318:(giving it the alternative name) rather than individual rails, which greatly reduced drag and dramatically increased the number of rockets that could be carried. While a Hunter might carry eight RP-3s, it typically carried two M115 18-rocket pods for a total of 36 SNEBs. The SNEB was also more accurate; the RP-3 had an average dispersion around 2.3 degrees, while the larger snap-out fins of the SNEB reduced this to just over 1 degree. However, the smaller rocket motor did result in slightly lower velocity and longer flight times, although the effective range was slightly longer.
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in 1991, they decided that all weapons would be released from medium altitudes, which the BL755 was not really suited to given the SAFU was designed for a range of altitudes from low to ultra-low. This led to an Urgent
Operational Requirement and the modification of those remaining BL755's with No. 1
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of dramatically improved performance. Whereas the RP-3 and SNEB had an effective firing range on the order of 1,500 yards (1,400 m), the CRV7 is effective to about 20,000 feet (6,100 m) and flies at about three times the speed of these earlier weapons. This allows the launching aircraft to
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tank into service, which had enough armour to defeat the BL755 if it hit the frontal arc of the tank. In response, Hunting modified the design to replace the coronet with a small parachute contained in a basket at the back of the sub-munitions. This slowed the weapon so that it normally hit the tank
435:
BL755 had its first major use during the
Falklands War, where it was extensively used by Harrier aircraft. It was found that when the Safety, Arming and Functioning Unit (SAFU) was set to its lowest altitude setting, the parachutes did not have time to fully deploy and the bomblets often struck the
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which first entered service in 1965 and had replaced all earlier systems in Soviet use by the early 1970s. Using older weapons like the 1000 lb GP bomb or the SNEB against tanks required the aircraft to fly low and then "pop up" during the final approach to about 700 feet (210 m) altitude
519:
standoff and detonating device deploys at the front and a fan of stabilizing fins at the rear. Each has a shaped charge HEAT warhead for armour penetration, the casing of which is constructed from wound tessellated square wire, which produces around 1,400 anti-personnel fragments. A single cluster
451:
to produce the RBL755 – the R for 'radar'. The incorporation of the altimeter meant the weapon always released the sub-munitions at the right time to ensure they had the right trajectory to trigger, which also had the side-effect of eliminating any pre-setting on the part of the pilot.
234:
The weapon's first use in combat was during the
Falklands War where it was used in the anti-infantry role. When dropped from ultra-low altitudes, the bomblets proved to have a very high failure rate because the parachutes often did not deploy in time. A new version was ordered for the
230:
almost suicidal. The cluster munition would be dropped in pairs while the aircraft overflew the formation at 450 knots (830 km/h; 520 mph) and 300 feet altitude, covering an area of 1,000 by 500 feet (300 m Ă— 150 m).
394:
warhead with a stabilizing "coronet" that flipped out on ejection to ensure they were facing forward when they impacted. The trigger was mounted on a spring that extended after launch to ensure the bomb fired at the right range from the armour.
508:(147 total). The bays are covered by a frangible cover that the submunitions break during ejection. The submunitions are ejected by a central gas cartridge and individual inflatable bladders for each bay, operating in a similar manner to a car
354:
and then fly directly at the target. In the case of the SNEB this required a dive at around 10 degrees and firing at a range of about 1,500 yards (1,400 m). This was right within the engagement envelope of the
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helicopters during the
Falklands War in 1982. Records suggest none were actually fired. The SNEB was also cleared for carriage by many other aircraft used in the conflict, but due to the possibility that shipboard
389:
covers. After release from the aircraft, the "bomb" was popped open using an inflatable bag that drove the munitions outward, breaking the covers and scattering the bombs. The sub-munitions consisted of a small
414:. Some indication of its effectiveness compared to the SNEB is that calculations suggested nine aircraft each dropping two BL755s would have the same effect as 20 aircraft firing 36 SNEB each.
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from the top where it had no problems penetrating the armour. This No. 2 Mk. 1 version, also known as IBL755, remained effective against Soviet armour for the rest of the BL755's history.
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won the contract with what became BL755. The 600 lb (270 kg) weapon looked like a conventional bomb, but contained 147 sub-munitions arranged in seven rows of 21 each behind
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Requirement SR(A)1197 for a new weapon capable of being delivered from very low altitudes, about 300 feet (91 m), while overflying the target area without the need to pop up.
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The effectiveness of modern air defence systems in the field is such that the use of dive bombing or rocket attacks is likely to involve an unacceptable casualty rate.
