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E96 cluster bomb

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The E96 cluster bomb was an American anti-personnel biological cluster bomb developed in 1950.

History

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A February 24, 1950 report prepared by William M. Creasy, a colonel in the Army Chemical Corps' Research and Engineering Division, characterized the E96 cluster bomb as in the final stages of development.[1] According to Creasy's report, at the time the U.S. had no other biological weapon systems ready for use in battle.[1]

Specifications

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The E96 cluster bomb was a 500-pound (227 kg) biological weapon designed to deliver an anti-personnel or anti-animal biological agent.[1] It consisted of 104 E48 sub-munitions, each one weighing 4 pounds (2 kg).[1] The sub-munitions were clustered into an E38 cluster adapter and when used, would be dropped from 35,000 feet (11,000 m) generating an aerosol cloud in the shape of an ellipse.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Whitby, Simon M. Biological Warfare Against Crops, (Google Books), Macmillan, 2002, pp. 104-08, (ISBN 0333920856).