Draft engineering munition Cable Bomb (USA)
One of the tasks of engineering troops on the battlefield is the destruction of enemy barriers and fortifications. With the help of special tools, military engineers must destroy enemy structures, ensuring the passage of their troops. For the solution of similar problems during the Second World War, all the participating countries of the conflict offered different weapon of one kind or another. One of the most interesting proposals in this area led to the emergence of the American project Cable Bomb. With the help of weapons made under this project, it was planned to destroy bunkers, long-term emplacements and other enemy installations.
Large-caliber artillery was a standard means of destroying enemy fortifications during the Second World War. However, in some cases, the existing guns were not highly effective, which necessitated the need for other weapons. A more convenient means of destruction were aviation bombs, characterized by a relatively large mass of explosive charge, but their use was associated with certain difficulties. By mid-1944, there was a proposal for the joint use of modified aircraft bombs and land engineering equipment. The result of this was to be a successful combination of ease of use and high power weapons.
The use of "cable bomb"
In the middle of 1944, the US Army Corps of Engineers sent a request to the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) to study the original proposal for the development of advanced weapons. It was necessary to conduct some research and determine the prospects for the use of jet bombs with jet engines for the destruction of protected structures. When obtaining positive results, it was possible to continue design work and complete the creation of a new weapon for the engineering troops.
The original proposal of military engineers involved the use of a number of components for various purposes. The main elements of the prospective complex in the proposed form were a modified aerial bomb and a cable, with the help of which it was planned to provide an original method of using weapons. For this reason, the new project received the symbol Cable Bomb - "Rope bomb". The project offered several versions of ammunition, but the name of these systems did not change as they developed.
Carriers of "cable bombs" were supposed to make the existing engineering Tanks. In particular, armored vehicles based on the M4 Sherman medium tank could claim this role. To use special anti-bunker weapons, the tank needed some minor alterations. So, a set of hooks should have been installed on the roof of the hull or tower, and new weapon control devices should have appeared on the gunner’s workplace. All this made it possible to preserve the existing full-time weapons, as well as to use engineering equipment of existing types.
It was proposed to transport bombs on a special wheeled cart with a launcher. She was supposed to have an armored hull without a roof with several guide cells for ammunition. According to the original proposal, the cart was supposed to hold six new type bombs. The cart had to move with the help of two own wheels and a rigid hitch device of great length. On the battlefield, it should be towed by an engineering tank.
The task of destroying the enemy bunker was assigned directly to the Cable Bomb product. It was supposed to be a large and heavy ammunition with a relatively powerful warhead, equipped with its own jet engine. It was proposed to attach the cable to the bomb case, which is necessary for putting it on the correct trajectory and aiming at the target. At the free end of the cable was placed koush, intended for installation on the hooks of the carrier tank. Calculations have shown that the new weapon can be equipped with a cable with a length of 50 feet (15,4 m).
The proposed principle of using the "cable bomb" was as follows. On the battlefield had to go engineering tank with a trolley on a rigid coupling. Having received the combat task of destroying a specific enemy object, the tank crew had to reach the “combat course” and approach the target at a distance of 15 m. The attacked object was to be on the line continuing the longitudinal axis of the tank and cart system. After completing such a preliminary guidance of weapons, tankers could open fire.
M8 rocket is a possible element of the Cable Bomb complex
At the command of the gunner, the electrical system was supposed to ignite a solid-fuel bomb engine. Due to the engine thrust, the bomb had to take off and go to the intended target. At the same time, the cable fixed on the tank turret did not allow the ammunition to go up strictly. Pulling the cable, the bomb began to move in a circle. Having flown in an arc with a radius of about 15 m, the ammunition was supposed to hit the roof of the attacked structure. When using existing air bombs as the basis for Cable Bomb, it was theoretically possible to guarantee the destruction of most of the fortifications with two or three “shots”.
The Cordbomb project proposed the use of a transport cart with a launcher for six ammunition. On the battlefield, an engineering tank could be confronted with different objectives, which is why there was a proposal to use two types of ammunition. Depending on the main features of the attacked bunker, military engineers had to use a bomb with a high-explosive or cumulative warhead. The first type of ammunition was proposed as a multipurpose means of destruction, and the cumulative Cable Bomb was intended to destroy structures with a high level of protection.
