| Aasen Bomb | |
| Origin: |  Norway |
| Is Explosive: | yes |
| Type: | Bomb |
| Wars: | |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Weight: | 3 Kilograms |
| Detonation: | Pressure, percussion, or electric ignition |
| Designer: | Nils Waltersen Aasen |
| Diameter: | 80mm |
| Length: |
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An Aasen Bomb (Italian: Granata con manico e paracadute tipo Aasen A2) was an early World War I bomb fashioned from a hand grenade with a handle and parachute.
The Aasen bomb was developed originally in Denmark by Nils Waltersen Aasen, who it was named after, by his Det Aasenske Granatkompani. He was a Norwegian arms inventor who developed a wide range of early prototypes which would later lead to the modern hand grenade for the military use.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Italy would adopt the bombs in 1912 to assist with the Italian invasion of Libya.[5] They were also adopted for a short period at the onset of World War I by Germany and France.
Other countries and leaders would also become interested in the weapon, with Russia ordering one million grenades and the Pope buying two thousand.[6]
The bomb was made of an 80mm x 105mm piece of iron based sheet metal forming the head with a 330mm wooden handle. The bomb itself weighed 3 kg.[7]
It could be used as a torpedo, land mine, or aerial bomb based on the type of detonator installed. Italy would famously use them in early aerial bombardments; dropping them on the intended target from Italian military aircraft. The aerial bombs would make use of a highly sensitive contact exploder to minimize misfire potential.[8]
To ensure that it did not bury itself in the ground before exploding, the bomb would also release a small parachute. The parachute was also designed to neutralize issues with horizontal velocity.[9] As the bomb fell an internal arming mechanism would either rotate around a threaded end of the handle, arming it as it fell, or burn a length of wool that acted as a safety mechanism.