CBU-72 / BLU-73/B Fuel/Air Explosive (FAE)
The the 550-pound CBU-72 cluster bomb contains three submunitions
known as fuel/air explosive (FAE). The submunitions weigh approximately
100 pounds and contain 75 pounds of ethylene oxide with air-burst fuzing
set for 30 feet. An aerosol cloud approximately 60 feet in diameter and
8 feet thick is created and ignited by an embedded detonator to produce an explosion. This cluster munition is effective against minefields, armored vehicles, aircraft parked in the open, and bunkers.
During Desert Storm the Marine
Corps dropped all 254 CBU-72s, primarily from A-6Es, against mine
fields and personnel in trenches. Some secondary explosions were noted
when it was used as a mine clearer; however, FAE was primarily useful
as a psychological weapon.
Second-generation FAE weapons were
developed from the FAE I type devices (CBU-55/72) used in Vietnam.
Specifications
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Weight: | 500 pounds
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Length: | 85.6 inches
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Diameter: | 14 inches
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Guidance: | None
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Control: | None
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Autopilot: | None
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Propulsion: | None
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Warhead: | 3 BLU-73/B Fuel
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Fuse: | Mark 339 Mod 0 Mechanical
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Aircraft |
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Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/cbu-72.htm
Maintained by Webmaster
Updated Thursday, February 05, 1998 11:42:05 AM
