BL755 01 bomb functioning
utaway model of two models bomblets as used in the BL-755 cluster bombs;
-the older type of bomblet - with the stainless steel coronet - ; the Bomblet HE, 1 Kg (2,15 Lb), No1, Mk1.
-the later(improved) type – with the parachute retarder - ; the Bomblet HE, 1 Kg (2,15 Lb), No.2, Mk.1.
Both bomblets have the same double function;
-armor piercing (shaped charge) against hard skinned targets like tanks and armored vehicles. Penetration of the No.1 bomblet is 250mm, penetration of the No.2 bomblet is suspected to be around 300mm.
- Fragmentation against troop concentrations and soft skinned targets like transport vehicles , parked aircraft and anti-aircraft positions. The bomblet produces appr. 2000 square splinters
The bomblets are packed in the ‘Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb with tail untit No.119 Mk1’.
There are several versions of the Bomb:
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1 Mk.1 (superseded in service), uses the No.1 Mk1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1A Mk.1 (superseded in service), uses the No.1 Mk1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1 Mk.4, uses the No.1 Mk.1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.2A Mk.1, uses the No.2 Mk.1 (parachute retarded) Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, practice No’s 1 and 1Am Mk4, loaded with inert filled bomblets
The Bomb, cluster, 600Lb description and functioning (P.01);
The Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb. is a free fall bomb comprising of a bomb body and a No. 119 Mk1 tail unit.
Inside the nose part of the bomb, the propeller (P01-01) driven Safety, Arming and Functioning Unit (SAFU) No.1 Mk2. (P01-02) is placed. Upon bomb release, a pull release wire (P01-03) is retracted from the SAFU, activating the SAFU. Behind the SAFU, the gas generator assembly (P01-04) is placed. The gas generator houses two gas pressure cartridges. The first gas pressure cartridge (P01-05) is firing pin activated by the SAFU, the second gas pressure cartridge (P01-06) is ignited later on by gas pressure of the first gas pressure cartridge. The gas generator housing has a number of holes drilled which lead the gas from the first pressure cartridge to two opposite sets of pistons and a firing pin piston. The first set of pistons (P01-07) have a wedge shaped edge which –when moving outward- will pull two latches -connected to a rail alongside the bomb body- forward, unlocking the two skin pieces of the bomb body. The second set of pistons (P01-08 ), -being activated after the first set of pistons with the wedges have moved outward, opening a channel-, pushes the two skin pieces (P01-09) outward with force, removing the skin of the bomb body. When this second set of pistons moves outward it also releases a channel that launches a piston with a firing pin (P01-10) backward, igniting the second pressure cartridge (P01-06).
The gas pipe (P01-11) is placed into the back of the gas generator and forms the backbone of the bomb. It has six gas dustribution blocks (P01-12) –each with seven ports in an circular array- placed over the pipe, as well as the bulkheads (or trays) between the bomblet packages. The first gas distribution block is connected to the back of the gas generator housing.
When the second pressure cartridge is ignited, a driving collar is pushed backward, breaking through shear plates, driving the gas tube backward, aligning the holes in the pipe with the holes in the gas distribution blocks.
Within the bomb body 147 bomblets are housed in a column of seven trays each containing 21 bomblets. Each tray is one of a circular array of 7 x 3 bombs, each placed in a Y shaped saddle, lined with an inflatable rubber bag (P01-13) (a kind of airbag), connected to a gas port of the gas distribution block (P01-12), used to throw the bomblets (P01-14) outward after the skin of the bomb is ejected. The ports leading to the rubber bags have different sized holes, causing each package of three bomblets to be ejected outward with a different speed, as the inflatable rubber bags expand with different speed. This is arrayed I such a way that a pattern of even distribution is enshured and bombs will not interfere upon ejection.
In the tail No.199 Mk1 four spring loaded fins are kept inward by a locking mechanism, to be released -to pop outward- by a pull wire (P01-15) upon bomb release. An interesting safety mechanism is built in the tail; a spring loaded gas release valve is placed in the back end of the gas pipe which runs from the distribution block to the back of the bomb, kept in opened position as long as the bomb tail is in unarmed position. Upon ejection of the bomb it is activated by a pull release wire (P01-16) and closes. In safe condition, the holes in the gas tube are not in line with the holes in the distribution blocks, and the base is now open (valve open), so in case of an accidental ignition of the first and secondary gas cartridges the skin is thrown off, but the pressure of the ejection cartridge is lead away through the valve(P1-5A) in the tail, not launching the bomblets.
On average, an oval footprint of 30x100 mtrs is covered by the bomblets.
