The Mark 81 (Mk 81) 250-pound (110 kg) general-purpose bomb (nicknamed "Firecracker") is the smallest of the Mark 80 series of low-draggeneral-purpose bombs.
Mark 81 General Purpose (GP) Bomb
Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs, with Mark 14 TRD (Tail Retarding Device) attached, aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133).
Developed for United States military forces in the 1950s, it was first used during the Vietnam War. The bomb consists of a forged steel case with 96 pounds (44 kg) of Composition H6, Minol or Tritonalexplosive. The power of the Mk 81 was found to be inadequate for U.S. military tactical use, and it was quickly discontinued, although license-built copies or duplicates of this weapon remain in service with various other nations.
Development of a precision guided variant of the Mk 81 bomb (GBU-29) was started due to its potential to reduce collateral damage compared to larger bombs, but this program has now been cancelled[1] in favor of the Small Diameter Bomb.
VariantsEdit
Mark 81 Snakeye fitted with a Mark 14 TRD (Tail Retarding Device) to increase the bomb's drag after release. The bomb's increased air-time, coupled with its (relatively) forgiving safe drop envelope, allowed for very low-level bombing runs at slower speed. Used commonly in the close air support role in Vietnam (prior to wider availability of GBU-series precision ordnance). Nicknamed "snake", as in the typical Vietnam support loadout of "snake and nape" (250-lb. Mk-81 Snakeye bombs and 500-lb. M-47 napalm canisters).
^ ab"GBU-29 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
SourcesEdit
Tom, Gervasi (1981). Arsenal of Democracy II: American military power in the 1980s and the origins of the new cold war with a survey of American weapons and arms exports. Vol. 2 (Paperback ed.). London, England: The Book Service (TBS) Ltd. ISBN978-0-394-17662-8.
External linksEdit
Mk81 GP Bomb
Mk81 General-Purpose Bomb
DUMB BOMBS, FUZES, AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS
October 15, 2023
mark, bomb, mark, pound, general, purpose, bomb, nicknamed, firecracker, smallest, mark, series, drag, general, purpose, bombs, mark, general, purpose, bombcrewmen, upload, three, mark, general, purpose, high, explosive, bombs, with, mark, tail, retarding, dev. The Mark 81 Mk 81 250 pound 110 kg general purpose bomb nicknamed Firecracker is the smallest of the Mark 80 series of low drag general purpose bombs Mark 81 General Purpose GP BombCrewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs with Mark 14 TRD Tail Retarding Device attached aboard an A 4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133 VMA 133 TypeLow drag general purpose bombPlace of originUnited StatesSpecificationsMass262 lb 119 kg Length74 in 1 88 m Diameter9 in 23 cm FillingTritonal Minol or Composition H6Filling weight96 lb 44 kg Contents 1 Development and deployment 2 Variants 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Sources 5 External linksDevelopment and deployment EditDeveloped for United States military forces in the 1950s it was first used during the Vietnam War The bomb consists of a forged steel case with 96 pounds 44 kg of Composition H6 Minol or Tritonal explosive The power of the Mk 81 was found to be inadequate for U S military tactical use and it was quickly discontinued although license built copies or duplicates of this weapon remain in service with various other nations Development of a precision guided variant of the Mk 81 bomb GBU 29 was started due to its potential to reduce collateral damage compared to larger bombs but this program has now been cancelled 1 in favor of the Small Diameter Bomb Variants EditMark 81 Snakeye fitted with a Mark 14 TRD Tail Retarding Device to increase the bomb s drag after release The bomb s increased air time coupled with its relatively forgiving safe drop envelope allowed for very low level bombing runs at slower speed Used commonly in the close air support role in Vietnam prior to wider availability of GBU series precision ordnance Nicknamed snake as in the typical Vietnam support loadout of snake and nape 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs and 500 lb M 47 napalm canisters GBU 29 Joint Direct Attack Munition a precision guided version of the Mark 81 cancelled 1 See also EditMark 82 bomb Mark 83 bomb Mark 84 bombReferences EditCitations Edit a b GBU 29 Joint Direct Attack Munition JDAM GlobalSecurity org Retrieved 13 October 2010 Sources Edit Tom Gervasi 1981 Arsenal of Democracy II American military power in the 1980s and the origins of the new cold war with a survey of American weapons and arms exports Vol 2 Paperback ed London England The Book Service TBS Ltd ISBN 978 0 394 17662 8 External links EditMk81 GP Bomb Mk81 General Purpose Bomb DUMB BOMBS FUZES AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mark 81 bomb amp oldid 1068318143, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
