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From: whh@PacBell.COM (Wilson Heydt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Large Bombs
Message-ID: <5327@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 3 Apr 89 05:23:30 GMT
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Organization: Pacific * Bell, Oakland, CA
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From: whh@PacBell.COM (Wilson Heydt)

With reference to the inquiry about large bombs:

The British had a 10-ton (22,000 pound) bomb  late in WWII.  They
were dropped from modified Lancasters.  Of the first 3, 1 was tested
over New Forest, 1 was on a squadron leaders plane (which had an
engine sieze after starting), and the third in the #2 plane.  That
3rd one was dropped on the Biel Viaduct--making some 6 arches disappear
completely.

The bomb was a designed by Wallis Barnes and was a camoflet bomb.  The
"small' version of it was also used--it weighed "only" 5 tons (11,000
pounds).  Bothe were intended to knock out heavily fortified structures.
They were used--successfully--against submarine pens in France and Germany.

   --Hal

[mod.note:  And so the discussion turns full circle... 8-)   - Bill ]
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  Hal Heydt                             |    Money is the root of all
  Analyst, Pacific*Bell                 |    evil--and a man *needs*    
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