British Ordnance Collectors Network
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
gp 500 lbs
- Thread starter eifel
- Start date
Nice find there :tinysmile_fatgrin_t you never know what happens tomorrow :xd:
The paint job on that bomb looks amazing for being buried for 55 years! The two red bands around the body of the bomb, are the locations of the cardboard rings that were wrapped around to allow the bombs to be moved by being rolled. The bomb lugs were welded to the outside of the casing, and the entire casing was primed with the red primer. The rings were added, and then the OD green was sprayed on.
V40
Well-Known Member
Not to much into WWII ordnance and 500 lb bombs, so this may sound pretty stupid to all of you that do know.
Was the 500 lb bomb ever fitted with a fuze extender in WWII or Korea so that they could blow closer to the surface? I do know they were used extensively in Attack aircraft and some fighters during the Vietnam War.
Was the 500 lb bomb ever fitted with a fuze extender in WWII or Korea so that they could blow closer to the surface? I do know they were used extensively in Attack aircraft and some fighters during the Vietnam War.
Lou
Well-Known Member
Is it just me or does this thing look like its tail down in the hole?
V40
Well-Known Member
GP Bombs like the 500 pounder making contact on the ground is problematic at best. When these bombs hit soft earth and fail to explode, the bomb itself, once it is in the ground, it will tend to start making a curve back towards the surface. This is the path of least resistance. So knowing all of this, I would truely believe that that GP 500 could end back upright in the soil. From what I have been told and shown, this could happen to any bomb back then, but not so much as the modern day Bombs.
That is why the U.S. "Railroad Bomb" mine has a flat nose, so it doesn't deviate from impact point.
Around 1920, the U.S. Navy had Flat Nosed projectiles for guns 3 inch through 6 inch for use against submarines. The idea was that the wadcutter design wouldn't bounce off the water. They didn't remain in inventory for long.
Around 1920, the U.S. Navy had Flat Nosed projectiles for guns 3 inch through 6 inch for use against submarines. The idea was that the wadcutter design wouldn't bounce off the water. They didn't remain in inventory for long.
Attachments
Lou
Well-Known Member
Actually sir,thats a sweet looking munition.I think I could see something like that hanging in the garage better that a Mk82.Is there info on the fuze?
Tim,
I'm not sure if that information is still classified. I haven't personally configured this fuze for operation, but I could venture a guess.
The railroad bomb as it is usually called is an area denial munition. It gets its name from the practice of dropping time fuzed boobytrapped devices in railroad yards etc. so that everyone has to leave the area till it explodes. These mines, and Mark series bombs with "Destructor" or quickstrike hardware and fuzing can be used on land or as shallow water mines. The fuzes are designed to be programmed for a particular target by the magnetic field of the target, acoustic signature, seismic vibrations, etc.
A target counter would count how many trains went by or ships or people, before detonating.
U.S. Subs or some other active EOD folks may be able to offer more info that they can confirm is not classified.
I'm not sure if that information is still classified. I haven't personally configured this fuze for operation, but I could venture a guess.
The railroad bomb as it is usually called is an area denial munition. It gets its name from the practice of dropping time fuzed boobytrapped devices in railroad yards etc. so that everyone has to leave the area till it explodes. These mines, and Mark series bombs with "Destructor" or quickstrike hardware and fuzing can be used on land or as shallow water mines. The fuzes are designed to be programmed for a particular target by the magnetic field of the target, acoustic signature, seismic vibrations, etc.
A target counter would count how many trains went by or ships or people, before detonating.
U.S. Subs or some other active EOD folks may be able to offer more info that they can confirm is not classified.