GP General Purpose Bombs

A brief definition of general purpose bombs, when they were considered as one of the types of demolition bombs was given in Ref 44, p B228-L. Another type of demolition bomb was LC (light case), of which the heavy (4000-lb) bomb was called blockbuster  

GP Bombs are subdivided in Ref 51a, into a) Old Series b) New Series c) Low-Drag and d) Low-Drag Snakeye I Old Series GP Bombs, to which belong 100-lb AN-M30AI, 250-lb AN-M57AI, 500-lb 

About 14 types of nose fuzes (of which 4 types are VT fuze) are used in GP bombs, old series, in addn to 8 types in tail fuzes New Series GP Bombs are not listed in Ref 44, but two of such bombs 750-lb Ml 17 and 3000-lb Ml 2 8 are described in Ref 51a, pp 2-26. 2-27. They are designed for high blast effects and for improved aerodynamic performance accuracy in flight when released from most altitudes and airspeeds. Their bodies are cigarshaped with a conical fin-assembly bolted to the rear. This can be seen from Fig 2-5. The Fig 2-20 of Ref 51a showing their cutaway view is not reproduced here because its lines are too faint to understand the inside construction 

Dimensions of 750-lb. MI 17 bomb are diameter 16.1 inches, overall length 89.4, and total wt 823.0-lb when loaded with 386.0-lb of Tritonal 

Dimensions of 3000-lb, M118 bomb are diam 24.13-in, overall length 185.0 and wt 3049-lb when loaded with 1975-lb of Tritonal 

---

It was built around a 1000-lb GP (General Purpose) Bomb and was controlled in flight and homed in on its target by infrared seeking... 

Bombs, Demolition. Former classification for bombs that exploded after short penetration, accomplishing damage and destruction by both blast and underground explosion. A demolition bomb of WWII had a charge approx equal to 50% of the bomb s total wt. The present classification of such a bomb is GP(general purpose). See also under BOMBS Ref Glossary of Ord( 1959), 42... 

While traditionally general purpose bombs (GP bombs) are filled with sensitive tritonal (80% TNT, 20% A1 powder) or H6 (44% RDX NC, 29.5% TNT, 21% A1 powder, 5 % paraffin wax, 0.5 % CaCl2) and do not pass all IM requirements, PrNQ may emerge as a novel ingredient (melt-cast) for IM formulations for use in GP bombs. 

During the Vietnam conflict, the USA utilized Minol II in general purpose (GP) bombs, and encountered a milder form of spewing which was... 

Uses. Minols have historically been used in four types of ordnance, a) underwater (mines, torpedoes and depth charges) where the confinement of water offsets some of the loss of detonation velocity, b) blockbuster bombs in which a sustained and powerful impulse is more destructive than a high peak press, c) concrete fragmentation bombs where the high impulse will impart a satisfactory fragment velocity but will not pulverize the concrete they contact on impact, and d) in general purpose (GP) bombs... 

According to the Technical Manual published in 1966 and listed here as Ref 51a, the new classification of US bombs is as follows 1) Semi-Armor-Piercing (SAP) 2) Fragmentation (Frag) 3) General Purpose (GP) 4) Incendiary (Inc or I)... 

The US Air Force formulation designated as AFX 644 (based on TNT and NTO and also referred to as TNTO IV) is used for low-vulnerability General Purpose (GP) bomb. AFX-644 is a melt-cast, wax desensitized nitrotriazolone (NTO)-based explosive formulation which employs TNT as an energetic binder and aluminum powder to enhance blast performance. TNT, NTO, wax and A1 powder are mixed in proportions of 30,40,10 and 20% respectively and meets the United Nations ... 

Bombs, Antitank(AT). These were Brit bombs(there being no special US bombs) designed to be used against tanks or other armored vehicles. Probably general purpose (GP) bombs were more suitable as A/T than other types... 

---