The RAF has used its biggest bomb in an attack against an IS tunnel

[MSOCS]

What do you want Hangarshuffle? Do you want news, or don't you? One minute you're complaining that there's not enough being broadcast about our boys and girls efforts out east:

Hangarshuffle:Had to scroll all the way back into the third tier to find this thread again- probably a fair indication of how highly it rates on the current agenda.12 days will have passed since the last entry to mine. And that is entirely indicative of the level of interest in this air war, being carried out by real RAF aircrew under real threat. Amazing. It was front page news for days on end a few short weeks ago. Now it doesn't even rate on Prune. Chipmunks, Air cadets not in gliders and long forgotten piss ups rate far higher....Why is this?

...the next minute, you're moaning and picking holes when it does come out. If you really must question the need, or effectivity, in bombing the enemy (yes, they are our ENEMY!), may I politely suggest you do it with some consideration for those away from their families, keeping the "wolf" from your very door?

[onetrack]

I always thought about the vast amount of wasted energy in a surface bomb blast. So much energy goes upwards and into the atmosphere and is totally wasted. A bomb that goes off inside a tunnel system or other underground cavity seems so much more effective.

Personally, I'd set the bomb up so it didn't go off on impact - but I'd have it wired with audio or camera so one could watch the increasing crowd of IS terrorists and their supporters gathering around it, filming, and celebrating the "total failure of the Crusaders bomb".
When the crowd increased to a sizable number of terrorists, then I'd set it off. Yes, I know, I'm an evil bastard! It must be my military engineer experience.

[Buster Hyman]

Originally Posted by just another jocky

Cue lots of posts about how much bigger the bombs were in days gone by. <sigh>

But they just don't have the personal touch these days...

[MATELO]

The UK public are yawning and wondering what it is all about.

That is why I didn't post this on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/social media etc.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by BEagle

I thought that FAE thermobaric devices were the weapon of choice to jellify such cave dwellers?

Yeah, FAE seems a good weapon of choice on some such targets, as using overpressure to good effect can really make a difference. Depends on the target ...

[Selatar]

Certainly used paveway 3s in desert fox in 98 and Iraq 2003. Don't think any used in Libya. Old girls now, surprised they are still available. Not much more HE than the old 1000lb pave way 2 but a lot more metal to go deep.....

[HP90]

This will likely be one of the last times that EPWIII is used, in future it will be replaced by a penetrator-warhead version of the PWIV (which will apparently have "similar" effects to the 2000lb EPWIII, despite PWIV being only 500lb).

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...y-iv-b-416761/

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

My first thought, on reading the thread title, was "I wonder how long it will take them to save up and get another one?"

[Pontius Navigator]

HP90, I suspect not. 2019 could be just over 3 years and more likely nearer 5 years away.

[Herod]

"I wonder how long it will take them to save up and get another one?"

Open a crowdfunding account and the money would soon be there.

[Wander00]

2000lb weapon, low radar signature, sounds like a job for the Mosquito..........hat, coat...

[Exnomad]

I worked on weapon carriage equipment for V bombers, pretty sure 10,000lb items were around then.

[Pontius Navigator]

Exnomad, be interesting to compare sizes of Blue Danube and Grand Slam. The latter going for 40k would deliver some bang though I believe Tallboy was better as it was stronger. If you had a BD bomb body you could pack a lot more RDX in it although I guess not as strong for penetration.