Graphic: What Sort of Exploding Ordnance Is This?

BBC ^ | October 27, 2001 | BBC

[Ironword]

The following graphic is from a current BBC front-page article discussing the latest bombing sorties targeting the Taliban front-line positions in Afghanistan.

That's some nasty aftereffect. Is it a fuel-air bomb?

[Ironword]

Rock the Kasabah.

[Ironword]

I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that stick.

[GVNR]

Don't KNOW, but my guess would be its a "hit" on ammo storage.

I looked-up FAE on the web one evening, just for the H of it, and it basically looked like a giant fuel vapor being set afire. Wherever the article was, it mentioned that the Soviets had used FAE in Afghanistan.

[jimtorr]

It does look like it could be a fuel-air bomb. Note the debris rising from the ground.

[Ironword]

Don't KNOW, but my guess would be its a "hit" on ammo storage.

'salada ammo.

[Ironword]

It does look like it could be a fuel-air bomb. Note the debris rising from the ground.

That's some serious explosion. The photo looks like it was taken from a great distance, and at some significant height. Maybe from a foothill?

[Diogenesis]

[Joe 6-pack]

An FAE (Fuel-Air Explosive) works on much the same principle as a grain silo explosion...

...you could throw a lit match into a pile of grain, and it would burn itself out. You can throw a cigarette into a puddle of diesel fuel, and achieve the same effect. When both media are "aerosolized," or misted, the individual particles are simultaneoulsy ignited on all sides, rather than one. The detonation of an FAE is generally accompanied by a bright flash...imagine highly refined gasoline being sprayed out of a lysol air freshener can, and lingering...then setting of a match in the room...such is the effect(in microcosm)of an FAE.

As indicated by other posters, mushroom clouds, per se are not all that uncommon for direct hits on fuel or ammo storage sites. In any case, anyone at the bottom of that mushroom is hurtin'.

[Joe 6-pack]

Great close-up...the earthen ramparts seem to suggest ammo bunkers.

[Cobra64]

It could be a fuel/air vapor bomb. I found this link (it will take about a minute to load until you see it in motion) from theNavy:

http://www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/clmf/faeseq.html

[eloy]

Cobra64's Link Here

[Newbomb Turk]

Looks like an ID ten T Bomb to me. better known as the ID10T.

[Eala]

In any case, anyone at the bottom of that mushroom is hurtin'.

Nah. Not hurtin' at all. Shock waves travel MUCH faster than nerve impulses.

"Hey, Ahmed, see that thing falli

[Ironword]

Ah, thanks for the zoom.

[Ironword]

Thanks for all the insights. With Diogenes' close up photo, I'd agree it isn't a fuel-air explosion.

[Fighting Irish]

Not sure but it's pretty cool looking. Maybe we'll drop a few more million of them!!!!!!!

[RightOnline]

"Don't KNOW, but my guess would be its a "hit" on ammo storage."

I agree. Certainly isn't fuel-air.........those are FAR more spectacular.

[Aeronaut]

The other advantage to the fuel/air bomb is that it uses a lot of the ambient oxygen to make all that fire. Sorta denies the locals their breathing air if they survive the blast.

[surfer]

It is the new exploding turbin bomb...I would nickname it Jiffy-Pop!