YES. These anti submarine booms were tested by the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment during the war but the entry does not say what they were actually
Have to say that an anti submarine bomb of the magnitude 18,000lb seems a little like overkill (pun intended), useful on perhaps the Tirpitz or a gun emplacement on the Atlantic Wall but for a submarine ?? AS CL1 says can you upload the source to read it in context TD
The 400 pounder assumed a standardish type bomb Catalogue description 18000lb S.V. bomb: the underwater trajectory of 1" diameter models Ordering and viewing options This record has not been digitised and cannot be downloaded. You can order records in advance to be ready for you when you visit Kew. You will need a reader's ticket to do this. Or, you can request a quotation for a copy to be sent to you. Reference: AVIA 19/1076 Description: 18000lb S.V. bomb: the underwater trajectory of 1" diameter models Date: 1946 18000lb S.V. bomb: the underwater trajectory of 1" diameter models | The National Archives Search results: bomb | The National Archives https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/docume...s/Journal_45_Seminar_conventional_weapons.pdf
Your replies give the answer. Thank you. The bombs tested were scale models and could have been intended for Tirpitz. MAEE also developed the Johnny Walker bomb used in the raid. It also conducted Sunderland trial with human torpedo but this was aborted.
It seems possible to me that the large bomb might have been intended to be used on the heavy concrete submarine pens the Germans built in France. Maybe?
Used for this as well - La Coupole - Wikipedia However, in June and July 1944 the RAF began attacking the site with 12,000 pounds (5,400 kg), ground-penetrating Tallboy bombs.[16] The external construction works were completely wrecked by the bombing and one Tallboy landed just beside the dome, blowing out the entire quarry cliff face and burying the entrances to the Gustav and Gretchen tunnels. The entrance to Sophie was also buried, leaving Ida as the only entrance to the facility. The dome was unscathed but the buttresses supporting the protective Zerschellerplatte were dislodged and slid partway down into the quarry. Serious damage was also caused to the tunnels beneath the dome. The damage made it impossible to continue work on the site. Dornberger complained: "Persistent air attack with heavy and super-heavy bombs so battered the rock all around that in the spring of 1944 landslides made further work impossible."[27] His staff reported on 28 July 1944 that, although the dome had not been hit by the Tallboys, "the whole area around has been so churned up that it is unapproachable, and the bunker is jeopardised from underneath."[27] Plus for example Tallboy (bomb) - Wikipedia 5 August 1944 – Brest 15 Lancasters of 617 Squadron attacked the U-boat pens at Brest and scored six direct hits with Tallboys penetrating the concrete roofs. One Lancaster was shot down by flak. Subsequent attempts to reinforce other sites with even thicker concrete diverted resources from other projects.[16] TD
18000 is a lot bigger than a Tallboy - closer to a Grand Slam. Hmm but the details from that document do talk about underwater trajectory. Maybe the idea was just to detonate a large explosion in the water near/under the Tirpitz. Would be interesting to find out!
Robin Did you initially mean 4000 lb HC - you wrote 400 lb File:4000 lb Cookies and Lancaster at RAF Mildenhall WWII IWM CH 17903.jpg - Wikimedia Commons Category:4000 lb HC bomb - Wikimedia Commons File:HC 4000 lb Mk IV bomb CWHM 1.jpg - Wikimedia Commons TD
The near misses probably cratered the sea bed and took water away from the side of the ship, aggravating the situation and the ship’s list increased to about 60 degrees Sinking the Tirpitz – 12th November 1944 | RAF Memorial Flight Club.
thanks. it was Tirpitz that MAEE was after. It developed JW actually used on Tirpitz but never again. MAEE boffins did think outside the box and could have had U-Boat bases in mind. Will check 4000 lb size. Sounds they did not progress beyond models as they had Glen Fruin. My reference was to a 400lb bomb
