The Mark 81 is a general-purpose 250-pound (110 kg) bomb (nicknamed "Firecracker").

It's the smallest of the Mark 80 series of low-drag general-purpose bombs.

Developed for United States military forces in the 1950s, it was first used during the Vietnam War.

The bomb consists of a forged steel case with 96 pounds (44 kg) of Composition H6, Minol or Tritonal explosive.

The power of the Mk 81 was found to be inadequate for U.S. military tactical use, and it was quickly discontinued, although license-built copies or duplicates of this weapon remain in service with various other nations.