Mark 84 bomb - Definition and Overview

The Mark 84 is an American general-purpose bomb, the largest of the Mark 80 series of weapons. Entering service during the Vietnam War, it was nicknamed "Hammer" for its considerable power.

Mk 84
Primary Function:	free-fall general purpose bomb
Length:	10 ft 9 in (3.3 m)
Diameter:	18 in (457 mm)
Range:	Varies by method of employment

The Mark 84 has a nominal weight of 2,000 lb (908 kg), but its actual weight varies widely depending on its fin, fuse, and retardation configuration, from 1,972 lb (896 kg) to 2,083 (947 kg). It is a streamlined steel casing filled with 945 lb (429 kg) of Tritonal high explosive.

The Mk 84 is capable of forming a crater 50 ft (15.2 m) wide and 36 ft (11 m) deep. It can penetrate up to 15 in (380 mm) of metal or 11 ft (3.3 m) of concrete, depending on the height from which it is dropped, and causes lethal fragmentation to a radius of 400 yards (366 m).

The Mark 84 bomb serves as the warhead of a variety of precision-guided munitions, including the GBU-10 and GBU-24 Paveway laser-guided bombs, GBU-15 electro-optical bomb, and GBU-31 JDAM.