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DANGER UXB
Royal Engineers |
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HISTORY OF RE WW2 BOMB DISPOSAL
In 1939 Adolf Hitler’s Directive for the Conduct of the War, still restricted the Luftwaffe from attacking land-based targets or docked warships. Therefore, Hoy in the Scottish Orkney Island which forms the west and south west sides of the 120-160 square mile natural sheltered harbour of Scapa Flow should have been safe from the Luftwaffe bombing it.
But on the 7th October 1939, although aimed at shipping, the first bombings on British soil started. They were 50Kg bombs with a simple type 15 impact fuse, and for whatever reason all the bombs failed to explode even though many had penetrated to a depth of between six and ten feet.
But on the 7th October 1939, although aimed at shipping, the first bombings on British soil started. They were 50Kg bombs with a simple type 15 impact fuse, and for whatever reason all the bombs failed to explode even though many had penetrated to a depth of between six and ten feet.
The type 15 fuses were sent to the RAF Sullom Voe Research and Experimental Branch of the Ministry of Supply, who discovered that the fuzes were ECR (electrical condenser resistance) type fuses. This meant that these fuses could easily be neutralised by depressing the two plungers by using a special tool they developed that draining the contained charge and making the bomb safe.
These early fuzes were all type no15, but this method of immunising fuses did not last for long as the Germans realised the British could defuse them and developed a new fuze the type no 25. Although very similar to the type no 15 impact fuze, the Germans had changed the internal circuit a little so that when the plungers were depressed the bomb actually exploded.
These early fuzes were all type no15, but this method of immunising fuses did not last for long as the Germans realised the British could defuse them and developed a new fuze the type no 25. Although very similar to the type no 15 impact fuze, the Germans had changed the internal circuit a little so that when the plungers were depressed the bomb actually exploded.
In truth little or no thought was given to Bomb Disposal at the beginning of the war, even though the ECR fuzes used in German bombs had been granted a patent by the UK patents office back in1932. little or no thought was given to UK Bomb Disposal at the time. Intelligence from the Spanish civil war bombing using German Fuzes was common knowledge, with the information was available from HM Stationery Office.
But it wasn’t until November 1939 when the first unexploded bombs were available for research, that any real development for making bombs safe began.
At the outset of the war, it was thought that the Home Office would be responsible. The initial idea was all missiles would be collected by ARP wardens, and taken to a suitable dump, to be disposed of later. During this time no one in the Home Office had taken any advice from the RAF, who would have told them in no uncertain terms that this idea was totally impractical
But it wasn’t until November 1939 when the first unexploded bombs were available for research, that any real development for making bombs safe began.
At the outset of the war, it was thought that the Home Office would be responsible. The initial idea was all missiles would be collected by ARP wardens, and taken to a suitable dump, to be disposed of later. During this time no one in the Home Office had taken any advice from the RAF, who would have told them in no uncertain terms that this idea was totally impractical
Initial proposals were made for training specialist teams of ARP wardens equipped for the work world be set up. In reality no one would take the responsibility to implement it. So, the War Office was asked to provide bomb disposal teams until the ARP teams could be trained.
It was initially decided on the1st May 1940 by the War Office, that the Royal Engineers would provide the bomb disposal teams with each team consisting of an NCO and two sappers, their job were primarily to dig down to the bomb and blow it up in situ, along with the job of training the ARP teams.
Despite a campaign calling for volunteers for ARP bomb Disposal people, the civilian population failed to want to get involved for this dangerous role.
It was initially decided on the1st May 1940 by the War Office, that the Royal Engineers would provide the bomb disposal teams with each team consisting of an NCO and two sappers, their job were primarily to dig down to the bomb and blow it up in situ, along with the job of training the ARP teams.
Despite a campaign calling for volunteers for ARP bomb Disposal people, the civilian population failed to want to get involved for this dangerous role.
