Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!convex!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: anonymous@hpwrce.HP.COM
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Blasting Sadam's Bunker(s)
Message-ID: <1991Feb15.073631.12702@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 15 Feb 91 07:36:31 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: HP Western Response Center
Lines: 29
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: anonymous@hpwrce.HP.COM

A co-worker and I would like your opinion of our idea for destroying Sadam's
underground bunker(s).

How about dropping a huge steel rod from a B52? The steel rod could be
guided to the target by the same laser technology as other munitions. The
sheer velocity and weight of the steel rod should allow it to penetrate
the earth and concrete above the bunker. We could even put a point on it so
it would penetrate further.

We estimated the speed that it would achieve if dropped from 50,000 feet by:

         m*g*h = (1/2)*m*v**2

           g*h = (1/2)*v**2

          32 ft                  v**2
          ----- * 50,000 ft =    ----
          sec**2                   2


            v = (50,000 * 32 * 2)**.5  = 1789 ft/sec  (as fast as a bullet)

We also guess that a B52 can carry a 10 or 20 ton rod to drop. Conservatively,
10 tons traveling at 1000 feet per second seems like it may do the trick to
me. What do you think?