View Full Version : U.S. Unleashes 'Mother of All Bombs'
The GBU family of munitions: "They're not just for breakfast anymore." DPRK and Iran might want to take notice.
The United States dropped "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear device it has ever unleashed in combat, on a network of caves and tunnels used by Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, the military said.
President Donald Trump touted the bombing as evidence of a more muscular U.S. foreign policy since he took office in January after eight years of President Barack Obama.
The 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GBU-43 bomb, which has 11 tons of explosives, was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.
The GBU-43, also known as the "mother of all bombs," is a GPS-guided munition and was first tested in March 2003. It is regarded as particularly effective against clusters of targets on or just underneath the ground. Other types of bombs can be more effective against deeper, hardened tunnels.
It was the first time the United States has used this size of conventional bomb in a conflict.
(more)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-bomb-idUSKBN17F27U
...and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9H50tHiHjs
Old Dog New Trick
04-13-2017, 16:16
It was near its shelf life of 15-years.
One can only hope the Air Force painted "In Memory of SSG De Alencar" on the side of it. :D
Saw this earlier today...:(.
US drops largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan after Green Beret killed
By Lucas Tomlinson
Published April 13, 2017
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/13/us-drops-largest-non-nuclear-bomb-in-afghanistan-after-green-beret-killed.html
Prayers out to the family...
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/13/afghanistan-maryland-green-beret-killed-in-isis-fight-remembered-as-hero.html
"Afghanistan: Maryland Green Beret killed in ISIS fight remembered as hero
The Green Beret killed in eastern Afghanistan over the weekend -- days before the U.S. announced it dropped the "Mother of All Bombs" there -- strove to be "the best of the best," his family said.
Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of Edgewood, Md., died Saturday of wounds sustained when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, U.S. military officials said. He was 37, and had a wife and five children.
In order to join U.S. Special Forces, military officials "told him he had to lose some weight. So Mark would put on a backpack, put bricks and books in it, and you'd see him running up and down the road there getting in shape to re-enlist," his uncle, Jansen Robinson, told WMAR.
De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Among a slew of honors he received over the course of his military service: A Purple Heart, five Army Commendation Medals and six Army Achievement Medals, the Army Times reported.
"Mark died doing what he wanted to do," his uncle added."
Well, someone's gonna have to do a BDA...we'll see...
Surf n Turf
04-13-2017, 18:11
Well, someone's gonna have to do a BDA...we'll see...
I hope the BDA is something along the lines of OHHHH SHIT.
eta....spring planting should be especially good this year with all the extra nitrogen, etc. in the soil to nuture the grapes, olives, oranges, watermelon, okra, tomato, and spinach for the remaining local farmers.
SnT
Peregrino
04-13-2017, 18:35
I hope the BDA is something along the lines of OHHHH SHIT.
eta....spring planting should be especially good this year with all the extra nitrogen, etc. in the soil to nuture the grapes, olives, oranges, watermelon, okra, tomato, and spinach for the remaining local farmers.
SnT
Except the USAF turned the (not very) fertile valley into a sterilized gravel pit! :D
Hopefully, it incinerated a few bad-guy stragglers that were out and about...I can at least hope....:D
Hopefully, it incinerated a few bad-guy stragglers that were out and about...I can at least hope....:D
I hope we have spectre or something overhead looking for anyone trying to even look for where the tunnel complex entrances were.
It doesn't matter if anyone was above ground or not. If they were they are dead. If they weren't they will die eventually.
I hope we have spectre or something overhead looking for anyone trying to even look for where the tunnel complex entrances were.
It doesn't matter if anyone was above ground or not. If they were they are dead. If they weren't they will die eventually.
Indeed! I imagine the "sucking air" sound from within the complexes was probably enough to sound like an F3 or 4.
According to all the news sources 36 bad guys were killed. I would think that getting an accurate body count would not be all that easy considering the enormity of this weapon.
rsdengler
04-14-2017, 06:27
I just have to say “WOW” that ground had to be shaking at least 20 miles away. I hope it flattened those tunnels underground; as well as incinerated those pajama wearing bastards. :mad:
My heartfelt condolences to Staff Sgt.Mark De Alecar’s family. They had this story on our local news, he was from an area about 45 minutes from where I live. So very sad, my thoughts goes out to his family, and to the SF family as well.
Streck-Fu
04-14-2017, 07:36
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRqV_QZErJc
Streck-Fu
04-14-2017, 09:04
That shockwave is an impressive thing. That is going to have a impact deep down that valley.
bblhead672
04-14-2017, 09:39
That shockwave is an impressive thing. That is going to have a impact deep down that valley.
Why did we wait so long to use MOAB on ISIS/AQ/name your raghead terror organization here?
Old Dog New Trick
04-14-2017, 09:54
Why did we wait so long to use MOAB on ISIS/AQ/name your raghead terror organization here?
Silly wabbit!
Why didn't we nuke Tora Bora in December 2001?
Why are we still fighting cave dwelling Neanderthals in an area where it all should have ended more than 15-years ago?
Here's an answer to both questions. War is profitable - some people don't want it to end.
Here's an answer to both questions. War is profitable - some people don't want it to end.
And that is indeed a sad fact. That being said it's paid for by the few and it is a very expensive price that is paid. RIP SSG Mark De Alencar
33565
frostfire
04-14-2017, 13:00
the locals' reaction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZlDct1EYRM
Anyone here with 3/3 Pashto OPI to verify the subtitles?
bblhead672
04-14-2017, 15:12
Silly wabbit!
