M29 cluster bomb
The M29 cluster bomb was a 500 lbs cluster bomb used by the United States Air Force during World War II against troops, unarmoured vehicles and artillery. The weapon contained ninety 4 lbs M83 fragmentation submunitions - a direct copy of the earlier German Butterfly Bomb - in 9 ten-bomb "wafers". The M28 was a 100 lbs equivalent of the M29 containing 24 bomblets.
M29 cluster bomb
United States Air Force · Public domain
- Name
- M29 Cluster Bomb
- Field
- aerial bomb · cluster munition
- Region
- United States
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Documentary summary
The M29 cluster bomb was a 500 lbs cluster bomb used by the United States Air Force during World War II against troops, unarmoured vehicles and artillery. The weapon contained ninety 4 lbs M83 fragmentation submunitions - a direct copy of the earlier German Butterfly Bomb - in 9 ten-bomb "wafers". The M28 was a 100 lbs equivalent of the M29 containing 24 bomblets.
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Broader Term · outgoing
aerial bomb
Term
Own work
Broader Term · outgoing
cluster munition
Term
This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID hhh.co0168/photos.316303p . This tag does not indicate the copyright status o
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United States
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wikidata · Q6713725 · wikipedia · M29 cluster bomb
In this article
Overview
Overview
Both bombs contained a mechanical time fuze that could be set to open the cluster at a preselected time between 5 and 92 seconds by triggering a burster charge. The case sides and ends sprung open, allowing the bomblets to fall out. The case sides were cup-shaped to retard the fall of the bomb. The manual warns that "Use of the M131 fuze is not recommended in areas that are expected to be occupied by friendly forces as they constitute a potential booby trap".
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — M29 Cluster Bomb • Origin — United States • Type — Cluster bomb • Is Explosive — yes • Used By — United States • Wars — World War II Korean War Vietnam War • Designer — Copy of German design • Weight — 500 lbs • Filling — 90x 4 lb M83 fragmentation submunitions in 9 "wafers" of ten bombs each. • Illustration — Cutaway of M29 cluster bomb showing nine "wafers" of bombs
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- United States
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2- aerial bombTerminology
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- cluster munitionTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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