BL755 01 bomb functioning
utaway model of two models bomblets as used in the BL-755 cluster bombs;
-the older type of bomblet - with the stainless steel coronet - ; the Bomblet HE, 1 Kg (2,15 Lb), No1, Mk1.
-the later(improved) type – with the parachute retarder - ; the Bomblet HE, 1 Kg (2,15 Lb), No.2, Mk.1.
Both bomblets have the same double function;
-armor piercing (shaped charge) against hard skinned targets like tanks and armored vehicles. Penetration of the No.1 bomblet is 250mm, penetration of the No.2 bomblet is suspected to be around 300mm.
- Fragmentation against troop concentrations and soft skinned targets like transport vehicles , parked aircraft and anti-aircraft positions. The bomblet produces appr. 2000 square splinters
The bomblets are packed in the ‘Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb with tail untit No.119 Mk1’.
There are several versions of the Bomb:
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1 Mk.1 (superseded in service), uses the No.1 Mk1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1A Mk.1 (superseded in service), uses the No.1 Mk1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.1 Mk.4, uses the No.1 Mk.1 Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, No.2A Mk.1, uses the No.2 Mk.1 (parachute retarded) Bomblets.
- Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb, practice No’s 1 and 1Am Mk4, loaded with inert filled bomblets
The Bomb, cluster, 600Lb description and functioning (P.01);
The Bomb, cluster, 600 Lb. is a free fall bomb comprising of a bomb body and a No. 119 Mk1 tail unit.
Inside the nose part of the bomb, the propeller (P01-01) driven Safety, Arming and Functioning Unit (SAFU) No.1 Mk2. (P01-02) is placed. Upon bomb release, a pull release wire (P01-03) is retracted from the SAFU, activating the SAFU. Behind the SAFU, the gas generator assembly (P01-04) is placed. The gas generator houses two gas pressure cartridges. The first gas pressure cartridge (P01-05) is firing pin activated by the SAFU, the second gas pressure cartridge (P01-06) is ignited later on by gas pressure of the first gas pressure cartridge. The gas generator housing has a number of holes drilled which lead the gas from the first pressure cartridge to two opposite sets of pistons and a firing pin piston. The first set of pistons (P01-07) have a wedge shaped edge which –when moving outward- will pull two latches -connected to a rail alongside the bomb body- forward, unlocking the two skin pieces of the bomb body. The second set of pistons (P01-08 ), -being activated after the first set of pistons with the wedges have moved outward, opening a channel-, pushes the two skin pieces (P01-09) outward with force, removing the skin of the bomb body. When this second set of pistons moves outward it also releases a channel that launches a piston with a firing pin (P01-10) backward, igniting the second pressure cartridge (P01-06).
The gas pipe (P01-11) is placed into the back of the gas generator and forms the backbone of the bomb. It has six gas dustribution blocks (P01-12) –each with seven ports in an circular array- placed over the pipe, as well as the bulkheads (or trays) between the bomblet packages. The first gas distribution block is connected to the back of the gas generator housing.
When the second pressure cartridge is ignited, a driving collar is pushed backward, breaking through shear plates, driving the gas tube backward, aligning the holes in the pipe with the holes in the gas distribution blocks.
Within the bomb body 147 bomblets are housed in a column of seven trays each containing 21 bomblets. Each tray is one of a circular array of 7 x 3 bombs, each placed in a Y shaped saddle, lined with an inflatable rubber bag (P01-13) (a kind of airbag), connected to a gas port of the gas distribution block (P01-12), used to throw the bomblets (P01-14) outward after the skin of the bomb is ejected. The ports leading to the rubber bags have different sized holes, causing each package of three bomblets to be ejected outward with a different speed, as the inflatable rubber bags expand with different speed. This is arrayed I such a way that a pattern of even distribution is enshured and bombs will not interfere upon ejection.
In the tail No.199 Mk1 four spring loaded fins are kept inward by a locking mechanism, to be released -to pop outward- by a pull wire (P01-15) upon bomb release. An interesting safety mechanism is built in the tail; a spring loaded gas release valve is placed in the back end of the gas pipe which runs from the distribution block to the back of the bomb, kept in opened position as long as the bomb tail is in unarmed position. Upon ejection of the bomb it is activated by a pull release wire (P01-16) and closes. In safe condition, the holes in the gas tube are not in line with the holes in the distribution blocks, and the base is now open (valve open), so in case of an accidental ignition of the first and secondary gas cartridges the skin is thrown off, but the pressure of the ejection cartridge is lead away through the valve(P1-5A) in the tail, not launching the bomblets.
On average, an oval footprint of 30x100 mtrs is covered by the bomblets.