what are cluster bombs?

Question

UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland says thousands of civilians are at risk in south Lebanon from unexploded cluster bombs dropped by Israeli forces in the last three days of the war against Hezbollah guerrillas.

Mr Egeland said today the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre had assessed "nearly 85 per cent of bombed areas in south Lebanon" and identified "359 separate cluster bomb strike locations that are contaminated with as many 100,000 unexploded bomblets".

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20312218-1702,00.html

Answer 1

They are small bombs, use during the gulf war, dropped over a large area, to stop an advancing army. Not sure how effective they are since it was found many failed to explode. CONCLUSION; they are an ineffective,useless American product we pawned off on Isael. won't add further comment.

Answer 2

A "cluster" bomb is a large (usually several hundred pounds) bomb designed to be dropped from an aircraft. Like it's name implies, the bomb is basically a large metal tube filled with hundreds of smaller "bomblets" (Imagine a big bomb full of hand grenades). The bomb is designed to open up before it hits the ground, spreading the "bomblets" over a wide area.

Cluster bombs are an "area" weapon, the theory being that they can effectively kill troops and light equipment without the widespread structural damage (and huge crater) caused by a conventional bomb.

The reason cluster bombs are usually condemned is because that the bomblets do not always explode on contact. The bomblets (some as small as a baseball, but certainly powerful enough to maim and kill), lie around waiting to be stepped on or picked up by a scrap-metal hunter or small child.

Answer 3

The one I know of is a bomb that contains many little canisters. Each canister like a size of a coke can or so. they are individual bombs.

When the big bomb drops, it will opens up in the mid-air and all these canisters will be spread out and cover a wide range of area.

One thing I heard is that not all canister exploded. I heard it may have only 80 or 90% of the canister will explode on contact.

There will be many left on the target area. Some of these canisters has very colorful coating, it attracts children. And there are many casualties because of people stepped on it or kids play with it thinking they are toys.

Answer 4

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Honest John missile warhead cutaway, showing M139 Sarin bomblets (photo circa 1960)Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground launched shells that eject multiple small submunitions (bomblets). Their primary purpose is to kill enemy soldiers, although specialized weapons designed for anti-runway, anti-armor and mine-scattering purposes have also been developed.

Answer 5

"Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground launched shells that eject multiple small submunitions (bomblets). Their primary purpose is to kill enemy soldiers, although specialized weapons designed for anti-runway, anti-armor and mine-scattering purposes have also been developed."

Answer 6

cluster bombs are exactly what they sound like

there are various kinds of "cluster" bombs but they are all a cluster or group of small bombs

the cluster is designed to disperse after deployment so that you get lots of little explosions instead of one big one

Answer 7

Basically it is the modern version of cannister shot. See this site for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_bomb

Answer 8

basically it one big bomb that blows up in mid air releasing dozens of other little bombs

Answer 9

THERE IS NOTHING CASUAL about casualties...