Conventional bombs - confused by EFUZ setting

For months now, I have been happily dropping bombs with EFUZ set of OFF. However, I was reading the manual on this topic, and a setting of INST is recommended. Chuck's guide also says to set to INST.

In Wags' video from January

Yet in other videos, e.g.

Trying it with INST or OFF doesn't seem to make any difference AFAICS, so what is the correct situation here?

There are two Fuzes on GP bombs. MECH NOSE and ELEC TAIL. The Nose Mech fuze will still function even if you set EFUZ off.

I can see that, so are you saying that the EFUZ INST or OFF is irrelevant if MFUZ is set? If so, why are there recommendations in the manuals for INST?

From ED manual:

Bomb Fuze Settings. Different types of bombs require different MFUZ and EFUZ settings. In the current early access, the following should be used:

General Purpose Bombs (Mk-80 series):

• MFUZE = NOSE

• EFUZ = INST

I can see that, so are you saying that the EFUZ INST or OFF is irrelevant if MFUZ is set? If so, why are there recommendations in the manuals for INST?

 

From ED manual:

 

Bomb Fuze Settings. Different types of bombs require different MFUZ and EFUZ settings. In the current early access, the following should be used:

General Purpose Bombs (Mk-80 series):

• MFUZE = NOSE

• EFUZ = INST

Yes exactly. The bombs have two independent fuzes, for redundancy and flexibility. The manual recommends setting them that way because that's how it's done IRL. Two fuzes, less chance of failure.

Also, if the tail is set up as a delay fuze, it gives the pilot a real time method of choosing the fuze option. Just set MFUZE OFF and EFUZ DELAY, or for impact MFUZE NOSE and EFUZ INST (or DELAY, same effect).

OK, thanks, I see what you mean. So, in practice, it makes no difference to have EFUZ set to INST or OFF if the MFUZ is set? Just a failsafe to set to INST?

OK, thanks, I see what you mean. So, in practice, it makes no difference to have EFUZ set to INST or OFF if the MFUZ is set? Just a failsafe to set to INST?

Correct.

I'm hoping that ED will implement additional fuzes later. Wag's has hinted at the DSU-33. Which is a airburst nose fuze, which will be cool. Damage model permitting....

Also, the JPF, which is a ELEC Tail fuze for use on JDAM. It features cockpit reconfigurable delay times.

 

Also, if the tail is set up as a delay fuze, it gives the pilot a real time method of choosing the fuze option. Just set MFUZE OFF and EFUZ DELAY, or for impact MFUZE NOSE and EFUZ INST (or DELAY, same effect).

What do you mean gives the pilot real time method of choosing the fuze option? What is the purpose of DELAY anyway?

v6,

boNes

What do you mean gives the pilot real time method of choosing the fuze option? What is the purpose of DELAY anyway?

 

 

v6,

boNes

Not much in DCS. IRL, delaying the fuze allows the weapon to penetrate armored(Delay 1) or hardened targets(Delay 2).

What do you mean gives the pilot real time method of choosing the fuze option? What is the purpose of DELAY anyway?

boNes

It means that the pilot can choose whether the bomb will detonate on impact or after a short time. Note that by a "short time", I mean something like 10ms or 100ms, maybe 1s in some cases. In DCS, delayed fuzes take much longer to activate, delayed fuze timings are greatly exaggerated.

The purpose of a delayed detonation is for the bomb to first penetrate the target before exploding, such as a penetrator bomb piercing a bunker, a runway or a hardened aircraft hangar and exploding inside, a Mk-84 crashing through the roof of a building before detonating or a missile piercing a tank's armor before detonating. The damage potential is much higher.

In some cases, longer delays can be used to allow the delivering aircraft to escape the blast radius after a very low delivery.

In WW2, both the Allies and the Axis used very long delays (days) and effectively turned bombs into timed mines, making repairs and bomb disposal efforts impossible or extremely dangerous.

Oh, that's right. Thanks!

v6,

boNes