Posted on 11/05/2001 5:47:46 PM PST by Lady In Blue
Nov 5, 2001
WASHINGTON (AP) - With its use of the 15,000-pound "daisy cutter" bomb in Afghanistan, the United States has unleashed one of its most powerful weapons - billed as the world's largest conventional bomb.
The BLU-82 combines a watery mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum with air, then ignites the mist for a huge explosion that incinerates everything within up to 600 yards. The shock wave can be felt miles away.
The BLU-82 uses about six times the amount of ammonium nitrate explosive that Timothy McVeigh used in the bomb that blew up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.
First created during the Vietnam War to quickly clear jungle landing zones, the daisy cutter also was used against Iraqi troops during the Gulf War. Reports from the ground in Afghanistan indicate the huge bombs have been used against front-line Taliban positions.
The bombs cost about $27,000 each. They are dropped from a C-130 cargo plane flying at least 6,000 feet off the ground, to avoid the bomb's massive shock wave. Each is more than 17 feet long and 5 feet in diameter - about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle but far heavier.
AP-ES-11-05-01 2047EST
This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA6ASS1PTC.html
"What kind of accuracy can they get from 30,000 feet?"
With a blast radius of 600 yards, what kind of accuracy do you need?
LOL! My exact thoughts!
I'm not sure, but I think they kick it out the back of a C-130 from a relatively low altitude.
How would you like to see that monstrosity on a parachute coming at you? Wow!!
I've got big bombs
I've got big bombs
Dirty big bombs...
How about we drop on them an even bigger one in the shape of a Ryder truck. Taste of their own evil medicine.
dep
Oops, that was us!
Never mind.
They drop the bomb from 6000' according to the article (last paragraph). While that is still pretty high, with this kind of power, accuracy is of secondary importance.
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