Mark 117 bomb
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M117
Model:	M117	M117R
Primary Function:	free-fall general-purpose bomb
Length:	2.16 m	2.06 m
Diameter:	408 mm
Tailspan:	520 mm	570 mm
Weight:	340 kg
Range:	Varies by method of employment

The M117 is an air-dropped general-purpose bomb used by United States military forces. It dates back to the time of the Korean War of the early 1950s. Although it has a nominal weight of 750 lb (343 kg), its actual weight, depending on fuse and retardation options, is around 820 lb (373 kg). Its explosive content is typically 403 lb (183 kg) of Minol 2 or Tritonal.

In the 1950s through the early 1970s the M117 was a standard aircraft weapon, carried by the F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-111, and F-4 Phantom, but at present it is used only by USAF heavy bomber aircraft like the B-52 Stratofortress, tactical aircraft now tending to use the Mark 80-series bombs (particularly the Mk 82 or Mk 83 and their guided equivalents). The B-52 reportedly dropped 44,600 M117s during the 1991 Gulf War.

It can be fitted with two tail units; the MAU-103 low drag tail and the MAU-91 high drag tail.

The M117 was the basis of the MC-1 chemical warfare bomb, which had the body cavity filled with Sarin nerve gas. The MC-1 was never used by the U.S. in combat and was eliminated from the U.S. stockpile in June, 2006^[1].

References

• Arsenal of Democracy II, Tom Gervasi, ISBN 0-394-17662-6
• Janes Air Launched Weapons Issue 36, ISBN 0-7106-0866-7

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