M115 bomb

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M115 Bomb
The M115 bomb, a chemical munition used historically.
Type	Chemical bomb
Service history
Used by
Wars	Cold War
Production history
Designer	U.S. Army
Designed
Manufacturer
Produced
Number built
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Specifications
Weight	750 lb (340 kg)
Length	92 in (2.34 m)
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Height
Crew
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The M115 bomb was a chemical munition developed by the United States Army during the Cold War era. It was designed to deliver the nerve agent VX, a highly toxic compound that disrupts the nervous system, leading to incapacitation or death.

Design and Development

The M115 bomb was part of a series of chemical weapons developed in the 1950s as a deterrent against potential adversaries during the Cold War. The bomb was designed to be dropped from aircraft and disperse its chemical payload over a wide area, maximizing its effectiveness against enemy personnel.

The bomb's casing was made of steel, and it was equipped with a burster charge to ensure the effective dissemination of the VX agent upon impact. The M115 was filled with approximately 160 pounds (73 kg) of VX, making it one of the more potent chemical weapons in the U.S. arsenal at the time.

Operational History

The M115 bomb was never used in combat, as the United States adhered to a policy of chemical deterrence rather than active deployment. The existence of such weapons was intended to discourage enemy forces from using chemical or biological weapons against U.S. troops or allies.

During its service life, the M115 was stored in various military depots across the United States. The bomb was eventually phased out as part of international disarmament agreements and the U.S. commitment to reducing its chemical weapons stockpile.

Disposal and Legacy

With the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993, the United States committed to the destruction of its chemical weapons, including the M115 bomb. The disposal process involved neutralizing the VX agent and safely dismantling the bomb casings.

The legacy of the M115 bomb and similar weapons has been a subject of ethical and environmental discussions, highlighting the dangers of chemical warfare and the importance of international arms control agreements.

Also see

• Chemical Weapons Convention
• VX (nerve agent)
• Cold War
• Chemical warfare
• United States Army