The BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb is the submunition used in several cluster bomb type weapon systems, mainly the CBU-87 and its precision-guided version CBU-103. When the bomblets fall, they separate from the main bomb and independently free fall to the ground. They contain an inflatable bag (ballute) on the top of them, which slows them down and spreads them out. Once the bomblets reach a force of 6 Gs they arm themselves. As the bomblets fall, they are also spinning. Arming takes about 2.6 seconds. They have a combined shaped charge, fragmentation and incendiary effect on the target. It is very effective against and mainly used for anti-personnel, anti-materiel, and anti-armor.
Over two million of these sub-munitions were dropped over Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War. A 5% dud rate was expected, so around 100,000 unexploded bomblets remained after the war. Each was fitted with an extremely sensitive fuze and the US Army recommended that they not be moved. Clearing this unexploded ordnance resulted in several accidents. On one occasion, seven US combat engineers from Company A of the 27th Engineer Battalion died attempting to clear the runway at the As Salam airbase in Iraq. [1]
In 2003 humanitarian groups expressed concern that the BLU-97/B bomblets were the same size and color as food rations given to children in Afghanistan.[2][3] Although the latter are square and the former cylindrical, both are dropped from U.S. planes and both are yellow so that they are easy to spot on the ground. The United States responded to the criticism by changing the color of future food packages and warning civilians through announcements and flyers. Pentagon officials also said that the packages had not been dropped in the same areas as cluster bombs. [4]
^Lieutenant Colonel Gary W. Wright (22 April 1993). "Scatterable Munitions = Unexploded Ordnance = Fratricide" (PDF). US Army War College. (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2018.
^Geoff Keele (2 April 2003). "Concern that food ration and bomblet 'BLU 97' are identical in colour". UNICEF.
^"The use of cluster munitions in the war on terrorism".
^"Fatally Flawed: Cluster Bombs and Their Use by the United States in Afghanistan". HRW. 18 December 2002.
combined, effects, bomb, submunition, used, several, cluster, bomb, type, weapon, systems, mainly, precision, guided, version, when, bomblets, fall, they, separate, from, main, bomb, independently, free, fall, ground, they, contain, inflatable, ballute, them, . The BLU 97 B Combined Effects Bomb is the submunition used in several cluster bomb type weapon systems mainly the CBU 87 and its precision guided version CBU 103 When the bomblets fall they separate from the main bomb and independently free fall to the ground They contain an inflatable bag ballute on the top of them which slows them down and spreads them out Once the bomblets reach a force of 6 Gs they arm themselves As the bomblets fall they are also spinning Arming takes about 2 6 seconds They have a combined shaped charge fragmentation and incendiary effect on the target It is very effective against and mainly used for anti personnel anti materiel and anti armor A ZSU 23 4 targeted by munitions missile AGM 154 Joint Standoff Weapon during an exercise Over two million of these sub munitions were dropped over Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War A 5 dud rate was expected so around 100 000 unexploded bomblets remained after the war Each was fitted with an extremely sensitive fuze and the US Army recommended that they not be moved Clearing this unexploded ordnance resulted in several accidents On one occasion seven US combat engineers from Company A of the 27th Engineer Battalion died attempting to clear the runway at the As Salam airbase in Iraq 1 In 2003 humanitarian groups expressed concern that the BLU 97 B bomblets were the same size and color as food rations given to children in Afghanistan 2 3 Although the latter are square and the former cylindrical both are dropped from U S planes and both are yellow so that they are easy to spot on the ground The United States responded to the criticism by changing the color of future food packages and warning civilians through announcements and flyers Pentagon officials also said that the packages had not been dropped in the same areas as cluster bombs 4 Contents 1 Specifications 2 Weapon systems 3 References 4 External linksSpecifications EditLength Stored 16 8 cm 6 6 in Deployed w o retarder canopy 22 6 cm 8 9 in Diameter 63 5 mm 2 5 in Weight 1 54 kg 3 4 lb Explosive Standard 287 g 0 63 lb Cyclotol Insensitive Munitions IM version PBXN 107 Warhead Shaped charge fragmenting casing and incendiary zirconium ring 5 Weapon systems EditCBU 87 Combined Effects Munition AGM 154A Joint Standoff Weapon RGM UGM 109D Tomahawk AGM 137 TSSAMReferences Edit Lieutenant Colonel Gary W Wright 22 April 1993 Scatterable Munitions Unexploded Ordnance Fratricide PDF US Army War College Archived PDF from the original on 29 July 2018 Geoff Keele 2 April 2003 Concern that food ration and bomblet BLU 97 are identical in colour UNICEF The use of cluster munitions in the war on terrorism Fatally Flawed Cluster Bombs and Their Use by the United States in Afghanistan HRW 18 December 2002 BLU 97 B Combined Effects Bomb CEB GlobalSecurity orgExternal links EditUS used BLU 97 A B submunition in Yemen December 17 2009 This article relating to bombs is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BLU 97 B Combined Effects Bomb amp oldid 1091162982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
