From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

Robert G Lewis wrote:
> "Monte Davis"  wrote in message
> news:rf3ae25m0n95mrcj4ubhvomgcn5pkvfnn0{at}4ax.com...
>> "Robert G Lewis"  wrote:
>>
>>> Tossing one of the hand grenades into a crowd of
>>> known civilians would probably be considered a war crime as well ( or
>>> using
>>> a cluster bomb on a civilian target)
>> Yes to both, certainly. I was just pointing out that ball bearings in
>> a home-made munition are no different in intent or effect than the
>> casings of most shells and bombs.
>>
>> If cluster bombs are to be set apart in any way, IMO it's not because
>> their immediate effects are especially gruesome, but because any
>> unexploded submunitions stay around, and are in effect mines left
>> behind. That makes them weapons that *can't* be used
"legitimately,"
>> i.e. against  troops with every effort to avoid noncombatants.
>
> I'm not sure about the legitimately part, simply because any unexploded
> ordnance has the same potential. They do not appear to be illegal per se but
> may have the same effect as land mines ( as you point out)
>
> Personally I would be opposed to their use in mixed environments, on a
> purely military target such as a base etc I might not be. Fortunately I
> don't have to make those decisions.
>
>

http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk/common/AG/bl755.html

"The BL755 submunition dispensing cluster bomb is manufactured by
Hunting Engineering of Ampthill, Bedford, UK and has been in service with
the RAF for over 27 years. Although due to be replaced in the anti-armour
role by Brimstone, it still remains a formidable area attack and denial
weapon.

The 272kg (600lb) BL-755 comprises a finned casing containing 147 High
Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) bomblets packed in seven sections of 21 rounds
each. Following separation from the aircraft the outer casing covers are
jettisoned by a gas ejector at one of four pre-set times. The bomblets are
then ejected sideways as much as 18m (60ft) at pre-set intervals. Each of
the ejected submunitions are then orientated by the deployment of a
parachute while a spring mounted base plate is activated to give the
correct stand-off for the shaped charge. The warhead is designed to explode
on impact, being triggered by a piezoelectric fuze which is located under
the base plate. Upon detonation the shaped charge produces a jet of high
velocity, high temperature plasma which can punch through up to 250mm
armour. In addition the release of 2000 pieces of shrapnel produces a
secondary anti-personnel effect."

mmmm count those pieces of "shrapnel".....that'll be the thick
wire wound round...

However wrt to you "legitimate" part...

"A further variant of the BL-755 is the HADES. Essentially it is the
outer-casing of the BL-755 but instead of 147 HEAT charges it contains 49
2.5kg HB.876 area denial submunitions as used in the JP.233 anti-airfield
weapon. The physical dimensions of the system are the same as the standard
BL-755 but it is slightly lighter at 259kg (571 lbs). Since the HB.876 is
classed as an anti-personnel mine it is now unlikely that HADES remains an
active weapon in the UK arsenal since it has signed the Anti-Land Mine
Treaty."

Adam

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