Austin Tilly (1/35 Tamiya) BDS

[Kingsman]

At a slight tangent from the model, but we have touched on the work of the BDS in WW2.

 

Most of you will have seen The Exeter Bomb on the news. That was an SC1000, AKA a Hermann: a 1 tonne bomb with about a half tonne explosive fill (3 different models).  RN EOD attended initially but enemy ordnance above the high water mark is an RE responsibility so 33 Engr Regt were deployed.  As we saw from the spectacular footage the balsy decision was taken to detonate in place and over 2,500 people were evacuated inside an 800m diameter zone. One assumes that other options were discounted for various reasons.  In pictures of the exposed bomb the area round the fuse pocket had clearly been cleaned away.  But even removing the fuse would have left very unstable explosive in the gaine and main charge, and steaming out was clearly not on.

 

It isn't often now that we get to see WW2 weapon effects.  That's what half a tonne of HE looks like, a blast felt 8 miles away, heard 15 miles away and registered on seismographs 40 miles away!  Properties within 100m have been rendered unihabitable, at least temporarily.  Despite 300 tonnes of tamping sand and trenches dug in an attempt to attentuate some of the ground shock wave.  And these things were dropped daily.  He111 could carry 2.

 

I have much respect for members of my former cap badge who had to deal with this weapon, but even more for their WW2 forebears for whom this was daily work.

 

I always chuckle at the phrase "controlled explosion".  As one of my demolition instructors cautioned, the only thing controlled about a controlled explosion is the moment you push the button on the exploder.  Everything after that is unpredictable.........

 

[Werdna]

Daughter is currently at Exeter Uni - she's 2nd year and lives off campus, so not in the evacuation area.  She said the detonation was the loudest thing she'd ever heard...

[APA]

Thanks for that insight Das. Really puts it into perspective doesn't it. We see this as a spectacular national effent but was an everyday occurance all over the country for years! 

 

Andrew 

[boston1832]

What a superb build. It's not a subject I'd have even thought of but it's a great rendition - I love the attention to detail and research on the primitive but specialised equipment. I'm doing some research at the moment on railway gunpowder traffic and it's notable how much care had to be exercised with even that, such as door hinges and handles for buildings being specified in brass or gunmetal. 

 

On 01/03/2021 at 15:10, Das Abteilung said:

I have much respect for members of my former cap badge who had to deal with this weapon, but even more for their WW2 forebears for whom this was daily work.

 

It's difficult to imagine at this distance in time how brave these unassuming men were. During my schooldays I was told that our kindly neighbour pruning his willow trees (at some height with no safety, I might add) was in bomb disposal during WWII. He was Lieutentant-Commander John Bridge, GC, GM & Bar, whose exploits seem extraordinary when associated with the old gentleman I knew. 

 

[supersonic]

Lovely build with great attention to detail

 

Hans

[APA]

4 hours ago, supersonic said:

Lovely build with great attention to detail

 

Hans

Thank you Hans 😊

 

Andrew 

[APA]

5 hours ago, boston1832 said:

What a superb build. It's not a subject I'd have even thought of but it's a great rendition - I love the attention to detail and research on the primitive but specialised equipment. I'm doing some research at the moment on railway gunpowder traffic and it's notable how much care had to be exercised with even that, such as door hinges and handles for buildings being specified in brass or gunmetal. 

 

 

It's difficult to imagine at this distance in time how brave these unassuming men were. During my schooldays I was told that our kindly neighbour pruning his willow trees (at some height with no safety, I might add) was in bomb disposal during WWII. He was Lieutentant-Commander John Bridge, GC, GM & Bar, whose exploits seem extraordinary when associated with the old gentleman I knew. 

 

Thank you Boston and wow, just wow! What a life, he defused hundreds at a time. I cannot comprehend what he must have gone through. Thank you for this. 

 

Andrew