Tallboy (bomb)

Tallboy
RAF ground crew handling the Tallboy that was later dropped on the La Coupole V-weapon site at Wizernes, France, 1944
TypeEarthquake bomb
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service8 June 1944 – 25 April 1945
Used byNo. 9 Squadron RAF, No. 617 Squadron RAF
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerBarnes Wallis
ManufacturerVickers
No. built854[1]
Specifications
MassApprox 12,000 lb (5,400 kg)
Length21 ft (6.4 m)
Diameter38 in (97 cm)

FillingTorpex D1
Filling weight5,200 lb (2,400 kg)
Detonation
mechanism
No. 58 fuze, built from No. 30 Pistol (impact detonation) or No. 47 time delay fuze inserted into tetryl boosters in the rear of the casing.

Tallboy or Bomb, Medium Capacity, 12,000 lb was an earthquake bomb developed by the British aeronautical engineer Barnes Wallis and used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.[a]

At 5 long tons (5.1 t), it could be carried only by a modified model of the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber. It proved to be effective against large, fortified structures where conventional bombing had proved ineffective.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference BWR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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