PMN1
1st May 2004, 04:58
In December 1942 trials were conducted of bouncing bombs against a battleship target and the possibility of using them against the Tirpitz was discussed. Some were in favour while others weren’t as they were worried about the Germans doing the same thing and the Allies having more large ships to worry about.
Eventually the Highball bomb was developed but never used in anger, the Tirptiz having been sunk by another of Wallis’s ‘madcap’ designs and its use against the Japanese by 618 squadron’s Mosquito’s made redundant by the atom bomb.
Given this fear in 1942, what had changed for Upkeep to actually be used against the Dams in May 1943 and plans for Highball to be used against the Tirpitz not long after?
Were the Germans and Japanese ever close to developing an equivalent for use against dams or ships?
Did Highball need a minimum aircraft launch speed?
Eventually the Highball bomb was developed but never used in anger, the Tirptiz having been sunk by another of Wallis’s ‘madcap’ designs and its use against the Japanese by 618 squadron’s Mosquito’s made redundant by the atom bomb.
Given this fear in 1942, what had changed for Upkeep to actually be used against the Dams in May 1943 and plans for Highball to be used against the Tirpitz not long after?
Were the Germans and Japanese ever close to developing an equivalent for use against dams or ships?
Did Highball need a minimum aircraft launch speed?