Mark 84 bomb
Encyclopedia
The Mark 84 is an American
general-purpose bomb
, it is also the largest of the Mark 80 series of weapons. Entering service during the Vietnam War
, it became a commonly used US heavy unguided bomb (due to the amount of High-explosive content packed inside) to be dropped, second only to the 15000 pounds (6,803.9 kg) BLU-82
"Daisy Cutter" then in service and presently third only to the 22600 lb (10,251.2 kg) GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb
(MOAB) currently in service. Pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk over Iraq during the first gulf war nicknamed it the "Hammer" (albeit fitted with the GBU-24 Paveway III
kit for use specially by the Nighthawks), for its considerable destructive power and blast radius.
options, and retardation configuration, from 1972 pound. It is a streamlined steel casing filled with 945 lb (428.6 kg) of Tritonal
high explosive.
The Mark 84 is capable of forming a crater 50 feet (15.2 m) wide and 36 ft (11 m) deep. It can penetrate up to 15 inches (38.1 cm) of metal or 11 ft (3.4 m) of concrete, depending on the height from which it is dropped, and causes lethal fragmentation to a radius of 400 yards (365.8 m).
Many Mark 84s have been retrofitted with stabilizing and retarding devices to provide precision guidance capabilities. They serve as the warhead of a variety of precision-guided munitions, including the GBU-10
and GBU-24
Paveway
laser-guided bomb
s, GBU-15
electro-optical bomb, GBU-31 JDAM and Quickstrike sea mines.
According to a test report conducted by the United States Navy's Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board
(WSESRB) established in the wake of the 1967 USS Forrestal fire
, the cooking off
time for a Mk 84 is approximately 8 minutes 40 seconds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
general-purpose bomb
General-purpose bomb
A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect.-Characteristics:...
, it is also the largest of the Mark 80 series of weapons. Entering service during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, it became a commonly used US heavy unguided bomb (due to the amount of High-explosive content packed inside) to be dropped, second only to the 15000 pounds (6,803.9 kg) BLU-82
BLU-82
The BLU-82B/C-130 weapon system, known under program "Commando Vault" and nicknamed "daisy cutter" in Vietnam and in Afghanistan for its ability to flatten a forest into a helicopter landing zone, is a 15,000 pound conventional bomb, delivered from either a C-130 or an MC-130 transport aircraft....
"Daisy Cutter" then in service and presently third only to the 22600 lb (10,251.2 kg) GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb
GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb is a large-yield conventional bomb developed for the United States military by Albert L. Weimorts, Jr. At the time of development, it was touted as the most powerful non-nuclear weapon ever designed...
(MOAB) currently in service. Pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk over Iraq during the first gulf war nicknamed it the "Hammer" (albeit fitted with the GBU-24 Paveway III
GBU-24 Paveway III
Raytheon GBU-24 Family The GBU-24 is a family of laser-guided bombs, a sub-group of the larger Raytheon Paveway III family of weapons. The Paveway guidance package consists of a seeker package attached to the nose of the weapon, and a wing kit attached to the rear to provide stability and greater...
kit for use specially by the Nighthawks), for its considerable destructive power and blast radius.
Development and deployment
The Mark 84 has a nominal weight of 2000 lb (907.2 kg), but its actual weight varies depending on its fin, fuzeFuze
Fuze Beverage, commercially referred to as just Fuze , is a manufacturer of teas and non-carbonated fruit drinks enriched with vitamins. Currently the brand consists of five vitamin-infused lines: Slenderize, Refresh, Tea, Defensify, and Vitalize...
options, and retardation configuration, from 1972 pound. It is a streamlined steel casing filled with 945 lb (428.6 kg) of Tritonal
Tritonal
Tritonal is a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminium powder, used in several types of ordnance such as air-dropped bombs. The aluminium improves the total heat output and hence impulse of the TNT - the length of time during which the blast wave is positive...
high explosive.
The Mark 84 is capable of forming a crater 50 feet (15.2 m) wide and 36 ft (11 m) deep. It can penetrate up to 15 inches (38.1 cm) of metal or 11 ft (3.4 m) of concrete, depending on the height from which it is dropped, and causes lethal fragmentation to a radius of 400 yards (365.8 m).
Many Mark 84s have been retrofitted with stabilizing and retarding devices to provide precision guidance capabilities. They serve as the warhead of a variety of precision-guided munitions, including the GBU-10
GBU-10 Paveway II
American Paveway-series laser-guided bomb, based on the Mk 84 general-purpose bomb, but with laser seeker and wings for guidance. Introduced into service c. 1976. Used by USAF, US Navy, US Marine Corps, RAAF and various NATO air forces....
and GBU-24
GBU-24 Paveway III
Raytheon GBU-24 Family The GBU-24 is a family of laser-guided bombs, a sub-group of the larger Raytheon Paveway III family of weapons. The Paveway guidance package consists of a seeker package attached to the nose of the weapon, and a wing kit attached to the rear to provide stability and greater...
Paveway
Paveway
Paveway is a generic term for Laser Guided Bombs .Pave or PAVE is sometimes used as an acronym for precision avionics vectoring equipment; literally, electronics for controlling the speed and direction of aircraft...
laser-guided bomb
Laser-guided bomb
A laser-guided bomb is a guided bomb that uses semi-active laser homing to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than an unguided bomb. LGBs are one of the most common and widespread guided bombs, used by a large number of the world's air forces.- Overview :Laser-guided munitions use a...
s, GBU-15
GBU-15
Guided Bomb Unit 15 is an unpowered, glide weapon used to destroy high-value enemy targets. It was designed for use with F-15E Strike Eagle, F-111 'Aardvark' and F-4 Phantom II aircraft, but the United States Air Force is currently only deploying it from the F-15E. The GBU-15 has long-range...
electro-optical bomb, GBU-31 JDAM and Quickstrike sea mines.
According to a test report conducted by the United States Navy's Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board
Weapon System Safety
The United States Navy formed the Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board in 1968 as a result of the tragic fire on the USS Forrestal . The subsequent investigation recommended an independent review process be established...
(WSESRB) established in the wake of the 1967 USS Forrestal fire
1967 USS Forrestal fire
The 1967 USS Forrestal fire was a devastating fire and series of chain-reaction explosions on 29 July 1967 that killed 134 sailors and injured 161 on the aircraft carrier , after an unusual electrical anomaly discharged a Zuni rocket on the flight deck...
, the cooking off
Cooking off
Cooking off refers to ammunition exploding prematurely due to heat in the surrounding environment. It can also refer to a technique used when throwing grenades to achieve a controlled, predictable explosion....
time for a Mk 84 is approximately 8 minutes 40 seconds.