USA drops "Mother of All Bombs" on Afghanistan
Discussion
FourWheelDrift said:
That is not the point.
What was the point then?It is highly likely that they used the best aircraft for the job - which probably wasn't as old as any Stealth Bomber (of which there is only about 18 in service at the moment). In fact, none of the dedicated bomber aircraft currently in service with the USAF have a large enough bomb bay to accommodate the MOAB/GBU-43.
Modern bombing is generally about precision - sometimes aided by stealth.
The MOAB is not a precision weapon - which is one of the reason why it hasn't been used up until now - even though it was first tested 14 years ago.
I'm actually struggling to understand why they bothered to use it at this particular juncture. I can only think of too reasons -
they can
the Air Force have been gagging to drop one operationally for years and now have a compliant President they can easily manipulate
Reminds me of the Bill Hicks sketch on the Sears Weapon catalogue.
'What does G12 do Tommy?
"Well says here that it destroys everything but the fillings in their teeth" - "Helps us pay for the war effort"
"Pull up G12"
https://youtu.be/1o_8b31GRnU
'What does G12 do Tommy?
"Well says here that it destroys everything but the fillings in their teeth" - "Helps us pay for the war effort"
"Pull up G12"
https://youtu.be/1o_8b31GRnU
Funkycoldribena said:
El stovey said:
I'm too busy working out how high my house is above sea level.
Stop being so negative.Think of the extra value a sea view would bring.
It would be like a very very high tide - sea view for once in a lifetime and then no sea view (until the next one)
Edited to add - late to the bloody party.....
Halmyre said:
It's a big loud and obnoxious blunt instrument that won't accomplish anything useful.
Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
It's essentially a dumb device that relies on an external network for guidance, the main effect of which is to generate pressure by creating an enormous amount of hot gas in a very short time.Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
MarkRSi said:
Eric Mc said:
In fact, none of the dedicated bomber aircraft currently in service with the USAF have a large enough bomb bay to accommodate the MOAB/GBU-43.
Not even a B-52?Even if they could squeeze it in, it would probably take serious modifications to the bomb bays of the current (very small - under 100) B-52 fleet.
During the Vietnam War a number of B-52Ds were modified to carry up to 80,000 ilbs of bombs. It was known as the Big Belly modification. However, even then, the programme allowed for the carriage of lots of standard bombs such as the Mk.82 and was not to carry special outsize bombs.
In any case, the B-52D model was retired decades ago.
eharding said:
Halmyre said:
It's a big loud and obnoxious blunt instrument that won't accomplish anything useful.
Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
It's essentially a dumb device that relies on an external network for guidance, the main effect of which is to generate pressure by creating an enormous amount of hot gas in a very short time.Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
Anyway, enough about Trump, what about the MOAB?
Anyway...
El stovey said:
Isn't it largely symbolic.
Trump hears about a USA serviceman killed, says let's drop a bomb on them. A huge bomb. What's the biggest bomb we've got? We can build some great bombs. We can make them very inexpensivly, etc.
At least everyone knows the score now. Kill US servicemen and you're getting the MOAB.
Poetic Justice.Trump hears about a USA serviceman killed, says let's drop a bomb on them. A huge bomb. What's the biggest bomb we've got? We can build some great bombs. We can make them very inexpensivly, etc.
At least everyone knows the score now. Kill US servicemen and you're getting the MOAB.
menguin said:
Mike_Mac said:
Pffft! That was nothing... back in WW2 before the US went Nuclear the RAF was dropping these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
British understatement exhibit A:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
America, 2003: 21,600lb bomb: The Mother Of All Bombs
Britain, 1943: 22,000lb bomb: Bomb, Medium Capacity
matchmaker said:
menguin said:
Mike_Mac said:
Pffft! That was nothing... back in WW2 before the US went Nuclear the RAF was dropping these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
British understatement exhibit A:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
America, 2003: 21,600lb bomb: The Mother Of All Bombs
Britain, 1943: 22,000lb bomb: Bomb, Medium Capacity
British 22,000lb bomb contains Torpex-50% more powerful than TNT alone.
Just to add to that understatement.
matchmaker said:
menguin said:
Mike_Mac said:
Pffft! That was nothing... back in WW2 before the US went Nuclear the RAF was dropping these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
British understatement exhibit A:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_(bomb)
ETA - as Deptford Draylons has already pointed out!!
America, 2003: 21,600lb bomb: The Mother Of All Bombs
Britain, 1943: 22,000lb bomb: Bomb, Medium Capacity
There was also the 4,000lb HC bomb which was little more that a couple of 50 gallon drums welded together end to end then filled with high explosive! It was designed to blow out the roofs and windows of the target to make it a bit easier for the incendiaries to start a firestorm.
tweet.)Eric Mc said:
The MOAB is not a precision weapon - which is one of the reason why it hasn't been used up until now - even though it was first tested 14 years ago.
Are you sure about that? I'm sure I read it was GPS guided, hence the fancy tailfin setup. On another point, it was (according to wiki) designed for delivery by C130 and its variants. Aircraft with a stern door. In another angle, The Chinese state airline is suspending all flights to Pyonyang from Monday. Allied to the fact that Bejing has moved 150000 troops and medical facilities to Their border with NK, I see fireworks if Fatty Kim carries out a nuclear "test" a week tomorrow.
How I would ,like to have been a fly on the wall during the talks between Trumpy and Xi.
ETA, apparently the nuclear "test" may be tomorrow (sat) not a week tomorrow.
Edited by Hosenbugler on Friday 14th April 14:13
Do they just shove the MOAB out the back of the c130?
You can imagine the green light coming on in the cabin, they shove it out the back and cheer and high five each other as it explodes massively.
I'm against war and stuff but shoving a huge bomb out of the back of a Hercules on your enemy must be very satisfying to all involved.
You can imagine the green light coming on in the cabin, they shove it out the back and cheer and high five each other as it explodes massively.
I'm against war and stuff but shoving a huge bomb out of the back of a Hercules on your enemy must be very satisfying to all involved.
El stovey said:
Do they just shove the MOAB out the back of the c130?
You can imagine the green light coming on in the cabin, they shove it out the back and cheer and high five each other as it explodes massively.
I'm against war and stuff but shoving a huge bomb out of the back of a Hercules on your enemy must be very satisfying to all involved.
I imagine that's why the Syrians do it - slightly fewer plaudits for them, though, despite the targets being essentially the same organisation...You can imagine the green light coming on in the cabin, they shove it out the back and cheer and high five each other as it explodes massively.
I'm against war and stuff but shoving a huge bomb out of the back of a Hercules on your enemy must be very satisfying to all involved.
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