RAGATIGER Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Hi there Well after tehe brief tread regarding modern RAF Ordenance I have couple of questions who bought this bomb and also on witch aircraft was also used Regarding Saint Google writings the folowing The bomb is cleared for use by the Tornado aircraft in the British Royal Air Force. United Kingdom[edit]The BL755 was used in combat by the Royal Navy during the Falklands War, and the RAF during the Gulf War and Bosnian War.[citation needed] Yugoslavia[edit]On the night of 21 October 1991, a Yugoslavian Soko J-22 Orao mistakenly dropped two BL-755 Mk.3 bombs on the outskirts of Barcs, a small city in southernmost part of Hungary, causing extensive material damage, but no casualties. The incident led to an emergency upgrade of the Hungarian Air Force, which obtained 28 new MiG-29B fighter jets in exchange for a write-off of ex-Soviet state debt. The Hungarian government also invited NATO's E-3 AWACS planes to patrol over the Lake Balaton area, keeping a constant radar eye on the Balkan civil war theatre.[citation needed] Zimbabwe[edit]The Air Force of Zimbabwe's BAE Hawks were armed with BL755s, which were used against the Rwandan, Ugandan and Congolese rebel forces during the early stages of the Second Congo War, in support of Congolese leader Laurent Kabila.[citation needed] Iran[edit]The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force heavily used BL755 cluster bombs on Iraqi troop and armor concentrations during the Iran-Iraq War. They were carried by the F-5E, F-5F, F-4D and F-4E Phantoms.[citation needed] Operators[edit] Germany German Air Force: Slowly being phased out without replacement. Use restricted to territorial self-defense. India Indian Air Force: Currently used by MiG-27s.[3] Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: Last known use was during the Iran-Iraq war by the F-4 Phantoms. Serbia Serbian Air Force: Used by J-22s. United Kingdom Royal Air Force: Withdrawn from service in 2007/2008.[4] BUT in Verlinden Lock On Northrop F-5E/F is also used in Swiss AF planes so there probably more platforms Best day Armando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I know some African nations used them, the Zimbabweans on their hawk mk62s for example. http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/745000/images/_746915_hawks300.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Please note that the BL755 was NOT used by ANY British aircraft during the 1st Gulf War. The only multi-munitions weapon used by the Tornado's was the JP233 airfield denial weapon, and only at the start of the conflict. The only time cluster bombs were loaded onto the Tornado's and Jaguar's was towards the end of the conflict, and they were US CBU-97's. By the time of the Gulf War (Desert Storm) the BL755 had already been taken out of RAF service. The CBU-97's were never flown or dropped due to the cessation of the war. XVTonker Edited September 19, 2014 by xvtonker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Please note that the BL755 was NOT used by ANY British aircraft during the 1st Gulf War. The only time cluster bombs were loaded onto the Tornado's and Jaguar's was towards the end of the conflict, and they were US CBU-97's. By the time of the Gulf War (Desert Storm) the BL755 had already been taken out of RAF service. I'm afraid that last sentence is incorrect. BL755s were in service until at least 2004. In the late 90s they had an upgrade so that they could be dropped from medium altitude. They were used in combat in Kosovo. You are quite correct in stating that BL755s were not used by the RAF in the Gulf War. They were an ideal close support weapon when used by Harriers. However the Harrier Force was in transition at the time of the Gulf War. The GR5s were nowhere near combat ready. Some might say they were never combat ready... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 xvtonker, I believe you mean CBU-87. CBU-97 is/was the Sensor Fuzed Weapon, which became operational well after the Gulf War. BL-755 was cleared for use on US tactical aircraft only in an emergency war situation, at Allied bases. Evidently, it never met US safety criteria (for whatever reason). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) xvtonker, I believe you mean CBU-87. CBU-97 is/was the Sensor Fuzed Weapon, which became operational well after the Gulf War. BL-755 was cleared for use on US tactical aircraft only in an emergency war situation, at Allied bases. Evidently, it never met US safety criteria (for whatever reason). My apologies, you're absolutely right, a touch of finger trouble. However the picture I took at Muharraq shows our Tornado's loaded with CBU-87's. XVTonker Edited September 19, 2014 by xvtonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) For some reason the Hasegawa 1/71 F-16s had a nice pair of BL755s! From memory, they were used by the RAF in the first Gulf war - IIRC a very few were dropped by Jaguars in the first couple of days, before the switch to medium level Edited September 19, 2014 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worm Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 There's this shot of a Swiss Hunter armed with BL755's and I think they developed their