Bomb, Guided, ASM-A-1 (VB-13) Tarzon
Social Media Share Tools
Object Details
- Manufacturer
- Bell Aircraft Corp.
- Physical Description
- Tear-drop shaped with 8-sided fin, or shroud assembly in rear; circular fin assembly around nose; front painted silver, rear painted orange.
- Summary
- Shown here is the Tarzon, a modified British 12,000 pound Tallboy bomb. It was the last and the largest U.S.-built guided bomb built during World War II and was intended for use against heavily fortified enemy targets, such as bridges, U-boat pens, and underground factories.
- In April 1942, the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) let contracts for the development of free-fall missiles based on existing bombs equipped with various guidance and control systems. The Tarzon grew out of this early effort. Although visually tracked to the target, radio signals emitted by the carrier aircraft adjusted the control surfaces on the missile's tail.
- Development of the Tarzon began in April 1945, but appeared too late to see action in World War II. The U.S. Air Force, however, deployed Tarzon missiles on three B-29 long-range bombers during the Korean War. Visual tracking, however, required good weather conditions, which limited the Tarzon's use.
- The U.S. Air Force transferred the Tarzon to the Museum in 1966.
- Credit Line
- Transferred from U.S. Air Force
- 1945-1952
- Inventory Number
- A19680017000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- ARMAMENT-Bombs
- Materials
- Steel
- Dimensions
- Overall: 21ft x 3ft 2in. x 4ft 6in., 10000lb. (640.08 x 96.52 x 137.16cm, 4536kg)
- Other: 54in. (137.2cm)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19680017000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv994a59725-6604-4167-a6ed-dcbd8b807222
Related Content
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.