 at 4:42 PM, Rob de Bie said:

Recently I made a 3D CAD model of the 750 lbs M116 napalm bomb with open fuses/igniters, as used on prop aircraft.

 

 

 

But I also see a 'short' version of this weapon, like on the A-1E's below.

 

 

This photo shows the same load I believe, and it clearly shows they have exactly the same design for the nose section.

 

 

In this video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T-07nQhv8M the same weapon can be seen at least four times. I made screenshots.

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know what the designation was? I checked all the weapon technical manuals that I have as PDFs (like TM9-1325) but there's no trace of it. And to modify the CAD model into this version, I would love to know the length, of course. Thanks in advance!   Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

also another shot of a Farmgate B26 with the glass nose! Pics are hard to by of these birds

gary