AN-M56 General Purpose Bomb

AN-M56 General Purpose Bomb. Air Force Armament Museum. Officially classified as just a "Bomb, General Purpose" it was often referred as the "Light case bomb". Reflecting the fact that it had no penetration abilities at all. It relied on sheer explosive power and fragmentation. The M-56 series bombs were intended for strategic use by heavy bombers (B-17, B-29, and B-36) for use against industrial targets. It’s primary effect was to weaken masonry walls and building roofs by both the explosion and the shock wave transmitted through the ground. The fragmentation effect, when multiplied by many bombs, was also significant in world war two use. During the Korean War the USAF attempted to use it in a tactical context, by pinpoint B-29 raids against North Korean railroads and bridges, it was less successful in this role. , , This bomb is made of a welded body consisting of a forged nose and tail section and three plate panels. It has two suspension lugs for mounting. It has twin fuzes, one in the nose cap and another extending on a rod into the interior of the tail cone area. An arming wire attached to both and armed the bomb as it snapped when dropping. Due to the large amount of explosive carried, the fuzes detonated an auxiliary booster charge of TNT, which was a rod extending throughout the bomb's center. Seventy seven percent of the bomb's weigh was explosive - either TNT, HBX, 50-50 Amatol or Tritonal. , , Specification: AN-M56 General Purpose (GP) Bomb , Length: 117.25 in with box tailfin , Length: 94.9 in Bomb body , Diameter: 34.25 in , Weight: 4,201 Ibs , Weight of explosive: 3,245 lbs of Amatol , Fuze, Nose: AN-M103 , Fuze, Tail: AN-M102A1 , Booster, Auxiliary: M111 , Launch Platform: B-17, B-29, or B-36 Aircraft , , This bomb is part of the USAF Heritage Program Collection , Do Not Climb, Sit Or Stand On Any Static Display Exhibit .