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M-117 Conventional Bomb
The M117 is a 750-pound general purpose bomb which may
be employed in several different configurations. The basic M117 dates from
the Korean War and uses a low-drag tail fin for medium and high-altitude
deliveries. The M117R (Retarded) uses a special fin assembly providing
either high-drag or low-drag release options. For low altitude deliveries,
the tail assembly opens four large drag plates which rapidly slow the bomb
and allow the aircraft to escape its blast. The M117 (Destructor) looks
similar to the M117R but uses a magnetic influence fuse which enables the bomb to function as a mine. The M117D is
released in a high-drag configuration for ground implant or shallow water
mining. It detonates when an object passing near the bomb triggers the fuse. The
M117 series was used extensively during the Vietnam War, and B-52G aircraft
dropped thousands of tons of M117 and M117R bombs during Operation Desert Storm.
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