GBU-43. MOAB dropped in Afghanistan.

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The primary purpose of these bombs is not to actually "blow up" things, as in HE artillery or conventional HE bombs. It is to cause death by concussion and, more importantly in this case, to burn all the oxygen from the air and suffocate the vermin in their holes.

Next best thing to neutron bombs, little to no latent radiation... kill everyone and take all their stuff!!!
 
Story in the paper this morning said that fatal blast pressure levels exist out to 1.2 miles from the MOAB detonation. I am not sure I believe that, guess it would depend on the terrain. I don't think the MOAB is a thermobaric weapon, but it may have some thermobaric effects. Thermobaric explosives are of completely different formulations, and extremely fuel-rich (which is why is sucks up oxygen from the air). The explosive used in the MOAB is very similar to Torpex - RDX/TNT/Al powder.
 
I've seen the number of dead listed at 36, but how would anybody every really know, with an explosion of that magnitude? The site was known to have a lot of fighters around it for quite a while, but it's for sure that they won't be using it again.
 
vigil617 said:
I've seen the number of dead listed at 36, but how would anybody every really know, with an explosion of that magnitude?
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And who is going to take the time to dig out all the tunnels and look for their bodies?
 
MCorps0311 said:
A lots of money spent to build the bomb,money wasted!
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Not really. You can't guarantee any number of enemy casualties and there are no more wars where two sides face off from opposite ends. How many have we dropped that didn't kill anyone? Or only wounded a few? We probably don't know but obviously it's a high possibility. That money was gone the moment it was built and if not used eventually we'll dismantle and destroy it ourselves.

How much munitions have we destroyed that we payed for but never used?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
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DWalt said:
Story in the paper this morning said that fatal blast pressure levels exist out to 1.2 miles from the MOAB detonation. I am not sure I believe that, guess it would depend on the terrain. I don't think the MOAB is a thermobaric weapon, but it may have some thermobaric effects. Thermobaric explosives are of completely different formulations, and extremely fuel-rich (which is why is sucks up oxygen from the air). The explosive used in the MOAB is very similar to Torpex - RDX/TNT/Al powder.
Click to expand...

This is what I read.
BOMB RADIUS DAMAGE

* Up to 1,000 yards: Obliterates everything.

* Up to 1 mile: Knocks people, tents, light buildings, cars and jeeps over within 1-mile radius.

* Up to 1.7 miles: shock wave kills people, causes severe damage to buildings, equipment, blows trucks, tanks off road.

* Up to 2 miles: causes deafness.

* Up to 5 miles: shakes ground, breaks windows.

* Up to 30 miles: 10,000 foot high mushroom cloud visible.
 
DWALT:

You may be correct about the composition used in the MOAB. However, without detailed motives and goals presented to the public (Guffaw!!!) directly from the strategists, if the idea was to blow 'em all to Hell and rearrange a bunch of landscape, then one would think that a carpet bomb run would have been more in order. (I don't know the current operational status of Andersen AFB, or that of the AF at Diego Garcia, either of which could easily handle such a mission if in a "good to go" condition.) Even if this wasn't, technically speaking, a thermobaric (air/fuel mix) bomb, in effect it would still be, if not quite as intense as a dedicated air/fuel type. Thermodynamics dictate that it be such, as this explosion was basically an extremely high pressure fire. And what do fires feed on, even the tiny explosions created in the cartridges of our pistols, rifles and shotguns? Oxygen.

Any other speculation on my part would be just spitting into the wind.
 
Addition:

Just heard Gen. Jack Keane speaking about the MOAB detonation in Afghanistan, stating that it contained "an incendiary component" that would "burn them out of their caves". Sounds thermobaric to me.
 
That was no regular trash hauling C-130 that dropped that thing. It was an MC-130, a Special Operations bird that does all kinds of spooky stuff.

One landed on Guam when I was stationed there. It was still pretty hush-hush then, so they parked it on one of the unused runways in the jungle and had us post a guy on it. I went to check on the troopie, but of course I wanted to look at the mystery bird.

It was flat black, covered in some kind of light absorbing paint. I could shine my light on it, but it was like shining a light down a deep hole. It was pretty freaky, and it was then I learned our government does some things really well.
 
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