CBU-55

CBU-55

The CBU-55 was a cluster bomb incendiary device that was developed during the Vietnam War, by the United States Army, and was used only once in warfare. Unlike most incendiaries, which contained napalm or phosphorus, the 750 pound CBU-55 was fueled by primarily by propane. Described as a "the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal," Spencer C. Tucker, "Vietnam", UCL Press, 1999, p.185 ] the device was one of the more powerful conventional weapons designed for warfare.

Design

The device had three main compartments, with propane, a blend of other gases, and an explosive.

The CBU-55 had two variations. The CBU-55/B consisted of 3 BLU-73A/B fuel-air explosive bombs in a SUU-49/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser, and the CBU-55A/B had 3 BLU-73A/B bombs in a SUU-49A/B dispenser) [ [http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/asetds/u-s.html SBU/SBK to SXU - Equipment Listing ] ] . The SUU-49/B dispenser could be carried only by helicopters or low-speed aircraft, whereas the SUU-49A/B was redesigned with a strongback and folding tailfins, so that they could also be delivered by high-speed aircraft as well.

History

The first generation of the CBU-55 was used during the Vietnam War. By April 21, 1975, South Vietnam had largely been conquered by the invading military from the north. Earlier in the month, a single CBU-55 had been flown from Thailand to the Bien Hoa airbase. The senior military officer in Vietnam, Major General Homer Smith, cleared the way for the Saigon government to use the weapon against the North Vietnamese Army. A Vietnamese C-130 transport plane circled Xuan Loc at convert|20000|ft|m, then dropped the bomb. The contents exploded in a fireball over a four acre area. Experts estimated that 250 soldiers had been killed, primarily by the immediate depletion of oxygen rather than from burns. The CBU-55 was never used again in the war, and South Vietnam's government surrendered on April 30.

A second-generation of the CBU-55 (and CBU-72) fuel-air weapons entered the United States military arsenal after the Vietnam was, and were used by the United States in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm [ [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/cbu-72.htm CBU-72 / BLU-73/B Fuel/Air Explosive (FAE) - Dumb Bombs ] ] .

ee also

*List of Cluster Bombs

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • CBU — may mean:* California Baptist University, in Riverside, California * Christian Brothers University, in Memphis, Tennessee * Cape Breton University, in Sydney, Nova Scotia * Celal Bayar University, in Manisa, Turkey * The Copperbelt University, in …   Wikipedia

  • cbu — MANUFACTURING abbreviation for completely built up * * * CBU UK US adjective PRODUCTION ► ABBREVIATION for COMPLETELY BUILT UP(Cf. ↑completely built up) → …   Financial and business terms

  • CBU — ist: die englische Abkürzung für cluster bomb unit = Streubombe der IATA Code für den Flugplatz Cottbus Drewitz in der Logistik eine Complete Build up Unit fertig montierte Anlagen, Maschinen, Autos, etc, siehe Completely Built Up …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cbu — ist: die englische Schreibweise cluster bomb unit für eine Streubombe der IATA Code für den Flugplatz Cottbus Drewitz in der Logistik eine Complete Build up Unit fertig montierte Anlagen, Maschinen, Autos, etc …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • CBU (AM) — Infobox Radio Station name = CBU airdate = 1925 frequency = 690 kHz (AM)| city = Vancouver, British Columbia area = South Coast format = public broadcasting owner = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation erp = 50,000 watts branding = CBC Radio One… …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-FM — Infobox Radio Station name = CBU FM airdate = 1947 frequency = 105.7 MHz (FM) area = Vancouver, British Columbia format = public broadcasting owner = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation erp = branding = CBC Radio Two slogan = class = website =… …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-72 — The CBU 72 was a 550 pound American fuel air cluster bomb used by the United States Military until 1996. It was very effective against armored vehicles, aircraft parked in the open, bunkers, and minefields.DesignThe CBU 72 consisted of three fuel …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-75 — The CBU 75 Sadeye was a United States cluster bomb used during the Vietnam War. It could hold 1,800 one pound BLU 46 anti personnel bomblets, each of which containing 0.7 lbs of explosives with impact or time delay fuzes that would produce around …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-98/B — The CBU 98/B (also known as a Direct Airfield Attack Combined Munition or DAACM) [ [http://www.personal.psu.edu/dob104/aviation/us/bomb.html B Bombs/Bomb Units ] ] was a planned 385 kg (850 lb) anti airfield cluster bomb, which consisted of 8 BLU …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-24 — The CBU 24 (Cluster Bomb Unit 24) is a weapon developed by the United States for anti personnel purposes.The weapon contains 665 BLU 26 tennis ball sized submunitions, each designed to detonate with 600 metal fragments for an anti personnel/anti… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”