TheRRAB-3 (Russian:ротативно-рассеивающая авиационная бомба, "rotationally dispersing aviation bomb"), nicknamed theMolotov bread basket (Finnish:Molotovin leipäkori), was aSoviet-made droppablebomb dispenser that combined a large high-explosive charge with acluster ofincendiary bombs. It was used against the cities ofFinland during theWinter War of 1939–1940. The bomb consisted of a cylinder 2.25 metres (7.4 ft) long and 0.9 metres (3.0 ft) in diameter.
Described by journalistJohn Langdon-Davies in 1940:
As it fell from an aircraft, a smallturbine on the nose turned to release a spring-loaded casing which, on opening, scattered 100 or more incendiary bombs; the mainHE charge in the tail of the weapon continued to fall as a conventional bomb.[1]
Other descriptions make no mention of a main charge and instead describe a large cylinder withvanes at the back that open out when the weapon is dropped. The vanes cause the bomb to spin and this has the effect of opening the sides and scattering the submunitions bycentrifugal force.[2]
The name came from thepropagandaVyacheslav Molotov produced during the Winter War, mainly his declaration on Soviet state radio thatincendiary bombing missions over Finland were actually "airborne humanitarian food deliveries" for their "starving" neighbours.[3][4][5][6] As a result, the Finns sarcastically dubbed the RRAB-3incendiarycluster bombs "Molotov bread baskets" (Finnish:Molotovin leipäkori) in reference to Molotov's propaganda broadcasts. This also lead to the improvised bombs used by the Finns against Soviet tanks to be nicknamedMolotov cocktails, as "a drink to go with his food parcels".[7][8]
This description seems to have become common currency among the British public in 1940.[9] During theBristol Blitz, the locals dubbed a similar German device "Goering's bread basket".[10] The Japanese nickname for such devices was "Molotov flower basket" (Japanese:Molotoffano hanakago); some survivors of theatomic bombing of Hiroshima thought they had been hit by one.[11]
The Soviets had several versions: RRAB-1, RRAB-2 and RRAB-3, with capacities of 1000, 500 and 250 kg (2000, 1000 and 500 lb) respectively, each capable of holding various types of submunitions including HE, incendiary, andchemical.
The bomb consisted of a cylinder that was 2.25 meters (7 feet) long and 0.9 meters (3 feet) in diameter.
Dr. Machii said, 'It must have been a Molotoffano hanakago—a Molotov flower basket, the delicate Japanese name for the 'bread basket,' or self-scattering cluster of bombs.
ThisWorld War II article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
