Nederlandse 50 kg mijnbom8 kg scherfbomBrisantbomFokker TV The bomb-bay compartment was improvised awaiting a final decision on the types, shape and weight of the bombs. Furthermore a selection of the type of bomb-rack had to be made. The Dutch themselves did not produce any type of suitable bomb-rack and so for the time being a German [Heber] rack was selected for the first two planes. Regarding the bomb-rack an interesting and extended discussion followed. Fokker had requested the Dutch company Van Heyst to design a bomb-rack suitable for the T.V bomb-bay. Van Heyst had previously delivered the bomb-racks for the C.X which had caused all kinds of problems with the [gas-cartridge] release mechanism. Meanwhile Heber remained in contact with Fokker and stated they would be able to design a suitable tailor-made rack, based on an electro-magnetic release mechanism. Van Heyst continued to redesign new racks but time and again failed to meet the requirements. Then the decision was made to order two Heber racks and build the other racks in license. This decision came too late for the bombers to be equipped with the efficient German racks in May 1940. In the end - at 10 May 1940 - 2 of the T.V bombers were equipped with the Heber racks, whilst the other 14 planes had old racks of civil KLM planes [that could be fitted with old racks in order to use the planes as auxiliary bombers] installed! It would have serious consequences for the pay-load of the T-V's, that were as such only able to drop 400-600 kg bombs in stead of 1,200 kg!The plane was able to carry maximum pay-loads of 1,200 kg [4 x 300 kg] although in practise only the two T.V's equipped with Heber-type racks were indeed capable to carry this maximum load. The 14 T.V's with older rack types could only carry 400 kg of bombs [or 2 x 300 kg]. Usually 4 off 50 kg bombs and 2 off 100 kg bombs were carried, sometimes 8 x 50 kg [with a slightly adapted rack].Fokker C.X In 1936 none of the C.X's was fitted with an operable rack, for the Van Heyst design failed to pass the trials time and again. Workable racks would therefore only be installed on all C.X's at end of 1937. These racks were the best the Dutch industry could produce at that time - lacking any development experience with bombers. The C.V and C.X racks would still proof quite unreliable during the May War, when a number of planes would return with a considerable part of the ordinance still stuck to the rack(s). This aspect made the planes not only hard to trim during return-flight but it also posed a considerable danger during landing [with life bombs under the wings].The plane was capable of carrying 400 kg of bombs; either 8 x 25 kg, 8 x 50 kg or 4 x 100 kg. The first two configurations were applied during the May War.Er waren alleen bommen 50 en 100 kg voor C-X voorhanden. De 100 kg bommen zijn echter niet gebruikt [voorraad van 36 stuks] omdat geen ophangbanden voorhanden warenDouglas DB8A-N 600 kg bombs, in following configurations:- 20 x container of 13 parachute bombs- 2 x 200 kg- 4 x 100 kg- 8 x 50 kg- 2 x 300 kgThe Dutch tried to buy a large amount of suitable [parachute and shrapnel] bombs in the United States, which endeavours all seem to have failed. The last known efforts to convince the US Government to supply these projectiles was noted in April 1940 when a Dutch purchase committee met with the US defence department in relation to delivery of Curtiss CW-21B interception fighters. There is no proof that the Dutch had a large supply of bombs for the Douglas in May 1940; it is however certain that 72 of 50 kg bombs for these planes were stored at Halfweg [large ammo depot near Amsterdam] in the morning of the 10th. It is not traceable where these bombs came from or if these bombs were modified Dutch bombs. It is also obvious that the amount of bombs available was just enough to have every plane fly exactly one assault mission.Fokker CVTwo racks were installed under the wings, which could carry either 16 shrapnel bombs of 8 kg each, 4 x 25 kg or 4 x 50 kg. During the May War only the first two options were applied.