RE: Manaul inaccuracies
Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:12 pm
OK - as seen on The THREAD!!! (the true source of all knowledge) - and here is info from Nik:
So, i am guessing the bomb i read about (apparently more than 2 years ago) was the 1400 lb AP M63.
Yes, all of the prewar AP "bombs" were in fact, converted shells:
M52 - 1000lb AP
M60 - 900lb AP
M61 - 800lb AP
M62 - 600lb AP
M63 - 1400lb AP
The M63 was converted from USN 14inch AP shells. The M63 was not a standard loadout given magazine size restrictions. As mentioned, at Midway only 1 of the 3 CV's present had any in the mags at the time. (18 onboard Enterprise) USN pre-war/early war doctrine specified the Torpedo as the carrier's dedicated "heavy anti ship" weapon. GP and SAP bombs had far more utility in terms of range of targets (including the vulnerable wooden decks of carriers which were to have been the carriers primary target during anti-scouting ops) and were the majority weapon stored in the mags.
So, i am guessing the bomb i read about (apparently more than 2 years ago) was the 1400 lb AP M63.