M117 bomb

M117
TypeFree-fall demolition bomb[1]
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1950s–2015
Used by
Wars
Production history
VariantsM117A1, M117A1E2, M117D, M117R
Specifications
Mass340 kg
Length2.06 m-2.16 m
Diameter408 mm
Wingspan520 mm
Maximum firing rangeAir Dropped
WarheadTritonal or Minol
Warhead weight171 - 183 Kg
Guidance
system
none, free-fall
An F-100D of the 308th TFS, being loaded with Mk 117 750 lb bombs at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam, in early 1966

The M117 is an air-dropped demolition bomb[1] used by United States military forces. The weapon dates back to the Korean War of the early 1950s. Although it has a nominal weight of 750 pounds (340 kg) its actual weight, depending on fuze and retardation options, can be around 820 pounds (372 kg). The bomb's explosive content is typically 386 pounds (175 kg) of Tritonal[1] or 377 pounds (171 kg) of Minol in the case of the M117A1E2[5] due to their higher density and detonation velocity compared to TNT. Demolition bombs rely on time delayed fuzes which allow the bomb to burrow into a building or other structure before detonating. The M117 can be configured with a conical low-drag tail for medium and high altitude deliveries or a high-drag tail fin for low-altitude drops, delaying the bombs hitting their targets ensuring bombers are out of the blast zone before detonation.[6] The M117 was the basis for the BOLT-117, the world's first laser-guided bomb.[7]

  1. ^ a b c "OP 1280 Aircraft Bombs" (PDF). 30 August 1955. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  2. ^ "SINKEX: Indonesian Frigate Sunk By Missiles And Bombs". navalnews.com. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. ^ Israeli Air Force. "היום העשירי ללחימה: ממשיכים בתקיפה עצימה של בתי פעילי חמאס, חיסול בכירים, תשתיות, מתקנים צבאיים ומפקדות צבאיות. אנחנו לא נשתוק נגד טרור החמאס". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ^ a b Panella, Chris. "As Israeli jets devastate Gaza, air force photos show fighter aircraft armed with what look like unguided 'dumb' bombs". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. ^ "Technical Order 11-1-25 Bombs and Bomb Components" (PDF). April 1966. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  6. ^ USAF Museum: M117 Bomb Archived 2010-12-25 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference csepp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).