High-explosive bombs are a universal typebombs, widely used in aviation. They are used for the destruction of various objects: from engineering and manpower, to structures, transport junctions, fortification fortifications. The most widespread were 250-kilogram medium-sized FAB-250 bombs of various modifications.
With the development of aviation, its importance on the battlefieldhas increased significantly. The increase in the speed and carrying capacity of airplanes made it possible to use bombs of much greater power (in comparison with gliders of the First World War) and in sufficient quantity. Aircraft turned into a significant force, which had to be reckoned with.
In 1930, NIO-67 carried out serious work on theunification of domestic aerial bombs. Based on the new standards, in the next two years, high-performance small (FAB-100, 50), medium (FAB-250) and large-caliber ammunition (FAB-1000, 500) were developed. In 1934 the super-heavy FAB-2000 was adopted. The numbers in the title indicate the weight of the ammunition (or combat unit).
Since the mid-30's began mass productionhigh-explosive bombs. However, soon the factories faced an acute shortage of metal. The metallurgical industry was not sufficiently developed and could not cover the deficit of steel and pig iron. With a view of economy in KB №35 it was offered to make cases from so-called thin-walled ferro-concrete. Thus, there were modifications of FAB-1000 NG, FAB-500 NG, FAB-250 NG and FAB-100 NG. The tests showed their sufficient effectiveness, and in 1941 they were adopted.
In 1942-1943 in order to increase the volumeproduced products began to produce air bombs of simplified design, which received the designation FAB-250 M43. The case was cast from cheap steel cast iron, and the machining was reduced to a minimum. Due to the shortage of machines and qualified personnel, threaded connections were cut only for fuses, and at less critical positions, the coarse thread was molded.
Shortly before the end of the war with Germany,the development of more powerful and effective fragmentation-explosive aviation bombs has been completed. They were given the OFAB index. When the OFAB-100 fell from 2 km, it formed a funnel with a width of 4.3-4.8 m, while flying fragments hit people in a radius of 50 m, while they even pierced 30-40 mm armor by a number of standing equipment.
These types of bombs are still widespread today. Various types of FAB are used with a caliber from 100 to 9000 kg.
High-explosive bombs in action lead fusescontact instant or delayed action. Contact bomb bombs FAB-250 are used for damage to objects located on the surface of the earth. A delayed-action system is used if it is necessary to hit a target from within (for example, inside buildings) or buried in the soil (bunker, dugout, ammunition depot, etc.). If the warhead explodes underground, a seismic shock is added to the damaging factors, which increases the energy of the explosion.
By the way, FAB can slow down not only for minutes,but even for hours and days. In this case, they act as slow-motion mines. If you install special sensors, then the bombs will detonate only after certain events. For example, vibration sensors monitor the strength of vibration. If it reaches a threshold when the train approaches or armored vehicles, detonation will occur, and the ammunition will explode. To FAB was more difficult to neutralize, they are supplied with anti-removable devices.
High-explosive air bombs are not in vain considered universal. They have several factors of defeat:
These factors are sufficient to damage and destroy equipment, buildings and structures, bridges, railways, manpower, bunkers, fortifications, dugouts, etc.
As a rule, conventional air bombs do notequipped with a control part. They move on the principle of free fall, gradually gaining speed. Therefore, the accuracy of FAB-250 and other types is determined by the experience of the flight crew, weather factors and the effectiveness of the aiming system. Modern Russian aiming systems of a new generation provide very high accuracy, at times comparable to controlled aerial bombs.
This type of bomb has the following characteristics:
The latest modification of the FAB was introduced in 1962year. Since then, much more effective types of bombs have been developed. Modern armored vehicles withstand light and medium explosive munitions. However, there are a large number of them in warehouses.
FABs of large calibers are actively used inlocal conflicts. For example, the USSR widely used the modification of FAB-9000 in Afghanistan, which was dropped from Tu-16 bombers. However, as the analysis of the application showed, their effectiveness was not very high. Despite a spectacular explosion, the enemy's guaranteed zone of defeat did not exceed 60 m, wounded contusions received live force in a radius of up to 225 m. Far thick-walled ammunition FAB-1500TS and FAB-2600TS caused much more damage.
Today, thick-walledFAB-250TS. Their solid body is made of high-density alloy steels. They have a massive head part, and a nest under the fuse is missing, which makes them incredibly durable. Due to these characteristics they are used to undermine fortification defensive structures, concreted objects (for example, runways), reinforced concrete shelters, etc. They easily pierce meter concrete floors.