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BL755 was developed as a new-generation anti-tank weapon that would allow extremely low-level attacks against Soviet armoured formations. The introduction of the
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Each submunition is contained within its own SAFU (safety and arming unit) and is telescoped shut. Upon release, the submunition is expanded by a spring. A
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would have many chances to attack. This led to serious concerns about the survivability of the RAF in the anti-armour role. As it was later stated:
686:, causing extensive material damage, but no casualties. The incident led to an emergency upgrade of the Hungarian Air Force, which obtained 28 new
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1169:"British-made cluster bomb found in Yemeni village targeted by Saudi-led coalition | Middle East | News"
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fired a total of 2,508 RP-3 over 642 sorties. With the
British withdrawal in November 1967, the Hunters moved to
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negotiations, the RAF agreed to remove the BL755 from its inventory by 2008. Its role has been replaced by the
512:. Ejection on the original BL755 bomb is triggered by the rotation of the arming vane, driven by the airflow.
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The weapon reached its initial in-service version with the No. 1 Mk. 4 design of 1973, with carriage on the
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are squared off in appearance, but on closer inspection can be seen to be hollow and telescopic. A central
254:, an air-to-ground rocket with such improved performance that it is effective even in the face of the ZSU.
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but with a hard "saddle" on the spine for ejector release and crutching pad loads and a distinctive large
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fighter jets in exchange for a write-off of ex-Soviet state debt. The
Hungarian government also invited
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975:: Withdrawn from service in 2007/2008 after the signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).
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810:: Slowly being phased out without replacement. Use restricted to territorial self-defense.
8:
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The SNEB appears to have been used in combat only once, when they were mounted on some
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heavily used BL755 cluster bombs on Iraqi troop and armour concentrations during the
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in 2007, the UK agreed to remove the BL755 from service. Its replacement was the
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allowing release from medium altitudes and then opening at the proper altitude.
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self-propelled anti-aircraft gun rendered the pop-up attack profile demanded by
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might fire the electrical ignitors while in the magazines, most used an older
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666:. During the first Gulf War a small number were deployed by RAF Jaguars.
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283:. These were still being widely used in the 1960s, especially during the
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558: in this article. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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area, keeping a constant radar eye on the Balkan civil war theatre.
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It was precisely at this time that the
Soviets began introducing the
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bomb produces a total of more than two hundred thousand fragments.
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For many years the standard RAF anti-armour weapon was the "60lb"
1323:. 's-Gravenhage: Sdu Uitgevers. 27 June 2006. pp. 6–7, 12–14
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Schriftelijke vragen en antwoorden/Questions et réponses écrites
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fire whilst still outside the range of weapons like the Shilka.
314:(FFAR). These rockets were fired from a streamlined pod made by
1197:"Saudi Arabia admits it did use UK-made cluster bombs in Yemen"
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275:-era air-to-ground rocket used by British aircraft such as the
954:: The entire stock has been put out of service and destroyed.
933:: The entire stock has been put out of service and destroyed.
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The BL755 looks like a standard 450-kilogram (1,000 lb)
472:, another rocket developed from the FFAR, but one with a new
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ground at an angle that meant their trigger was not set off.
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was startled by reports of the effectiveness of the ZSU-23-4
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As of 1 January 1996, 60,598 bombs and 8,925,906 submunitions
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mistakenly dropped two BL755 Mk.3 bombs on the outskirts of
1022:"BL755 Cluster Bomb and BL755 Submunition – Archived 12/97"
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211:(anti personnel) capabilities. It entered service with the
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Tweede Kamer, vergaderjaar 2006–2007, 21 501-02, nr. 760
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skeleton is divided into seven bays, each containing 21
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Rowena Mason and Ewen MacAskill (19 December 2016).
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were armed with BL755s, which were used against the
303:and the RP-3 was retired after decades of service.
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493:-like air arming vane on the nose. The four rear
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757:. They were carried by the F-5E, F-5F, F-4D and
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674:On the night of 27 October 1991, a Yugoslavian
1025:. Forecast International: Intelligence Center.
306:The RP-3 was replaced by the 68mm (2.7 inch)
199:(HEAT) submunitions. Its primary targets are
1348:"A History of Air-To-Surface Rocket Systems"
1157:
733:rebel forces during the early stages of the
337:2-inch (51 mm) rocket design instead.
1412:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s
1355:Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal
1300:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
1282:. Brussels. 18 February 2008. p. 447
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634:aircraft in the British Royal Air Force.
618:Learn how and when to remove this message
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777:have used the BL755 cluster bomb in the
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779:Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
682:, a small city in southernmost part of
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439:When the RAF began preparing for the
195:that contains 147 parachute-retarded
170:2,451 mm (8 ft 0.5 in)
1224:"Fire Power Display 2007 at Pokhran"
642:The BL755 was used in combat by the
556:adding citations to reliable sources
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1250:"Photographic image : Bombing"
994:nominal weight – approx 450 kg
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630:The bomb is cleared for use by the
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1392:Aerial bombs of the United Kingdom
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751:Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
291:and Radforce in what was then the
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248:Convention on Cluster Munitions
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460:As part of the international
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90:Croatian War of Independence
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952:Royal Netherlands Air Force
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370:This led to the issuing of
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701:planes to patrol over the
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178:419 mm (16.5 in)
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281:Second Tactical Air Force
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162:264 kg (582 lb)
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51:Place of origin
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1167:Tom Peck (23 May 2016).