The cumulative bomber bomb was developed from scratch. The project proposed the assembly of a product with a distinctive appearance. The bomb was to receive a main cylindrical body with a diameter of 1 foot (305 mm) and a length of 4 foot (1,22 m). A cumulative explosive charge of 375 pounds (about 170 kg) was placed inside such a body. By the tail end of the main body was planned to mount the engine and means of stabilization. A cylindrical body with a diameter of about 0,5 feet and a length of less than 2 feet should have an 25-pound charge (11,34 kg) of solid fuel. On top and bottom of the engine block were attached square vertical planes measuring 2X2 feet (610X610 mm). It is noteworthy that the bomb did not have horizontal planes: thanks to the use of a cable, it only needed stabilization along the course. On the bottom surface of the main body, along the longitudinal axis of the product, there were two cable anchorage points. To keep the bomb in an optimal position, it was proposed to use a cable of the required length, divided into two parts near the body.
The high-explosive “cable bomb” was to be manufactured using serial units of existing aviation weapons. As a warhead rocket should use the body with a charge borrowed from the serial high-explosive fragmentation bomb caliber 250 pounds. In its original form, such a bomb weighed 112 kg, had a length of 1,38 m and a diameter of 261 mm. A charge of TNT or ammotol with a mass of 30,3 kg was used. In the manufacture of ammunition for the engineering troops, the aerial bomb should have been deprived of the standard tail stabilizer, instead of which it was proposed to mount new devices, including the engine.
To send a high-explosive bomb to the target was a solid-fuel engine of the existing type. For reasons of economy, the authors of the Cable Bomb project decided to use the engine from the T22 unmanaged rocket, which was a further development of the M8 serial product. The T22 rocket had a total length of 84 cm with a maximum diameter of 4,5 inch (114 mm). Missile mass - 17 kg, maximum flight speed - 960 km / h. The range was determined at the level of 3-3,2 km. The T22 rocket engine used as part of the “cable bomb” was to receive a new stabilizer and be mounted on the tail section of the serial bomb. Due to the significant differences in the mass of a new type of ammunition had to lose the aircraft rocket in the characteristics of speed and range, but with the proposed method of application it did not matter.
Cumulative Ammunition Design
When entering the battlefield, an engineering tank based on the serial "Sherman" had to tow a cart with six "rope bombs" of two types. It was assumed that the typical ammunition of the new complex will consist of three high-explosive fragmentation and the same number of cumulative bombs. This made it possible to obtain acceptable flexibility in the use of weapons in a real battle, where military engineers could face a variety of threats and goals.
The development of a promising project Cable Bomb took some time. Apparently, the design work was completed at the beginning of 1945. For testing, several prototypes of weapons were manufactured, as well as an appropriate stand. Whether the necessary revision took place was the serial tanks and whether the launcher carts were built - it is not known. At the same time, the general features of the project made it possible to carry out the first tests without the involvement of equipment, only with the help of simulating its stands.
The Allegany Ballistics Laboratory research complex (West Virginia) became a platform for testing new weapons. For some time, experts of the Ballistic Laboratory and the Army Corps of Engineers conducted joint tests, during which the main ideas of the original project were tested and its prospects were determined. According to the available data, only high-explosive “tether bombs” made of existing aircraft munitions were used during the tests. According to the results of their verification, it was determined that the unusual appearance of anti-bunker weapons, in general, justifies itself and can be applied in practice.
Despite the use of non-standard ideas, the proposed "cable bomb" looked interesting and promising. The use of a cable limiting the range of the munition to several meters allowed the existing solid-fuel engine of relatively low power to be used, but at the same time equip the bomb with a heavy warhead of high power. All of this really allowed an engineering tank — at least in theory — to effectively destroy the enemy’s bunkers and weapon emplacements. The only noticeable problem of an unusual project was the necessity of approaching the target for a short distance, but in some cases all the existing threats were completely leveled out by the armor of an engineering tank.
The weapons of the Cable Bomb project at the beginning of 1945, passed the first tests and confirmed their capabilities. Despite this, all work on the original project was discontinued. The army command considered that in the current situation of the military industry and research organizations should be engaged in other projects. In particular, the development of new anti-mine weapons, intended for installation on serial armored vehicles, became a priority at that time. The need to develop other projects and limited resources led to the abandonment of the "rope bombs". The project, which once seemed promising, did not lead to the expected results, and the new weapon did not reach operation in the army.
As far as we know, the Cable Bomb project was the first and last attempt by the US military industry to create weapons for the destruction of bunkers using "tethered" ammunition. In the future, the development of weapons of this purpose went different ways and no longer needed such controls and guidance on the target. However, an unusual project is of great interest with technical and historical points of view.
