Is the MK 83 Bomb for striking ships?

[Cavin]

From Wikipedia, and tutorials, I've read that the Mk 82, and MK 84 are mostly used to strike Ground forces. However in both tutorials, and the Wikipedia articles it explicitely states the US Navy, uses the MK 83 bomb, and it is rarely used for striking targets on land.

The only thing I could think this means, is that the bomb is designed for striking ships. But due to it's relatively short range, the only thing it seems it could strike, are ships with minimal AA, or Commercial vessels, delivering war material (such as Oil Tankers).

I guess I'm just a little confused cause I don't really understand what this bomb is actually used for.

[rocksoldier_alex]

Mk 83 is multipurpose and can be used to strike ground or naval targets. The fact that is used by Navy does not mean that is not used against land targets.
Due to short range you can't usually use it until air defences (if any) are suppressed.
After those are removed it is very cheap and can destroy pretty much any target that is not buried underground. It is also particularly useful to strike when you don't want to waste a multimillion guided missile to kill some cheap target like an house full of terrorists

[Pixel]

While you can use these multipurpose bombs against ships you may find it isn't as effective as a stand off strike using a dedicated ASM with longer range. CMANO also includes the Mk83 configured as a bottom mine for shallow waters. The LGM (Laser guided bomb) versions give you more guidance and precision strike abilities. I find that they tend to be better at taking out static structures since undamaged warships tend to have lots of AA defenses which makes dropping mk83s on them riskier for the attacking aircraft.

[strykerpsg]

Mk 83 and 84 series are very much "dumb bombs" meaning their circular error of probablity is quite large when compared to a guided munition. This also means the delivery platform often must over fly the intended target, unless they try a lofting approach. They can be used for naval or ground targets and can also be equipped with high drag tails, allowing the dielivery platform to drop very low and escape with sustaining damage from the blast and also hopefully flying low enough to avoid detection.

[STK07]

Sometimes choosing Mk 83 instead of Mk 84 its related to takeoff weight, as the 83 is a 1000 lbs bomb vs the 2000 lbs of the 84, but still much more powerful than the 82. It depends on takeoff requirements & weight limit, aircraft type and configuration.

In any case, the Mk 83 can be used on any target and fitted with guidance systems as needed.

[strykerpsg]

Originally posted by Starkmad:

Sometimes choosing Mk 83 instead of Mk 84 its related to takeoff weight, as the 83 is a 1000 lbs bomb vs the 2000 lbs of the 84, but still much more powerful than the 82. It depends on takeoff requirements & weight limit, aircraft type and configuration.

In any case, the Mk 83 can be used on any target and fitted with guidance systems as needed.

+1

[Scub]

My rule is never to use any of the unguided Mk 82/83/84's for anything with a sam system unless there really is no other choice. You'll probably get away with it attacking ships with only light AAA defenses. But for obvious reasons you'll have to fly well within the ships SAM defenses as has been said. Nearly suicidal in my opinion in any senario from the 1990's or later.

If it must be done I think i'd prefer the unguided 82's even though they do less damage using the logic that an A-6 for instance would have a dramaticlly higher hit probability due to the increased number of bombs. This is less true for the F-18.