Bouncing Bomb - Page 2 - EN
Dropping a bouncing bomb
Before being released from specially modified aircraft, the bombs
were held by v-shaped arms in the plane and rotated to the speed of 500
rpm by a hydraulic motor and belt drive. The planes had to fly at the
low height of 60 feet (20 meters) and to be travelling between 240-250
mph (400 km/h). To help the aircrews obtain these specifications, two
spotlights were fitted to the undercarriage of the plane and positioned
so that they converged into one at exactly 60 feet (20 meters).
Once dropped, the bomb hit the water with some backspin and bounced off at the water.
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| Bouncing bomb installed on an Avro Lancasters |
The bomb really needed to hit the dam and spin down to the very
bottom of the structure at the right speed in order for this to
actually happen. The bomb was also required to either be at the right
height or at a fast enough speed to jump over or break through the
defensive netting employed by the Germans.
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Vidéo : In this video, the camera focused on the bomb after it has been dropped. We clearly see the bomb backspin. |
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Vidéo : Bouncing bomb drop filmed from inside the bomber. |
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Famous military operations using bouncing bombs
The tests were rapidly successful and the first bouncing bomb was
dropped on Chesil Beach in December, 1942.
Then, in February, 1943 Barnes Wallis was told to prepare these
bouncing bombs for an attack on the Mohne and Eder dams in the Ruhr.
The Dambusters Raid took place on 16th May 1943. The cylindrical bombs,
which spun at 500 rpm, were dropped by Guy Gibson and the Avro
Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron RAF in Operation Chastise. The rotating
bomb skipped over the water and exploded while sinking to the base of
the retaining wall of the dam. The results of the raid were that out of
the 6 intended targets, 4 were damaged and 2 were destroyed.
To use the bouncing bomb the pilots had to fly very low and seven
out of the 19 aircraft which took part in the raid were brought down by
German anti-aircraft guns. Yet even though the mission was considered a
success, the high loss of life in the raid prompted the bouncing bomb
project to be discontinued.
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| German dam destroyed after the Dambusters raid |
Highball was to have been used in the Pacific Theatre but the war ended before it could be implemented.
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