Jaccer Ramirez
Character
The Nightmare of the Dark Lord
A-1500 Thermobaric Bomb
Image Source: http://www.traviseverett3d.com/Per_FuryBomb.html
Intent: To produce the largest and most effective Thermobaric weapon to be used on the battlefield to date.
Development Thread: If necessary
Manufacturer: The Orion Corporation
Model: A-1500
Affiliation: The Orion Corporation and selective customers
Modularity: No
Production: Production: Minor production
Material: Ethylene oxide, aluminium, HMX, Tetryl, magnesium thermite, steel
Classification: Thermobaric bomb
Size:
Length: 7.8 metres
Weight: 8600 kilograms
Ammunition Type: Fuel-air explosive / thermobaric
Ammunition Capacity: One-time use
Effective Range:
· Blast radius: 300 metres
· Supersonic shockwave: 1300 metres
Equivalent to 45 kilotons of TNT.
Rate of Fire: Single action
Special Features:
· Extreme heat and pressure produced
· Large yield for non-nuclear bomb
· No nuclear fallout
· Largest thermobaric weapon on the market
· Increased effectiveness in closed areas
Description:
The A-1500 is a high yield, advanced thermobaric bomb which utilises extreme amounts of pressure and heat for maximum efficiency and casualties.
As in all thermobaric weapon, the A-1500 bomb produces two blasts. The first blast is produced by a small detonation charge. This explosive is activated at a height of around 150 metres in the air. The objective of the first blast is the dispersion of the cloud of Ethylene oxide. This cloud will mix with the atmospheric oxygen, this cloud is capable of flowing around objects and into structures. This dispersion technique, at correct height allows for the maximum spread of the Ethylene oxide in the area, while still maintaining a high enough concentration to be effective in the next step.
The second and final step is the detonation of the secondary charge. Once the bomb has reached a distance of 10 metres from the ground, a small amount of magnesium thermite will be put alight. However, this thermite is incapable of detonating the main explosive (HMX) reliably every time. This means that a booster charge must be used as well. When the booster charge (Tetryl) ignites and explodes, a large quantity of HMX is detonated. This secondary explosive is needed to ignite the already dispersed cloud of Ethylene oxide. Once the high explosive is detonated, anywhere the cloud of Ethylene oxide had reached will be consumed by a fireball of intense heat. Following this is a devastating wave of pressure and heat that will destroy almost anything in its path. Unreinforced will be heavily damage, smaller building will be most likely be turned to rubble. Any living organism at the epicentre of this explosion will be evaporated by the initial fireball. The damage caused will be reduced the further away the building / target is from the epicentre of the explosion. Anybody further than the 300 metre range are unlikely be killed or sustain lasting damage. Those lucky enough to survive this will not survive for much longer as the rarefaction will tear the oxygen from their lungs, consequently rupturing them as it does so. This vacuum will continue to suck up air and debris from the surrounding area to create a mushroom cloud. This entire process happens within the timespan of a few seconds. Even those outside of the effective range are not always safe, as the detonation of the A-1500 can cause blindness, loss of hearing and internal organ failure/damage. However, there are multiple ways one could survive the detonation of this weapon. For instance, residing inside of a airtight reinforced building or a sealed underground location. The outside of reinforced structures will be still be heavily damage, but if the inside remains sealed from the outside, anybody inside should survive. If the building is not sealed, the oxygen from the room may be taken by he rarefaction caused after the bomb's detonation.
If the Ethylene oxide fails to ignite or the HMX does not detonate the cloud of undetonated fuel can still do damage. Ethylene is highly toxic and should prove to do as much damage to personnel as a cloud of some of the most potent chemical agents. However, it is much more visually satisfying and effective for the entire detonation to go as planned.
Years research and development from the Orion Corporation had gone into making this weapon. The project to produce this bomb had burnt through credits in the millions just to find the correct concentration of fuel and air. The majority of the funding for this project came from defunding the development of other weaponry or directly taking the profits from the company’s cash cow products. This caused a lot of conflict within the Orion Corporation leadership team and financial managers. But, if successful, everyone knew that this product could be the next big thing in the arms market and could become a piece of standard weaponry for any galactic superpower. Eventually the scientists and workers had found the perfect concentration for the bomb and the CEO was called in for an inspection. After the testing, the weapon was deemed too dangerous and volatile for open market trading and the manufacturing of this bomb and the concentrations of fuel needed extreme precision and time for it to be suitable for mass production. Therefore, the weapon would only be sold to selective buyers and the production of it would remain minor.
When witnessing the destructive power of the bomb, the CEO could only imagine it being used against enemy forces, particularly One Sith forces. Because of this vision, he decided to name the bomb The Nightmare of the Dark Lord; a direct mockery of the various One Sith titles common among Sith Lords.
Weaknesses
· The Ethylene cloud can be moved / blown away by wind before detonated.
· Even though very rare, the Ethylene oxide may not be combusted or the HMX may not be detonated.
· Outside of the 300 metres range there is unlikely to be any lasting injuries to personnel or damage to structures.
Primary Source: N/a