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392:high explosive anti-tank
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197:high explosive anti-tank
18:Anti-armour cluster bomb
1377:Royal Air Force Weapons
1346:Herriot, David (2009).
881:: Used by British-made
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474:solid-propellant rocket
400:Hawker Siddeley Harrier
345:In the early 1970s the
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931:Belgian Air Component
879:Royal Saudi Air Force
715:Air Force of Zimbabwe
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228:air-to-ground rockets
149:BL755, IBL755, RBL755
899:United Arab Emirates
831:: Currently used by
775:United Arab Emirates
552:improve this article
487:general-purpose bomb
326:AĂ©rospatiale Gazelle
246:As part of the 2007
408:Blackburn Buccaneer
347:Ministry of Defence
287:in battles between
1254:The Times of India
104:Production history
1402:Cluster munitions
1397:Anti-tank weapons
854:Serbian Air Force
696:Boeing E-3 Sentry
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1230:on 11 April 2009
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220:ZSU-23-4 Shilka
215:(RAF) in 1973.
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59:Service history
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1325:. Retrieved
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1228:the original
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1202:The Guardian
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1178:. Retrieved
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1143:the original
1123:Herriot 2009
1118:
1111:Herriot 2009
1096:Herriot 2009
1073:Herriot 2009
1054:Herriot 2009
1039:Herriot 2009
1015:
990:
874:Saudi Arabia
781:and ongoing
771:Saudi Arabia
768:
748:
712:
703:Lake Balaton
673:
641:
629:
614:
605:
595:
588:
581:
574:
562:
550:Please help
545:verification
542:
514:
506:submunitions
484:
459:
438:
434:
421:
397:
381:
369:
365:
359:
355:
350:
344:
323:British Army
320:
305:
266:
245:
233:
217:
189:cluster bomb
184:
183:
119:Manufacturer
64:Used by
45:cluster bomb
43:Anti-armour
15:
1208:19 December
947:Netherlands
664:Bosnian War
654:during the
608:August 2010
456:Replacement
412:F-4 Phantom
209:soft target
138: built
94:Bosnian War
1386:Categories
1002:References
856:: Used by
670:Yugoslavia
644:Royal Navy
578:newspapers
524:Deployment
335:Royal Navy
224:iron bombs
130:since 1972
72:Royal Navy
1363:1361-4231
1296:cite book
1007:Citations
885:aircraft.
789:Operators
731:Congolese
719:BAE Hawks
502:aluminium
410:S.2. and
387:frangible
341:SR(A)1197
773:and the
709:Zimbabwe
646:and the
499:extruded
446:Motorola
441:Gulf War
237:Gulf War
175:Diameter
146:Variants
127:Produced
109:Designer
1234:7 April
1149:26 July
926:Belgium
833:Jaguars
803:Germany
727:Ugandan
723:Rwandan
688:MiG-29B
684:Hungary
592:scholar
567:"BL755"
491:turbine
360:Shilka
301:Bahrain
279:of the
258:History
1361:
1327:9 July
1286:9 July
1259:24 May
1180:24 May
965:
944:
923:
896:
871:
849:Serbia
846:
821:
800:
662:) and
594:
587:
580:
573:
565:
510:airbag
481:Design
431:RBL755
418:IBL755
406:GR.1,
402:GR.3,
356:Shilka
351:Shilka
331:radars
295:where
271:, the
167:Length
25:BL755
1351:(PDF)
1321:(PDF)
1280:(PDF)
982:Notes
824:India
769:Both
699:AWACS
680:Barcs
599:JSTOR
585:books
378:BL755
372:Staff
316:Matra
289:Yemen
205:tanks
187:is a
185:BL755
1359:ISSN
1329:2023
1302:link
1288:2023
1261:2016
1236:2009
1210:2016
1182:2016
1151:2007
858:J-22
749:The
745:Iran
729:and
713:The
692:NATO
571:news
495:fins
470:CRV7
466:Oslo
424:T-72
308:SNEB
269:RP-3
252:CRV7
226:and
203:and
159:Mass
78:Wars
40:Type
860:'s.
717:'s
694:'s
652:RAF
648:RAF
554:by
136:No.
1388::
1353:.
1298:}}
1294:{{
1252:.
1199:.
1171:.
1159:^
1130:^
1103:^
1080:^
1061:^
1046:^
1031:^
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1238:.
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615:(
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596:·
589:·
582:·
575:·
548:.
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