Based on:
http://designation-systems.net/
http://wwiiequipment.com/
Hunnicutt RT Sherman. A History of the American Medium Tank, Navato, CA. Presidio Press, 1971
Large-caliber artillery was a standard means of destroying enemy fortifications during the Second World War. However, in some cases, the existing guns were not highly effective, which necessitated the need for other weapons. A more convenient means of destruction were aviation bombs, characterized by a relatively large mass of explosive charge, but their use was associated with certain difficulties. By mid-1944, there was a proposal for the joint use of modified aircraft bombs and land engineering equipment. The result of this was to be a successful combination of ease of use and high power weapons.
The use of "cable bomb"
In the middle of 1944, the US Army Corps of Engineers sent a request to the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) to study the original proposal for the development of advanced weapons. It was necessary to conduct some research and determine the prospects for the use of jet bombs with jet engines for the destruction of protected structures. When obtaining positive results, it was possible to continue design work and complete the creation of a new weapon for the engineering troops.
The original proposal of military engineers involved the use of a number of components for various purposes. The main elements of the prospective complex in the proposed form were a modified aerial bomb and a cable, with the help of which it was planned to provide an original method of using weapons. For this reason, the new project received the symbol Cable Bomb - "Rope bomb". The project offered several versions of ammunition, but the name of these systems did not change as they developed.
Carriers of "cable bombs" were supposed to make the existing engineering Tanks. In particular, armored vehicles based on the M4 Sherman medium tank could claim this role. To use special anti-bunker weapons, the tank needed some minor alterations. So, a set of hooks should have been installed on the roof of the hull or tower, and new weapon control devices should have appeared on the gunner’s workplace. All this made it possible to preserve the existing full-time weapons, as well as to use engineering equipment of existing types.
It was proposed to transport bombs on a special wheeled cart with a launcher. She was supposed to have an armored hull without a roof with several guide cells for ammunition. According to the original proposal, the cart was supposed to hold six new type bombs. The cart had to move with the help of two own wheels and a rigid hitch device of great length. On the battlefield, it should be towed by an engineering tank.
The task of destroying the enemy bunker was assigned directly to the Cable Bomb product. It was supposed to be a large and heavy ammunition with a relatively powerful warhead, equipped with its own jet engine. It was proposed to attach the cable to the bomb case, which is necessary for putting it on the correct trajectory and aiming at the target. At the free end of the cable was placed koush, intended for installation on the hooks of the carrier tank. Calculations have shown that the new weapon can be equipped with a cable with a length of 50 feet (15,4 m).
The proposed principle of using the "cable bomb" was as follows. On the battlefield had to go engineering tank with a trolley on a rigid coupling. Having received the combat task of destroying a specific enemy object, the tank crew had to reach the “combat course” and approach the target at a distance of 15 m. The attacked object was to be on the line continuing the longitudinal axis of the tank and cart system. After completing such a preliminary guidance of weapons, tankers could open fire.
M8 rocket is a possible element of the Cable Bomb complex
At the command of the gunner, the electrical system was supposed to ignite a solid-fuel bomb engine. Due to the engine thrust, the bomb had to take off and go to the intended target. At the same time, the cable fixed on the tank turret did not allow the ammunition to go up strictly. Pulling the cable, the bomb began to move in a circle. Having flown in an arc with a radius of about 15 m, the ammunition was supposed to hit the roof of the attacked structure. When using existing air bombs as the basis for Cable Bomb, it was theoretically possible to guarantee the destruction of most of the fortifications with two or three “shots”.
The Cordbomb project proposed the use of a transport cart with a launcher for six ammunition. On the battlefield, an engineering tank could be confronted with different objectives, which is why there was a proposal to use two types of ammunition. Depending on the main features of the attacked bunker, military engineers had to use a bomb with a high-explosive or cumulative warhead. The first type of ammunition was proposed as a multipurpose means of destruction, and the cumulative Cable Bomb was intended to destroy structures with a high level of protection.
