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2003-11-19 Home Front

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Posted by Yosemite Sam 2003-11-19 12:46:01 PM|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Swinson said the bomb had undergone "a few minor modifications."

"It was originally 21,000 lbs, but we decided to increase weight to 21,700 lbs. A little more oomph to kill juuust a few more jihadis."

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2003-11-19 12:52:57 PM|| 2003-11-19 12:52:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Test it in Tikrit.

Posted by Laurence of the Rats 2003-11-19 1:16:38 PM|| 2003-11-19 1:16:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Test it in Tikrit.
Quetta, on a Friday evening, between Islamic services and the last call to prayers.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-11-19 1:59:46 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-11-19 1:59:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I wonder if we get to see the blast film. If we don't see the film they're testing it on a mockup of something.

Posted by Shipman 2003-11-19 2:04:13 PM|| 2003-11-19 2:04:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm not sure how practical an 11 ton bomb that can only be dropped by a cargo plane is, but it sure makes good copy. And it might be JUST THE THING for use against the AQ holdouts in the Hindu Kush.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-11-19 4:19:18 PM|| 2003-11-19 4:19:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I believe they said a MOAB can be dropped by a B-2 if necessary, probably even a B-52

Posted by Val 2003-11-19 4:26:14 PM|| 2003-11-19 4:26:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 B-2 is all internal I think? Hell, who knows. Even if it were possible I doubt they'd want to stress the airframe that much. OP can they strap one on a Buff?

Posted by Shipman 2003-11-19 5:31:21 PM|| 2003-11-19 5:31:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 B-2 can carry 40,000 lbs of payload -- they'd probably have to have a special mount for it, though (maybe replace the existing rotary racks). The key benefit of the MOAB, though, is that it's guided, so they can drop it from a much higher altitude than the Daisy Cutters.

Posted by snellenr 2003-11-19 5:58:18 PM|| 2003-11-19 5:58:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 The B-2 is designed to carry up to 27,500 lbs in each of its two internal bomb-bays. The B-52's bomb-day is 28 1/2 feet long and in current configuration has a weight limit of 27,000 lbs.
According to this drawing, the MOAB is longer than the WW2 Grand Slam 22,000 lb bomb (25' 5") and is unlikely to fit either of these bomb-bays, though both can carry the weight pretty easily.

As for external carriage, this can be ruled out for the B-2, but the B-52's current underwing pylons carry up to 9 2000 lbs Mk. 84s each and there is good evidence that the actual limit is well above this.
NASA's famous NB-52 (AF 52-00008) carried the fully fuelled X-15 rocket plane (up to 52,000 lbs.) on one side with relatively little modification.
Note that the MOAB is highly streamlined, unlike the daisy-cutter (BLU-82), and this, too, would suggest suitability for external carriage.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2003-11-19 6:42:46 PM|| 2003-11-19 6:42:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 NASA's famous NB-52 (AF 52-00008) carried the fully fuelled X-15 rocket plane (up to 52,000 lbs.) on one side with relatively little modification.

Damn, now that's obscure. Sounds just right.

Posted by Shipman 2003-11-19 7:18:54 PM|| 2003-11-19 7:18:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 NASA's famous NB-52 (AF 52-00008) carried the fully fuelled X-15 rocket plane (up to 52,000 lbs.) on one side with relatively little modification.

Yeah, they're probably just using the -130 for testing and budget reasons. Even at age, the B52 probably still has the stones to lug around a MOAB. We might be finding out pretty soon, in any case. :)
HERE'S a shot of one with the X-15 underwing. A whole slew of -15 pics are HERE.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-11-19 7:31:11 PM|| 2003-11-19 7:31:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Test it in Warziristan. Test it 10 or 12 times. Just to make sure it works....

Posted by tu3031 2003-11-19 11:36:43 PM|| 2003-11-19 11:36:43 PM|| Front Page Top

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