The Mark 81 is a general-purpose 250-pound (110 kg) bomb (nicknamed "Firecracker"). It's the smallest of the Mark 80 series of low-drag general-purpose bombs.
| Mark 81 General Purpose (GP) Bomb | |
|---|---|
Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs, with Mark 14 TRD (Tail Retarding Device) attached, aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133).
| |
| Type | Low-drag general-purpose bomb |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 262 lb (119 kg) |
| Length | 74 in (1.88 m) |
| Diameter | 9 in (23 cm) |
| Filling | Tritonal, MinolorComposition H-6 |
| Filling weight | 96 lb (44 kg) |
Developed for United States military forces in the 1950s, it was first used during the Vietnam War. The bomb consists of a forged steel case with 96 pounds (44 kg) of Composition H6, MinolorTritonal explosive. The power of the Mk 81 was found to be inadequate for U.S. military tactical use, and it was quickly discontinued, although license-built copies or duplicates of this weapon remain in service with various other nations.
Development of a precision guided variant of the Mk 81 bomb (GBU-29) was started due to its potential to reduce collateral damage compared to larger bombs, but this program has now been cancelled[1] in favor of the Small Diameter Bomb.