Bomb, 500 lb Chemical, Mk 116 Weteye
Description
The MK 116 Mod 0, "Weteye" Chemical Bomb was a massive antipersonnel bomb that provided a toxic chemical offensive capability.
Weteye was an antipersonnel bomb capable of dispensing VX or GB chemical agents. The system was designed for maximum safety in shipboard handling and storage. The major components of the Weteye bomb were a nose fairing, forward bulkhead, aft bulkhead, and tail fin assembly. The extendible fin assembly, which was spring loaded, was activated immediately after the bomb was released from the aircraft. Two suspension lugs supported by a heavy strong back made the weapon compatible with the MBR, Aero 7A, and Aero 20A bomb racks.
The bomb shell weighs approximately 75 pounds and is filled with GB. The torpedo shaped bomb has a single piece, extruded aluminum shell. A burster tube, 3-1/4 inches in diameter, extends the full length of the bomb and is open at each end. A tail fin/assembly, a suspension assembly, and a counterweight assembly are attached to the exterior of the bomb. This removable hardware weighs 103 pounds. With the hardware attached, the filled Weteye bomb weighs 524 pounds. The interior of the bomb is divided into three separate compartments. A perforated baffle separates the forward and middle compartments. The aft compartment of the Weteye bomb was only partially filled. The incomplete filling of the aft compartment provided a void space to accommodate agent expansion. After filling the bomb, the filling port was permanently sealed.
To provide a VX capability, the bomb was supplied with an M20 fuze, to give a low-burst capability of 20 to 60 feet. An M990C fuze provided high-burst capability of 120 to 160 feet. The bomb contained a central burster consisting of four burster charges
Hazardous Components
No information about hazardous components.
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
Old Chemical Weapons and Related Materiel Reference Guide (2018)
Old Chemical Weapons Reference Guide (1998)