The cumulative bomber bomb was developed from scratch. The project proposed the assembly of a product with a distinctive appearance. The bomb was to receive a main cylindrical body with a diameter of 1 foot (305 mm) and a length of 4 foot (1,22 m). A cumulative explosive charge of 375 pounds (about 170 kg) was placed inside such a body. By the tail end of the main body was planned to mount the engine and means of stabilization. A cylindrical body with a diameter of about 0,5 feet and a length of less than 2 feet should have an 25-pound charge (11,34 kg) of solid fuel. On top and bottom of the engine block were attached square vertical planes measuring 2X2 feet (610X610 mm). It is noteworthy that the bomb did not have horizontal planes: thanks to the use of a cable, it only needed stabilization along the course. On the bottom surface of the main body, along the longitudinal axis of the product, there were two cable anchorage points. To keep the bomb in an optimal position, it was proposed to use a cable of the required length, divided into two parts near the body.
The high-explosive “cable bomb” was to be manufactured using serial units of existing aviation weapons. As a warhead rocket should use the body with a charge borrowed from the serial high-explosive fragmentation bomb caliber 250 pounds. In its original form, such a bomb weighed 112 kg, had a length of 1,38 m and a diameter of 261 mm. A charge of TNT or ammotol with a mass of 30,3 kg was used. In the manufacture of ammunition for the engineering troops, the aerial bomb should have been deprived of the standard tail stabilizer, instead of which it was proposed to mount new devices, including the engine.
To send a high-explosive bomb to the target was a solid-fuel engine of the existing type. For reasons of economy, the authors of the Cable Bomb project decided to use the engine from the T22 unmanaged rocket, which was a further development of the M8 serial product. The T22 rocket had a total length of 84 cm with a maximum diameter of 4,5 inch (114 mm). Missile mass - 17 kg, maximum flight speed - 960 km / h. The range was determined at the level of 3-3,2 km. The T22 rocket engine used as part of the “cable bomb” was to receive a new stabilizer and be mounted on the tail section of the serial bomb. Due to the significant differences in the mass of a new type of ammunition had to lose the aircraft rocket in the characteristics of speed and range, but with the proposed method of application it did not matter.
Cumulative Ammunition Design
When entering the battlefield, an engineering tank based on the serial "Sherman" had to tow a cart with six "rope bombs" of two types. It was assumed that the typical ammunition of the new complex will consist of three high-explosive fragmentation and the same number of cumulative bombs. This made it possible to obtain acceptable flexibility in the use of weapons in a real battle, where military engineers could face a variety of threats and goals.
The development of a promising project Cable Bomb took some time. Apparently, the design work was completed at the beginning of 1945. For testing, several prototypes of weapons were manufactured, as well as an appropriate stand. Whether the necessary revision took place was the serial tanks and whether the launcher carts were built - it is not known. At the same time, the general features of the project made it possible to carry out the first tests without the involvement of equipment, only with the help of simulating its stands.
The Allegany Ballistics Laboratory research complex (West Virginia) became a platform for testing new weapons. For some time, experts of the Ballistic Laboratory and the Army Corps of Engineers conducted joint tests, during which the main ideas of the original project were tested and its prospects were determined. According to the available data, only high-explosive “tether bombs” made of existing aircraft munitions were used during the tests. According to the results of their verification, it was determined that the unusual appearance of anti-bunker weapons, in general, justifies itself and can be applied in practice.
Despite the use of non-standard ideas, the proposed "cable bomb" looked interesting and promising. The use of a cable limiting the range of the munition to several meters allowed the existing solid-fuel engine of relatively low power to be used, but at the same time equip the bomb with a heavy warhead of high power. All of this really allowed an engineering tank — at least in theory — to effectively destroy the enemy’s bunkers and weapon emplacements. The only noticeable problem of an unusual project was the necessity of approaching the target for a short distance, but in some cases all the existing threats were completely leveled out by the armor of an engineering tank.
The weapons of the Cable Bomb project at the beginning of 1945, passed the first tests and confirmed their capabilities. Despite this, all work on the original project was discontinued. The army command considered that in the current situation of the military industry and research organizations should be engaged in other projects. In particular, the development of new anti-mine weapons, intended for installation on serial armored vehicles, became a priority at that time. The need to develop other projects and limited resources led to the abandonment of the "rope bombs". The project, which once seemed promising, did not lead to the expected results, and the new weapon did not reach operation in the army.
As far as we know, the Cable Bomb project was the first and last attempt by the US military industry to create weapons for the destruction of bunkers using "tethered" ammunition. In the future, the development of weapons of this purpose went different ways and no longer needed such controls and guidance on the target. However, an unusual project is of great interest with technical and historical points of view.
Based on:
http://designation-systems.net/
http://wwiiequipment.com/
Hunnicutt RT Sherman. A History of the American Medium Tank, Navato, CA. Presidio Press, 1971
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