The Tallboy And Grandslam Bombs

Tirpitz - The "Tall Boy" and "Grand Slam" Bombs

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The "Tall Boy" and "Grand Slam" Bombs
"Tall Boy" Type Length Diameter Weight Warhead Number used Deep Penetration Bomb6,35 meter (21 feet) 0,95 meter (38 inches) 5.443 kg (12.000 lb) 2.358 kg (5.200 lb) Torpex explosive * 854

These massive bombs designed by Dr. Barnes Wallis reached the speed of sound duringdescent being streamlined and equipped with angled fins that produced a rapid spin. Penetrating the ground before exploding they worked by setting off shock waves that would bring down nearby structures.The 5.443 kg (12.000 lb) "Tall Boy" dropped from 6.096m (20.000 feet) made a 24 meter (80 feet) deep crater 30 meter (100 feet) across and could go through 4,88 meter 16 feet of concrete. On 8-9 June,1944 eight Lancaster bombers of No. 617 Squadron used the deep penetration "Tall Boy" bomb in an attack against the Saumur Rail Tunnel. The new weapon proved its worth, but at the cost of losing 5 ofthe 8 bombers on this mission. Eventually 854 Tallboy bombs were used, the most note-worthy mission resulting in the destruction of the battleship Tirpitz (77 were dropped in three attacks). The "TallBoy" bomb was the second biggest bomb used in WWII. * "Torpex" means Torpedo Explosive. It was originally used for torpedoes and therefore got this name. "Grand Slam" Type Length Diameter Tail Sectionlength Weight Warhead Number used Deep Penetration Bomb 7,7 meter (26 feet 6 inches) 1,17 meter (3 feet, 10 inches) 4,11 meter (13 feet, 6 inches) 9.979 kg (22.000 lb) 4.144 kg (9.135 lb) Torpexexplosive * 41

The "Grand Slam" (Earthquake) bomb was of the same design as the Tallboy but larger and heavier weighing 9.979 kg (22.000 lb). The Grand Slam was first used on 14 March, 1945 when a...