![]() ![]() The bomb later became part of the standard bomb load of the RAF's heavy night bombers, as well as that of the Mosquitoes of the Light Night Strike Force, whose aircraft would sometimes bomb Berlin twice in one night, flown by two different crews. The first type of aircraft to carry 4,000 lb (1.8 t) bombs operationally was the Wellington during a strike on Emden in April 1941 carriage of the bomb required the bomb beam to be removed from the bomb bay and a slot cut in the bomb doors - the bomb protruded slightly through this and, on release, simply fell out through the hole. Operational use 57 Squadron Avro Lancaster with the "Usual" area bombing load of a 4,000 lb (1.8 t) bomb and 12 Small Bomb Containers, each filled with 4 lb (1.8 kg) incendiary bombs The local newspaper referred to him as "Blockbuster Brooks". In 1947 Alfred Cecil Brooks of Stourbridge was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for creating the Blockbuster, although his citation was worded "outstanding services to the King of a nature that cannot be revealed". In contrast to the American AN-M56 ordnance, the cylindrical "HC"-class British-design high capacity bombs were used only by the RAF and associated Commonwealth air forces, which were the only air forces with bombers with bomb bays large enough to hold them. These bombs were designed for their blast effect, to cause damage to buildings, specifically to blow roof tiles off, so that the small 4 lb (1.8 kg) incendiary bombs could reach the building interiors. When fitted with a conical "nose piece" and a drum tail, the 1,800 kg (2 short tons) British "Blockbuster" bomb fell straight down. By comparison the similar American "4,000 pound LC Bomb AN-M56" bomb was aerodynamically designed as other US bombs were, with a sheet metal tailfin assembly and shaped nose and aft sections. The 4000-lb high-capacity design was little more than a cylinder full of explosives: it was un aerodynamic and did not have fins. A 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) version was created by adding a third 4000 lb section and should not be confused with the 12,000lb Tallboy ground-penetrating "earthquake" bomb. The larger 8,000 lb (3.6 t) bomb was constructed from two 4,000 lb (1.8 t) sections, of a larger 38 in (0.97 m) diameter, that fitted together with bolts. ![]() The Mark IV bomb did not have the T-section beam and the Mark V and Mark VI bombs were versions manufactured in the United States. Subsequent Mark II and Mark III HC bombs differed in detail the conical nose was replaced with a domed nose and the number of fuzes was increased from one to three to guarantee detonation. A T-section steel beam was welded to the inner surface of the bomb to strengthen it. The nose of the bomb was conical and a 27 in (69 cm) long lightweight, empty cylindrical tail with a closed end was fitted, for a total overall length of 115 in (2.92 m). The body of the bomb was 30 in (76 cm) in diameter and 88 in (2.24 m) long. The 4000 lb High Capacity Mark I bomb – actual weight around 3,930 lb (1,780 kg) – was a welded, cylindrical shell of 0.31 in (7.9 mm) thick steel. Larger Blockbusters were made later in the war, from the original 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) version, up to 12,000 lb (5,400 kg). Most general-purpose bombs, termed "medium capacity'" (MC) by the RAF, contained 50% explosive by weight, the rest being made up of the fragmentation casing. These bombs had especially thin casings that allowed them to contain approximately three-quarters of their weight in explosive, with a 4000 lb bomb (nominal weight) containing about 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of explosive ( Amatol, RDX or Torpex). The bombs then called Blockbusters were the RAF's HC (high capacity) bombs. The term blockbuster was originally a name coined by the press and referred to a bomb which had enough explosive power to destroy an entire street or large building through the effects of blast in conjunction with incendiary bombs.ĭesign Diagram of a 4,000-lb HC Mark I bomb Standard American AN-M56 4,000 lb (1.8 t) general-purpose bomb ![]() ( November 2020)Ī Lancaster drops first "Window" to disrupt enemy radar, then a 4,000 pound blockbuster bomb and incendiary bombs during Operation Hurricane against Duisburg on 14/15 October 1944Ī blockbuster bomb or cookie was one of several of the largest conventional bombs used in World War II by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. ![]()
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