I was wondering when this was going to happen...

[kgbsquirrel]

Kaaaaaaboom.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-minister-welcomes-report-of-huge-blast-at-iran-nuclear-plant/

Blast shook buildings 3 miles away. Big badaboom.

[MicroBalrog]

As of now this seems to have been a false report.

[Fly320s]

As of now this seems to have been a false report.

Bummer. There is nothing like an Earth-shattering Kaboom in Iran to start off a Monday.

[TommyGunn]

As of now this seems to have been a false report.

That could explain why I haven't heard neither hide or hair of such a report ... even a rumor.

Shame....

[HankB]

Israeli minister (on phone):

"Oops, wait a minute . . . this IS January 29th, isn't it?  WHAT? It's only the 28th? DAMMIT! My watch is off! We'll talk again tomorrow."

<click>

[Blakenzy]

Bummer. There is nothing like an Earth-shattering Kaboom in Iran to start off a Monday.

Not really. I don't think a full blown war with Iran is good for anyone, anywhere. I'd rather the conflict keep on the cold side for the duration.

[Scout26]

It's not going to.  Once the Iranians think they have a weapon that can eliminate Israel they'll use it.  Religion, in this case, trumps logic and Realpolitik

[roo_ster]

It's not going to.  Once the Iranians think they have a weapon that can eliminate Israel they'll use it.  Religion, in this case, trumps logic and Realpolitik

Or use it to gain more freedom of action.  "Freedom of action" being use of conventional arms to achieve their objectives.

[kgbsquirrel]

As of now this seems to have been a false report.

Nuts.


http://www.businessinsider.com/massive-explosion-reported-at-irans-fordow-nuclear-facility-2013-1

[Fly320s]

Not really. I don't think a full blown war with Iran is good for anyone, anywhere. I'd rather the conflict keep on the cold side for the duration.

When "the duration" ends, then what?  Better to kill or delay Iran's nuclear capability now than to try to do that after they get a bomb built.

[Hutch]

Well was this a thing?  Or did it not happen?  Anyone with credibility saying?

[kgbsquirrel]

Iran and US Gov say no, Israel and several "insiders say yes. You decide.

[RoadKingLarry]

Iran and US Gov say no, Israel and several "insiders say yes. You decide.

Let see..
We know the US Gov will lie about anything even after the truth is in history books. Achmadmandajihad is only slightly less prone to honesty than was Baghdad Bob. As to Israel I'm not well informed enough to make a call and to the "insiders", well who knows, so my money would be on Tehran being a smoking hole.

[seeker_two]

What does WikiLeaks say?.....

[slingshot]

I just saw a report on this.  If it was false, I think it would have been retracted by now.  But then, Iran is not much for admitting much of anything publically.

[kgbsquirrel]

I just saw a report on this.  If it was false, I think it would have been retracted by now.  But then, Iran is not much for admitting much of anything publically.

Would you want to admit to the world that your security and national defense is so impotent that the single most well guarded place in your country, your prized nuclear material facility, was just turned into a smoking crater?

[Hutch]

Would you want to admit to the world that your security and national defense is so impotent that the single most well guarded place in your country, your prized nuclear material facility, was just turned into a smoking crater?

Was it, actually? Btw, saw a description of a conventional (well, non-nuclear) bomb that would penetrate 200 feet of reinforced concrete.  Two.  Hundred.  Feet.

Wow.

[charby]

That could explain why I haven't heard neither hide or hair of such a report ... even a rumor.

Shame....

World Nut Daily reported it. :)

[cordex]

Was it, actually? Btw, saw a description of a conventional (well, non-nuclear) bomb that would penetrate 200 feet of reinforced concrete.  Two.  Hundred.  Feet.

I'm trying to work out the physics of punching through that much solid, reinforced concrete ... just not seeing how it could happen - at least with anything small enough that it doesn't require a Saturn V to get to the target.

[HankB]

I'm trying to work out the physics of punching through that much solid, reinforced concrete ... just not seeing how it could happen - at least with anything small enough that it doesn't require a Saturn V to get to the target.

The AP round from the WWII "Gustav" gun was an 80cm, 16,000 pound projectile that reputedly would penetrate 7m (23 ft) of reinforced concrete. Several rounds fired at Sevastopol destroyed a magazine under 30 meters of water and an additional 10 meters of concrete, so the 7m penetration spec may have been conservative. (Would like more details on how the Russkies built an underwater magazine - sounds more in line with what you'd get from a Bond movie villain.)

200 feet of solid reinforced concrete is a serious step up . . . imagine penetrating a reinforced concrete cap as thick as an 18 or 20 story building is high.

[Jamisjockey]

The AP round from the WWII "Gustav" gun was an 80cm, 16,000 pound projectile that reputedly would penetrate 7m (23 ft) of reinforced concrete. Several rounds fired at Sevastopol destroyed a magazine under 30 meters of water and an additional 10 meters of concrete, so the 7m penetration spec may have been conservative. (Would like more details on how the Russkies built an underwater magazine - sounds more in line with what you'd get from a Bond movie villain.)

200 feet of solid reinforced concrete is a serious step up . . . imagine penetrating a reinforced concrete cap as thick as an 18 or 20 story building is high.

Concrete probably has a relatively low melting point, right?

Or, as I found on the interent, it  doesn't really melt, but just turns into either a slurry or a powder once it reaches a high enough temperature?

[roo_ster]

Heavy, hard case; delayed fuse, BIG shaped charge warhead.

Even better: tactical nuke bunker buster.

[Brad Johnson]

Blast shook buildings 3 miles away. Big badaboom.

That's what happens when you start mixing in those fifth elements.

Brad

[kgbsquirrel]

I'm trying to work out the physics of punching through that much solid, reinforced concrete ... just not seeing how it could happen - at least with anything small enough that it doesn't require a Saturn V to get to the target.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator

GBU-57A/B. 30,000 lb bunker buster (in comparison to our previously fielded 5,000 lb bunker buster).

I wouldn't be surprised if it incorporated a rocket assisted terminal phase (basically to give it some extra umph before impact and to help keep it's energy up during penetration).

[birdman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator

GBU-57A/B. 30,000 lb bunker buster (in comparison to our previously fielded 5,000 lb bunker buster).

I wouldn't be surprised if it incorporated a rocket assisted terminal phase (basically to give it some extra umph before impact and to help keep it's energy up during penetration).

No rocket assist for the MOP, gravity only.  Rocket during impact wouldn't buy you much, any conceivable rocket is far too low of thrust to really do much during the 30-50ms of the penetration event.  Think about it, 15,000kg at 300m/s is 45 million N-s of impulse (about 10 million pound-seconds) in 1/30th of a second, or 300 million pounds of force average on the bomb:
 meaning even a 1.5 million pound-thrust Saturn-V F-1 would compensate for less than 0.5% of the impact force (and a commensurate increase in penetration).

Given the size of the MOP, and its average density, even Newtonian penetration gives a depth of over 100ft in concrete.

It does hit at high subsonic though, and 50-100ft is more than enough.  Hell, that's enough to make a VERY large hole in the top 100-200ft of Hoover dam.