| Place | Europe: United Kingdom, England |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | SUK14441 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
England. C. 1945-03. It was announced that the RAF were using, against specially selected ...
Description
England. C. 1945-03. It was announced that the RAF were using, against specially selected targets, a 22,000 lb bomb, nearly twice the size of its predecessor, the 12,000 lb missile. This massive bomb, known as the "Grand Slam", is 35' 3" long, with a diameter of 3' 10" and is of the streamlined, deep penetration type, being a scaled up version of the 6 tonner with a tail unit approximately 13' 6" long. Its primary role was against underground structures and precision targets requiring deep penetration with maximum destruction. It was first used against the railway viaduct at Bielefeld on 1945-03-14. The "Grand Slam" can break down almost any building or fortification; it makes craters 120' in diameter and more than 35 feet deep. A "Grand Slam" is delivered to a Lancaster aircraft of 617 Squadron RAF, for onward transmission to a special target.