Exploding internal and external stores

[jeffdn]

I'm assuming that bombs, whether inside a bomb bay or under wings, as well as drop tanks, tended to explode when hit. Is this currently part of the damage model? Can it be? More importantly, should it be?

[JohnnyHeelz]

Not really....  They do not explode when hit.  The detonation circuit must be completed in order for ignition to occur.  

Usually when ordinance ignites without use of it's fuse it is because of heat.

[jeffdn]

Not really....  They do not explode when hit.  The detonation circuit must be completed in order for ignition to occur.  

Usually when ordinance ignites without use of it's fuse it is because of heat.

Now would a, say, 30mm cannon shell detonate a bomb? Would it set a drop tank alight?

[gyrene81]

Now would a, say, 30mm cannon shell detonate a bomb? Would it set a drop tank alight?

puncture the fuel cell to get raw fuel flowing then hit it with an incendiary round, maybe it would light...but flying at 300+mph and at high alt may prevent that from occurring.

a 30mm would not detonate a bomb unless the shot was luckier than the 300million dollar lottery winner and hit the fuse...even then, there have been a good number of bombs that didn't detonate like they were supposed to.

[Rino]

     Heck, some fuzes don't work even when dropped properly..UXO is not that uncommon.

[Karnak]

Some worked too early as well.  My grandma's cousin died when his B-17 blew up just after takeoff when a bomb exploded.

[jeffdn]

Some worked too early as well.  My grandma's cousin died when his B-17 blew up just after takeoff when a bomb exploded.

So did JFK's older brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., although the circumstances were a bit different (see: Operation Aphrodite).

[Karnak]

So did JFK's older brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., although the circumstances were a bit different (see: Operation Aphrodite).

Yup.  I am familiar with that incident.  That one was a little specialized for AH discussion purposes though.

[Zacherof]

Yup.  I am familiar with that incident.  That one was a little specialized for AH discussion purposes though.

Bloody remote control drones

[icepac]

Weren't the bombs fused such that the contact fuses were live on the kennedy plane?