Snautzer01
Marshal
- 46,292
- Mar 26, 2007
Those were used for training and were thus common. Never heard it was used in anger.
About the blue cirkel bombs and Tornados.
Those cement bombs remind me of a clever yet very cheap method used by the RAF in 2003 during 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' to take out AA guns, mobile radar units and tanks that were often deliberately positioned by the camel frighteners in suburban streets or hospitals and schools so as to incur innocent Iraqi casualties and the ensuing bad press for the coalition.
To reduce 'collateral damage' a clever bod somewhere came up with the idea of fitting the electronic guidance system that was fitted to 'Dumb' bombs that turned them 'Smart' onto 500lb concrete practice bombs. These were dropped by Tornado's onto the offending targets, thus taking them out without breaking Mrs. Ali's milk bottles on the doorstep next house along. The effect of nearly half a ton of concrete travelling at mach 1 is apparently quite devastating....
The bombs were painted blue to show incoming troops who may find them that they were inert, and consequently they became known as 'Blue Circle' bombs after the British cement company of that name and a parody of the 'Blue Steel' guided nuclear stand off missile of the 1950's.
They were apparently very effective, and compared to the cost of around $40,000 for a single standard JDAM, very cost effective too.