BL 755 clarification of variations

[EOD]

Is there anybody out there who can provide good info on existing variations of the BL 755 submunitions?
So far I know only that there were at least three variations. One of them had a cylindrical tail section instead the star shaped one.

Would be great to see manuals and diagrams etc. Anybody?

 

[Yodamaster]

Hello EOD,
I've not immediatly pictures or drawings of BL755 and his payload but I can say that it could be loaded with :

Bomblet No 1 Mk 1 : with "star" tail section
Bomblet No 2 Mk 1 : with cylindrical tail section and parachute
Areadenial Mine HB 876 also used in the JP233 runway denial system

If I can came on pictures or drawings, I'll put them here.

Yoda

 

[US-Subs]

I've got three in the collection, one which is parachute stabilized and two which are stabilized with the spring steel "fingers". One of the spring stabilized is marked as "inert warhead live det" (shown below). This would have been used for fuze/pattern testing. These are the only fielded variations I am aware of, but if they followed normal development there could be numerous experimental variations.

As a side note, it is interesting how there is so much confusion in the EOD community to the nomenclature of these submunitions. I've seen them identified as BL755 submunitions (not as submunitions for the BL755 dispenser), as No. 1 MK 1 and No. 2 MK 1 and also as No. 1 MK 1 and No. 1 MK 2.

 

[Yodamaster]

Effectively Us-Subs,

We can find different designations on different documentations.

(US) TM T-3-2-1 give as designation : U.K. BOMBS, HEAT, FRAG, NO. 1 MK 1 & NO. 2 MK 1 (BL-755)

The dispensers should be named in (US) TM C-3-2-2 : U.K. DISPENSERS, HE, 600-LB, NO. 1 MKS 1, 2, & 4 & NO. 1A MKS 1 & 4, & TAIL UNIT, NO.
119 MKS 1 & 2 (U). Nowhere read something as BL-755 ! But on the marking of the dispenser you can found BL-755.

When you google "BL 755", you come immediatly on views and articles concerning the dispenser.
Here a interesting link : http://typhoon.starstreak.net/common/AG/bl755.html

Now, little question : what is what ?

Yoda

 

[jvollenberg]

Interesting .... I will look into why the publications don't state BL-755. It should ... but then again, this is an older publication that needs some work. If you have pictures of the dispensers (different models) tail units, fuzing, I will see about up-dating the dispenser, and sub-munition publications.

Joe

 

[Harvey]

Jane's refers to the dispenser as the BL 755, and the bomblets as the GP (72mm diameter, also known as the No 1 with coronet) and the AAA (68mm, also known as the No 2 with a parachute). The AAA was developed for higher launch and deployment altitudes as it slowed the bomblet more rapidly than the coronet, providing a more vertical attack profile.

I have never worked with the AAA version, but here are some photos of the GP. The first picture shows a submunition which spilled from a crashed container, still in it's loading state. The second is the container after impact without functioning, and the third shows deployed submunition (from a different carrier) which failed to function.

 

[blu97]

As far as know BL-755 is the factory name and the bomblets are called No 1 Mk 1 and No 2 Mk 1 and there is also a practice version of these. EOD you are right the one you show is the No 2 Mk 1.
Here a cutaway of the clusterbomb.

 

[EOD]

EOD you are right the one you show is the No 2 Mk 1.

So the parachute is missing there? The tail section seems to have a plastic part in the end where I would assume the chute to be.


No info on the diagram with the "finlets"?

 

[US-Subs]

Here is a slightly better view - not some of my best photo work, but you should get the idea. I've never seen the finlets, not on any of mine or any I remember looking at. I've got some photos somewhere of 1-2 at Kineton, I can check those of you are atill interested.

 

[EOD]

Thanks for these images. What is the green band denoting on the 2/1 ?

Yes please, any other docs and images are welcome.

 

[US-Subs]

No idea what the green band was for. It is always hard to say on submunitions, as they are often considered an "internal component" and carry no identification markings at all. I've seen deployed live subs that had more markings than I would expect, then 100M away seen the same model with no markings at all. The fact that so many we see are inert factory pieces doesn't help. In addition people often see feature on some subs that they assume is a marking or code, when it may only be a coating to prevent corrosion. The M42s/M77s were a classic case of this.

This particular piece followed me home from a demil facility, so my assumption at the time was that it came from a full-up dispenser.

I'll leave myself a note to look for the photos, try to get to it tomorrow after work.

 

[jayteepee_1999]

Some from just north of Las Vegas

 

[US-Subs]

Here is another.

 

[EOD]

So it seems that we are ok on the 1/1 and the 2/1. Just the "finlet" type is left to be identified. Anybody here with good diagrams?

 

[US-Subs]

I wonder if this could have been an early mod that was dropped - not effective or necessary so eliminated? If not it should show up in someone's collection. If it exists it has to be tested, if it is tested somebody keeps a test piece, the info is out - if the info is not out and there are no pieces to be seen - ?

 

[US-Subs]

Here is the one from Kineton, not much help I'm afraid. Looked for more images in collections I've photographed, but it seems that there are not a lot of the No. 2 out there.

 

[jayteepee_1999]

Take your pick. Trial drop recoveries West Frew

 

[EOD]

Thanks for the 2/1 image with the parachute on.

The finlet version had shown up in German military documents. The Germans also used the BL755. So now it would be interesting to see what version they had before it got phased out.

 

[SteveM]

Take your pick. Trial drop recoveries West Frew

Ah yes, I used to do this, staying at Mrs H's guest house back in 85/86

 

[Sprockets]

"Finlets" would suggest use in a carrier shell for despin purposes. Ian.V.Hogg, in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ammunition", shows on page 246 a bomblet for use in a carrier shell. No "finlets", though. Also, these seem to deploy radially only, rather than swinging about a hinge.
I suppose this is to prevent it becoming entangled in steadying vane sleeve as it slides on to the stator. Regarding the AAA parachute version, this must have led to a reduced load, being longer than the sprung vane when telescoped.
Anyone know what AAA and GP (General Purpose?) signify. The AAA might have had a more vertical approach, but must have drifted in a side wind! Fantastic new thread, I thought no-one else was interested in this mysterious beastie!