own weapon, the Tabo CBU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steeli Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Please note that the BL755 was NOT used by ANY British aircraft during the 1st Gulf War. The only multi-munitions weapon used by the Tornado's was the JP233 airfield denial weapon, and only at the start of the conflict. The only time cluster bombs were loaded onto the Tornado's and Jaguar's was towards the end of the conflict, and they were US CBU-97's. By the time of the Gulf War (Desert Storm) the BL755 had already been taken out of RAF service. The CBU-97's were never flown or dropped due to the cessation of the war. XVTonker Nice, I've had a few pints in Pelaw club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 The CBU-97's were never flown or dropped due to the cessation of the war. But the CBU-87s were i think? RAF war diary says they were dropped by Jaguars. http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/FebruaryGulfWarCampaignDiary.cfm Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 The CF-104 and CF-18 both carried the BL755, as could the CF-5. Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dick Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 For some reason the Hasegawa 1/71 F-16s had a nice pair of BL755s! From memory, they were used by the RAF in the first Gulf war - IIRC a very few were dropped by Jaguars in the first couple of days, before the switch to medium level Belgian F-16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 BL755's were also employed by Dutch F-16's, and German F-4F's and, after an update started in 1978 and finished in 1982, RF-4E's. Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 In the Luftwaffe this weapon was also available for the Starfighters and the Alpha Jets. The 1/72 fujimi Alpha Jet includes 4 BL755 and 2 twin store carriers. Can't remember what quality was like though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 What type of cluster munition preceeded the BL755 in RAF service, or was there one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Also used by the RSAF In Gulf war 1 Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV107 Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 For some reason the Hasegawa 1/71 F-16s had a nice pair of BL755s! From memory, they were used by the RAF in the first Gulf war - IIRC a very few were dropped by Jaguars in the first couple of days, before the switch to medium level One of the official publications by either the MoD or the House of Commons Select Committee on Defence gave a figure of 8 BL755 being delivered by the Jags. The shift to medium level ops by the Jag force had been planned before the war started, when Bill Pixton (OC 41) turned up to command the JagDet and reviewed the situation, concluding that the amount of AAA available to the Iraqi forces to be attacked by the Jags made low-level suicidal; this led to the rapid procurement of the CRV7 in lieu of the BL755 and the use of CBU-87 when the software for rocket release proved flawed, leading to CRV-7 use being suspended until the software was sorted out (which it was). The RBL755 with medium-altitude capability appeared after the war, as Enzo says. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Being worked on by a RAF JT Armourer while at a stop over at RAF Gutersloh while on excersise. Belgian F-16 Edited September 21, 2014 by spike7451 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beppe Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 belgian air force mirage 5 carried them, two per PM3 (centerline pylon). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Being worked on by a RAF JT Armourer while at a stop over at RAF Gutersloh while on excersise. Thought it was a strange (and rare) picture. As far as I know the RAF never had any practice BL755's only Live and Drill. This is the first "in service" Practice BL755 I have ever seen! Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 One of the official publications by either the MoD or the House of Commons Select Committee on Defence gave a figure of 8 BL755 being delivered by the Jags. The shift to medium level ops by the Jag force had been planned before the war started, when Bill Pixton (OC 41) turned up to command the JagDet and reviewed the situation, concluding that the amount of AAA available to the Iraqi forces to be attacked by the Jags made low-level suicidal; this led to the rapid procurement of the CRV7 in lieu of the BL755 and the use of CBU-87 when the software for rocket release proved flawed, leading to CRV-7 use being suspended until the software was sorted out (which it was). The RBL755 with medium-altitude capability appeared after the war, as Enzo says. Which would have been two aircraft, as they carried them in tandem on the inner pylons. There is a pic of one in flight in the Aerospace Gulf War Debrief book. I recall there was an article on the RBL755 certification at China Lake in the RAF yearbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 What type of cluster munition preceeded the BL755 in RAF service, or was there one? A number of fragmentation bombs were used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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