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CLUSTER BOMB UNITS (CBUs)
AIR-LAUNCHED WEAPONS

Airman - Aviation theories and other practices
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personnel targets. The most commonly used types are discussed in this section. Antitank Bomb Cluster and Antipersonnel/ Antimaterial Bomb Cluster The antitank bomb cluster Mk 20 Mods and the antipersonnel/antimaterial bomb cluster CBU-59/B (fig. 8-5) are air-launched, conventional free-fall weapons. The Mk 20 Mods are used against armored vehicles. The CBU-59/B is used against light material and personnel targets. The Mk 20 Mods and CBU-59/B CBUs are delivered to the fleet completely assembled. Fuzes, suspension lugs, arming wires, wire extractors, and all other necessary components have been installed. The only difference between the Mk 20 Mods and the CBU-59/B CBUs is the type of bomb/bomblets contained inside the dispenser. The Mk 20 CBU weighs 490 pounds and contains 247 Mk 118 antitank bombs. The CBU-59/B weighs 750 pounds and contains 717 BLU-77/B target discriminating shape-charge airburst bomblets. When either the Mk 20 Mods or the CBU-59/B CBU is released from the aircraft, the fuze arming wire and the fin release wire is withdrawn from the fuze, allowing the fuze to function after the preset delay. Functioning of the fuze initiates a linear-shaped charge in the dispenser. This, in turn, cuts the dispenser case in half, dispersing the bombs/bomblets in the air. Both CBUs are painted white with a yellow band on the dispenser body, indicating a high-explosive hazard. Guided Bombs Unit (GBU) GBU-12, GBU-16, and GBU-10 are Mk 82, Mk 83, and  Mk  84  bombs  that  are  actually  low-drag, general-purpose (LDGP) bombs modified to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam (fig. 8-6). LDGP 8-9 ANF0805 Figure 8-5.—Mk 20 Mods antitank bomb cluster and CBU-59/B antipersonnel/antimaterial bomb cluster. DETECTOR COMPUTER GUIDANCE FIN CONTROL SECTION FORWARD ADAPTER ASSEMBLY WARHEAD ELECTRIC FUZE CHARGING RECEPTACLE GUIDANCE UNIT BOMB BODY WING ASSEMBLY ANF0806 Figure 8-6.—Typical guided bomb unit.







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