A Daisy Cutter was a bomb that could clear a whole forest for landing helicopters and simultaneously wipe out a whole company of Soldiers

begin quotes:

A "daisy cutter" is the nickname for the BLU-82, a massive 15,000-pound conventional American bomb. It uses a special fuse probe on its nose to explode just above the ground. This creates a massive shock wave that flattens trees and clears a wide landing zone without digging a deep crater. 

History and Uses

Vietnam War: Built to instantly clear dense jungle for helicopter landing zones and artillery sites.
Gulf War (1991): Used against enemy troops for its massive psychological shock value.
Afghanistan (2001):
Dropped to clear areas and intimidate Taliban forces before being retired.
Retirement: Replaced in 2008 by the even larger GBU-43/B MOAB ("Mother of All Bombs"). 

If you'd like, I can share more details on how the above-ground fuse works or compare it to the MOAB.

• 

  Wikipedia

  BLU-82 - Wikipedia

  The BLU-82B/C-130 weapon system, known under program "Commando Vault" and nicknamed "Daisy Cutter" in Vietnam for its ability to f...

  
• 

  Wikipedia

  Daisy cutter (fuse) - Wikipedia

  A daisy cutter is a type of fuse designed to detonate an aerial bomb at or above ground level. The fuse itself is a long probe aff...

  

Show all