Russian AO-1Sch & RKB-250 usage in Syria
Currently -sad enough- in the news in Syria: the Russian AO-1Sch clusterbomb. AO stands for Aviatsionnaya oskolochnaya which translates to Aircraft fragmentation. The origine of this clusterbomb can be traced back to WW2 when this clusterbomb was made of rejected 5cm mortar bodys (AO-1 / AO-1M). This post war example has a machined cast steel body in which a central hole with a flat base is drilled. The topside of the hole is threaded to receive the AM-A impact fuze.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/video/video_combat/13074138/__Clusterbommen_gebruikt_tegen_de_vijand_in_Syrie__.html?column=page.left.row3-3-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUj0ocH87EU
http://newsmotion.org/tags/ao-1-sch
The AM-A impact fuze exist of a steel body to which the steel housing for the duplex detonator is screwed in the base. On the inside of the fuze body a black bakelite guidance cylinder for the firing pin needle is placed. The firing pin/needle has a paper thin sheet steel flange in top which rests on the top shoulder of the bakelite cylinder. Upon impact the air above the flange is pressed inward bending the flange downward , pushing the needle into the mercury fulminate (gray) detonator. This will detonate the main charge in the bomb body. The fuze has no further safety mechanisms. The AO-1Sch bombs are placed with the fuze pointing backward in the cluster bomb body.
A big problem with this type of clusterbomb is that the duplex detonator is comletely filled with mercury fulminate. Mst of these bombs are probably old stock from the 60s, 70 and 80s of the last century. Mercury fulminate desintegrates after the passing of time making it more and more insensitive.
A too low ejection heigth as well as a too low or too high ejection speed can also contribute to many duds as the clusterbombs hit the ground in a shallow angle either with too low a speed to generate enough force to activate the fuze.
Regretfully, the large numbers of AO-1Sch duds will result in many future deads and crippled, especially amongst civilians who are often ignorant to the great danger of handling duds.
The tail exists of a pressed steel cup to which four fins are spot welded. On the inside of this four fins a sheet steel ring is spotwelded. The tail is connected to the base of the bomb body by means of two spot welds.
AO- 1Sch data:
Total bomb length : 185mm
Diameter over tail fins : 60mm
Length of cast steel bomb body : 100mm
Diameter of bomb body : 48mm
Weight : 1,3 kg
Explosive charge in bomb body : 40 grams of A-IX-1 (RDX-wax 96/4) or 40 grams of A-IX-2 (RDX/Aluminium/wax 73/23/4).
150 pcs. AO-1Sch clusterbombs are placed in the RBK-250 clusterbomb body, placed in five stacked circular trays with 30 clusterbombs each. The bomb exists of a one piece nose and body (A), open at the base. In this bomb body the five trays (B) are placed over a steel central rod (C). To the frontside of this rod a headpiece (D) is welded which fits over a pipe (E) which is connected to the nosepiece of the bomb body. The expulsion charge (F) is placed in this pipe. The headpiece and the pipe are fixated to one another by two steel balls (G) in a hole, kept in outward -fixated- position by a piston (H). Upon ignition of the expulsion charge, the gasses push the piston downward allowing the balls to fall inward, releasing the headpiece from the pipe. The gasses fill up and pressurize the space between the flanges (J), pushing the tail, the rod (C) and the trays (B) with the AO-1ST sch bombs (K) backward, opening the bomb body like a match box. The two steel cables (L) are just a little longer than the bomb body, enshuring the trays slide of the rod upon expulsion.
The time fuze is screwed into the nose (M).
Regards, DJH
Currently -sad enough- in the news in Syria: the Russian AO-1Sch clusterbomb. AO stands for Aviatsionnaya oskolochnaya which translates to Aircraft fragmentation. The origine of this clusterbomb can be traced back to WW2 when this clusterbomb was made of rejected 5cm mortar bodys (AO-1 / AO-1M). This post war example has a machined cast steel body in which a central hole with a flat base is drilled. The topside of the hole is threaded to receive the AM-A impact fuze.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/video/video_combat/13074138/__Clusterbommen_gebruikt_tegen_de_vijand_in_Syrie__.html?column=page.left.row3-3-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUj0ocH87EU
http://newsmotion.org/tags/ao-1-sch
The AM-A impact fuze exist of a steel body to which the steel housing for the duplex detonator is screwed in the base. On the inside of the fuze body a black bakelite guidance cylinder for the firing pin needle is placed. The firing pin/needle has a paper thin sheet steel flange in top which rests on the top shoulder of the bakelite cylinder. Upon impact the air above the flange is pressed inward bending the flange downward , pushing the needle into the mercury fulminate (gray) detonator. This will detonate the main charge in the bomb body. The fuze has no further safety mechanisms. The AO-1Sch bombs are placed with the fuze pointing backward in the cluster bomb body.
A big problem with this type of clusterbomb is that the duplex detonator is comletely filled with mercury fulminate. Mst of these bombs are probably old stock from the 60s, 70 and 80s of the last century. Mercury fulminate desintegrates after the passing of time making it more and more insensitive.
A too low ejection heigth as well as a too low or too high ejection speed can also contribute to many duds as the clusterbombs hit the ground in a shallow angle either with too low a speed to generate enough force to activate the fuze.
Regretfully, the large numbers of AO-1Sch duds will result in many future deads and crippled, especially amongst civilians who are often ignorant to the great danger of handling duds.
The tail exists of a pressed steel cup to which four fins are spot welded. On the inside of this four fins a sheet steel ring is spotwelded. The tail is connected to the base of the bomb body by means of two spot welds.
AO- 1Sch data:
Total bomb length : 185mm
Diameter over tail fins : 60mm
Length of cast steel bomb body : 100mm
Diameter of bomb body : 48mm
Weight : 1,3 kg
Explosive charge in bomb body : 40 grams of A-IX-1 (RDX-wax 96/4) or 40 grams of A-IX-2 (RDX/Aluminium/wax 73/23/4).
150 pcs. AO-1Sch clusterbombs are placed in the RBK-250 clusterbomb body, placed in five stacked circular trays with 30 clusterbombs each. The bomb exists of a one piece nose and body (A), open at the base. In this bomb body the five trays (B) are placed over a steel central rod (C). To the frontside of this rod a headpiece (D) is welded which fits over a pipe (E) which is connected to the nosepiece of the bomb body. The expulsion charge (F) is placed in this pipe. The headpiece and the pipe are fixated to one another by two steel balls (G) in a hole, kept in outward -fixated- position by a piston (H). Upon ignition of the expulsion charge, the gasses push the piston downward allowing the balls to fall inward, releasing the headpiece from the pipe. The gasses fill up and pressurize the space between the flanges (J), pushing the tail, the rod (C) and the trays (B) with the AO-1ST sch bombs (K) backward, opening the bomb body like a match box. The two steel cables (L) are just a little longer than the bomb body, enshuring the trays slide of the rod upon expulsion.
The time fuze is screwed into the nose (M).
Regards, DJH
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