The Daisy Cutter

The Daisy Cutter bomb incorrectly referred to as, “daisy cutter,” a term which more properly applies to the fuze assembly for above-ground bursts. It’s referred to as Daisy Cutter because it’s mostly used to create helicopter landings, after set off, it clears all vegetation without creating a crater. It’s 15,000 Ib’s is the general size of this said bomb. Contains 12,600 pounds of GSX filler called DBA-22M. It has a 38-inch extender that helps it stay above ground level. Adding powdered aluminum as a sensitizer to slurries greatly increases the heat of an explosion or the energy release. Aluminized slurries have been used in extremely hard rock with excellent results.

The first BLU-82/B was dropped in support of operations in Cambodia in the southeastern portion of the country, not far from the border with South Vietnam, on 1 May 1970. Before the US forces pulled out of Cambodia, 15 more BLU-82/Bs were dropped. Eleven BLU-82/Bs were subsequently dropped during Desert Storm, all from Special Operations MC-130s from the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Later, bombs were dropped as much for their psychological effect as for their destructive power.