Random
Source Code

Daisy Cutter

The BLU-82B or “Daisy Cutter” was the largest conventional bomb in existence (until the MOAB) and is 17 feet long and 5 feet in diameter, about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle but much heavier. It contains 12,600 pounds of GX slurry (ammonium nitrate, aluminum powder, and polystyrene), and is so bulky that it cannot even be launched in a conventional method. To put that in context, the ammonium nitrate in just one Daisy Cutter bomb is about six times the amount used in the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. Although the blast from this bomb is extremely lethal, it still has less than a thousandth the destructive power of the atomic bomb used on Hiroshima.
Because of the cumbersome size of the Daisy Cutter and its deadly results, it must be uniquely deployed and detonated. It is launched on a delivery trolley and forced out the back of a C-130 cargo plane. The plane itself must be at least 6,000 feet off the ground to avoid the bomb’s massive shock wave. Once clear of the plane, the Daisy Cutter releases its own parachute. Attached to one end of the bomb is a three-foot long conical probe. When this probe touches the ground the bomb is detonated. Because the bomb is detonated before the majority of it hits the ground basically no crater results. However, the bomb still inflicts heavy damage, generating pressures in excess of 1,000 pounds per square inch near the point of impact, and the shock waves can be felt miles away.

These powerful effects have caused the Daisy Cutter to be mistakenly identified as a fuel air bomb. The Daisy Cutter is in fact, not a fuel air bomb. Fuel air bombs vaporize a fuel in the air and ignite it. This produces a fireball which rapidly expands making the blast much more extensive than conventional weapons. Although the Daisy Cutter could be used in similar situations as fuel air bombs, it is much too big to depend on the surrounding air and it utilizes its own oxidizer. In addition, the more conventional means of explosion utilized by the Daisy Cutter bomb makes is more reliable than fuel air bombs in significant wind or temperatures.

EVOLVING MILITARY ROLE-The Daisy Cutter bomb is extremely lethal, but was originally used in Vietnam only to clear the helicopter landing sites. In fact, it earned its nickname “The Daisy Cutter” because of the circular pattern of destruction that it left after detonation. Since then, it has been used multiple times, and it was reported that US aircraft dropped 11 Daisy Cutter bombs on Iraq during the Gulf War. Initially, they were dropped to test the ability of the bombs to clear mines, but no reliable assessment could be made about its effectiveness. The horrific blast was found to have a terrible impact on the survivors and as the war progressed, the Daisy Cutter was used less as a lethal and destructive weapon, and more as a psychological tool.
Once the United States fully realized the impact of the bombs on Iraqi troops, a new strategy was developed. A bomb would be deployed, and directly after the blast thousands of leaflets would be dropped over the Iraqi troops with a picture of the Daisy Cutter bomb and the words “Flee and Live, or Stay and Die!” Using experience from the Gulf War, the most recent operations in Afghanistan no longer employ the Daisy Cutter for the traditional purposes of clearing landing sites or destroying personnel, but rather as a psychological tool intended to demonstrate military superiority.

CONTINUING USE-It is easy to see why there would be objections to the use of the Daisy Cutter bomb when it is solely intended to intimidate the enemy with such destructive consequences. There was much concern that the Daisy Cutter bomb was being used against civilians in Afghanistan, but that is reportedly untrue as our only targets are strictly military. In defense of the Daisy Cutter bomb, Britain’s Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon reports that this bomb will be used when it is more suitable for hitting the target than smaller ones, and then its use is entirely justified. Also, because of the cumbersome launching of the Daisy Cutter and the specific conditions that must exist it is not possible to drop them on extremely volatile areas. The very large, slow-flying C-130 cargo planes are easy targets for enemy ground forces and therefore only when the airspace is well controlled is the Daisy Cutter even a viable weapon.
Since the Vietnam War, the Daisy Cutter bomb has been implemented for different purposes to suit varying strategic situations. Its extremely destructive nature and devastating power make it an easy target for controversy, but its most recent use as a psychological weapon is undeniably effective.

My dad was telling me that they were always scared shitless when they transported a Daisy Cutter for delivery because they weren't sure if the parachute to slow it down would work long enough for them to get away

by coconut.commando May 16, 2007

101👍 21👎


Daisy Cutter

An inordinately Large bowel movement, usually associated with dining at the local

Mexican restaurant the night before

Tom?? He's in the bunker dropping a Daisy Cutter on the porcelain palace

by Davie Dee March 11, 2011

6👍 16👎


daisy cutter

Those who think that the good ol' Daisy Cutter is a fuel-air bomb are full of camel shit.
This girl is a BLU-82B 15,000-pound conventional bomb, looks like an oversize boiler and is delivered from a C-130.
It doesnt detonate a cloud of vapor at altitude, and it doesn't suck the air outta your lungs... it just explodes big time.
Its lethal range is reported to be 300-900 feet (the guy who says 3 miles has been drinking his bathwater again).
It was originally used in Nam to clear jungle patches for landing zones and stuff.
Nowadays it's mainly appreciated for its shit-in-your pants effect.

Let's drop a Daisy Cutter on Charlie today! Yes sir! Great sir! May I watch sir?
Your sister reminds me of a Daisy Cutter

by Hugh G Rection February 25, 2006

151👍 44👎


daisy cutter

Probably originated in the late 1800's in American baseball parks. Refers to a fast-moving fowl ball that skids along the outfield grass, ripping through and "cutting" the daisies.

O'Rourke slammed a daisy cutter and he's already got a strike!

by skipster February 4, 2005

31👍 24👎


daisy cutter

An immense ass blast that cause shock waves in a toilet bowl. Named after the military bomb that has a similar effect.

Dude, I ran to the bathroom and unleashed a daisy cutter in the bowl.

by DenverFlubb August 20, 2010

14👍 15👎


daisy cutter

The male who enters(cuts into) an otherwise all-female daisy chain, engaging in sex with one or more of them. It thus includes everyting from a one guy/two girls threesome to a one male/any number of females group sex.

Tor had a great evening, being the daisy cutter for his hometowns Roller Derby girls.

by Lecher King February 23, 2012

12👍 16👎


daisy cutter

Daisy Cutter is a generic term for a F.A.E. weapon, a Fuel/Air/Explosive, It is an air released freefall weapon consisting of two parts. Part one is a fuel container, usually filled with avaition grade gasoline, that is designed to vaporize the fuel upon impact with the target. The second part then falls in the center of the vapor cloud and ignites it. The result is that the intire area of the fuel cloud explodes. A typical FAE Weapon can kill an enemy soldier as far away as 3 miles from the point if impact, either by the shock of the explosion, or the emplosion air being sucked back in the fill the vacuum created by the explosion. Casualties have been found with pieces of thier lungs hanging out of thier mouths.

The FAE Weapon, also known as a "Daisy Cutter" is the most powerfull Non-Nuclear weapon in the world.

by Rob P November 11, 2005

16👍 47👎