ASM A-1 TARZON

The ASM A-1 Tarzon, or VB-13, was the last model of a series of radio commanded bombs appeared in the last stages of the WWII, in 1944. The VB-13 was a 5,400kg type “Tallboy” British bomb, designated as M-112 by the USAAF. An annular wing in the middle section of the body was added and an octagonal tail at the rear end, housed the mechanisms of the “Razon” manual guidance system. The Tarzon guided bomb was used by the B-29 bomber and for this purpose, an AN/URW-2 transmitter was installed, together with the AN/ARW-38 receiver mounted on the bomb, making up the complete system. The first tests were conducted in 1948 and entered service in 1950, participating in the Korean War without much success, since only six of the twenty-eight launched bombs, achieved direct impacts on their targets. In August 1951 it was decided to end the program due to several serious failures that caused the accidental detonation of several Tarzon bombs. Of course, although the failures were corrected, production costs ended up making their continuity unfeasible.

ASM A-1 TARZON gallery and more info