BL755
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| BL755 | |
|---|---|
| Primary function: | Low-altitude armor piercing bomb |
| Weight: | 582 lb (264 kg) |
| Length: | 96.5 in (2.451 m) |
| Diameter: | 16.5 in (0.419 m) |
| Payload: | 147 fragmentation bomblets |
| Range: | Varies by method of employment |
BL755 is a cluster bomb. Its primary targets are armored vehicles and tanks with secondary soft target (anti personnel) capabilities.
[edit] Design
The BL755 looks like a standard 1,000 lb (450 kg) store but with a hard "saddle" on the spine for ejector release and crutching pad loads and a distinctive large turbine-like air arming vane on the nose. The four rear fins are very squared off in appearance, but on closer inspection can be seen to be hollow and telescopic. A central extruded aluminum skeleton provides seven bays long by seven bays around, each containing 21 submunitions (147 total). These are telescoped and expand to their full length on ejection by a central cartridge and individual "balloon" for each bay. A focal distance standoff and detonating device deploys in front with a stabilizing device aft. They are self contained with their own SAFU (safety and arming unit). Each has a shaped charge for armor penetration, the casing of which is constructed from wound tesselated square wire, reputedly providing about 1400 anti personnel fragments. Together with the debris of other parts of the weapon, total fragment count approaches a quarter of a million. It is rumored the remains of the main weapon skeleton itself has enough kinetic energy to strip the tracks off a tank. The original stabilizing device was a spring steel "coronet". Apparently tests were later performed on a rigid plastic para-cup as a cost saving idea. This was found to be too stable and did not disperse the bomblets sufficiently. Rumor has it that this was resurrected for a dive-bomb attack version.
The weapon was developed in the early 1970s by Hunting Engineering, Ltd. of Ampthill, Bedfordshire but manufactured elsewhere at their production facility.
[edit] Deployment
The bomb is carried by Harrier, Jaguar, and Tornado planes for release at low-altitudes. After release, extendable fins deploy for added stability. A primary cartridge causes the skins to be stripped exposing the payload. A secondary cartridge then ejects the bomblets (submunitions). This is a "shotgun" weapon. It provides a high probability of kill by spreading the many small submunitions evenly over a wide area, each with sufficiently small separation and power to guaranteed to disable or destroy the intended target. Thus pinpoint accuracy is not required, or large dispersed groups of targets can be attacked with one weapon. This is versatile and highly effective weapon against many types of targets.