Why didn't we nuke Tora Bora in December 2001?
Why are we still fighting cave dwelling Neanderthals in an area where it all should have ended more than 15-years ago?
Here's an answer to both questions. War is profitable - some people don't want it to end.
Of course. And none of those people are in danger of dying due to endless war.
Since you brought up "should have ended more than 15-years ago", since I read the book "Horse Soldiers" I've wondered how accurate the book is on the Afgan war being pretty much under control by SF soldiers before all the generals and politicians got there and mucked it up?
Of course. And none of those people are in danger of dying due to endless war.
Since you brought up "should have ended more than 15-years ago", since I read the book "Horse Soldiers" I've wondered how accurate the book is on the Afgan war being pretty much under control by SF soldiers before all the generals and politicians got there and mucked it up?
Well, you just explained it right there...I venture to say politicians more that Gen's, but both.
Badger52
04-14-2017, 20:08
Overall strategerie.
If we can catch them cheating we have much stronger rationale for using the military. We can say we tried the diplomatic approach, it gives you a stronger argument for using the military.”"If?" But... but... all those rigorous & multi-lateral inspection regimes!
“Imagine what Syria would look like without that deal,” former Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said to the Times. “It would be awash in chemical weapons, which would fall into the hands of ISIS, Al Nusra or other groups.”
Blinken said that the Obama administration was not blind to the Syrian government’s deceptive ways.
“We always knew we had not gotten everything,” he said, “that the Syrians had not been fully forthcoming in their declaration.”But... but... Hillary said!
Source article. (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/14/ex-obama-officials-say-hesitation-to-use-force-in-syria-elsewhere-emboldened-adversaries.html)
You can always tell when they're lying 'cause their lips are moving.
Divemaster
04-15-2017, 18:55
"He's asking why we just can't use nukes again, like World War II."
"Tell him we'll use the Mother of All Bombs. He'll like that."
miclo18d
04-16-2017, 06:07
Of course. And none of those people are in danger of dying due to endless war.
Since you brought up "should have ended more than 15-years ago", since I read the book "Horse Soldiers" I've wondered how accurate the book is on the Afgan war being pretty much under control by SF soldiers before all the generals and politicians got there and mucked it up?
I had read once that South Vietnam was completely under control by the south against the Vietcong because of Special Forces. It was when they escalated and brought in conventional troops that Ho Chi Minh committed the north and everything went down hill.
I saw so much assclownery when I worked with conventional forces. They really thought they could do UW/FID (or if you will nation building in an unconventional way) and their commanders would have jirgas completely shaved with their helmets on. It was embarrassing.
This is a broken record that has played itself many times. The conventional military drools at the thought of justifying its budget!
Old Dog New Trick
04-16-2017, 08:55
I had read once that South Vietnam was completely under control by the south against the Vietcong because of Special Forces. It was when they escalated and brought in conventional troops that Ho Chi Minh committed the north and everything went down hill.
I saw so much assclownery when I worked with conventional forces. They really thought they could do UW/FID (or if you will nation building in an unconventional way) and their commanders would have jirgas completely shaved with their helmets on. It was embarrassing.
This is a broken record that has played itself many times. The conventional military drools at the thought of justifying its budget!
Almost alarming that just last night my wife's friends stopped by. I was talking about this current conflict with a Vietnam era Marine when he mentioned the USS Maddox incident and how because of that incident Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the rapid deployment and expansion into the war. The rest they say is history. There is also a lot of hidden history between bedfellows and connections to LBJ from Bell Textron, Martin Marietta and others to indicate that hundreds of billions of dollars were meant to be made by the MIC if escalating the war was somehow possible. Well, it was possible, although it was a lie...
Gulf Of Tonkin Incident: http://www.historynet.com/case-closed-the-gulf-of-tonkin-incident.htm
Glad to see the "Daisy Cutter" grew up to a modern form... And Bblhead, you are spot on-- When I first got to Group, there was ONE SF General. And he wasn't SF Qualified, he awarded himself the tab. (Was an MP General, Scaff was his name, I think. If not one of you fellas may know it.) Whence retired, think there was something like 80+ SF Generals. We had a payday formation in the early 90s and for fun I asked 20 some guys, including Os, to explain our Chain of Command above Group level. Not a single one could. USASOC, USAFIC, JSOC, JOSOC, SOCEUR, SOCCENT, DIRTYSOC, SOCINTHENOSE.... seems we had more HQs than ODAs.
bblhead672
05-10-2017, 11:35
Here is a video of the area after. The first part shows the bomb, after that is a video of the area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqfosAxT4CI
Looks kinda like we turned an area consisting of rocks and straggly trees into rocks and straggly trees. :D
The Reaper
05-10-2017, 20:05
Glad to see the "Daisy Cutter" grew up to a modern form... And Bblhead, you are spot on-- When I first got to Group, there was ONE SF General. And he wasn't SF Qualified, he awarded himself the tab. (Was an MP General, Scaff was his name, I think. If not one of you fellas may know it.) Whence retired, think there was something like 80+ SF Generals. We had a payday formation in the early 90s and for fun I asked 20 some guys, including Os, to explain our Chain of Command above Group level. Not a single one could. USASOC, USAFIC, JSOC, JOSOC, SOCEUR, SOCCENT, DIRTYSOC, SOCINTHENOSE.... seems we had more HQs than ODAs.
No, the 1st SOCOM CG was MG Leroy Suddath, 1984-87 or so.
Jim Guest was later.
TR
You are correct, Scaff was our post commander. Sudden-death was the SF General.