During the period of what we called the phoney war of September 1939 to April 1940, the Royal Engineers did not have a great deal to do as very few bombs were dropped. Although there were very few air raids during this period, there were a number of UXB’s which were immunised. It was during this period that the powers that be, realised that a properly structured and organised force would be needed. So, on 2nd February 1940 the army formally took over the responsibility for Bomb Disposal in the UK, with the exception of bombs which fell on Royal Navy or Royal Air Force property along with the navy being responsible for all missiles which fell into estuaries below the high-water mark.
In May 1940, the first twenty-five bomb disposal sections consisting of a Lieutenant, a sergeant and fourteen other ranks were formed by absorbing the original bomb disposal working parties. Each bomb disposal section, was issued with standard Royal Engineers equipment from the stores. From picks and shovels, hammers, chisels, empty sand bags, blocks and tackles along with a small amount of demolition explosive.
The real trouble was, bomb disposal was a Heath Robinson affair, with the Royal Engineers bomb disposal teams, controlled by the War Office department “the Inspector of Fortifications” and was headed up by a Royal Artillery General. Eventually the system was streamlined with the Minister of Supply forming the Unexploded Bomb Committee, whose purpose was to consider all problems relative to bomb disposal.
The real trouble was, bomb disposal was a Heath Robinson affair, with the Royal Engineers bomb disposal teams, controlled by the War Office department “the Inspector of Fortifications” and was headed up by a Royal Artillery General. Eventually the system was streamlined with the Minister of Supply forming the Unexploded Bomb Committee, whose purpose was to consider all problems relative to bomb disposal.
By mis June 1940 it came clear that the initial twenty-five bomb disposal sections formed would in no way be able to cope with the expected deluge of bombs that would result from the withdrawal of our forces from. This resulted in another 109 bomb disposal sections being formed. Volunteers from the ranks of the Royal Engineers were called for, with just a handful coming forward, to manage this situation the Other Ranks were just posted in.
Most of the young officers came straight from a Royal Engineers OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit). Some had received an immediate commission as a result of their technical or professional qualifications. All ranks were informed that they could, after six months service in bomb disposal, elect to transfer to another branch of the Royal Engineers. This offer was made because it was believed that the strain would be too much. Very few took up the six month transfer offer, with many serving with distinction throughout the whole of the war.
Most of the young officers came straight from a Royal Engineers OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit). Some had received an immediate commission as a result of their technical or professional qualifications. All ranks were informed that they could, after six months service in bomb disposal, elect to transfer to another branch of the Royal Engineers. This offer was made because it was believed that the strain would be too much. Very few took up the six month transfer offer, with many serving with distinction throughout the whole of the war.
In the early months of bomb disposal, a section would just dig down to the bomb, using whatever materials were available, often timber and doors from bomb damaged houses, corrugated iron, in fact anything they could lay their hand on. When they got down to the fuze, the officer would more often than not have to use a hammer and cold chisel to loosen the locking ring, and withdrawing the fuze by hand, many officers would tie a piece of string round the fuze boss enabling him to pull out the fuze from relative safety. The bomb was then usually rolled over to empty the fuze pocket of the picric acid, then loaded on a truck and taken to a dump. It should be noted that in the early days a ‘lorry’ would not have been an army issue but a requisitioned vehicle.
Fortunately for the newly formed Bomb Disposal teams, air raids during the months leading up to July 1940, had been relatively light, with the bomb disposal sections learning about the ordnance being dropped, they were just about able to cope with the volume of UXB’s,
But the Germans had not been complacent and had developed a new type of fuze, although similar in appearance it the type 15 the type 25 had had a modified electrical circuit. This new fuse started to cause increased casualties in the bomb disposal sections. It was to prove almost too much, for the newly formed poorly trained sections. The bomb disposal sections were overwhelmed, casualties rose and the number of unexploded bombs waiting to be dealt with increased each day.
But the Germans had not been complacent and had developed a new type of fuze, although similar in appearance it the type 15 the type 25 had had a modified electrical circuit. This new fuse started to cause increased casualties in the bomb disposal sections. It was to prove almost too much, for the newly formed poorly trained sections. The bomb disposal sections were overwhelmed, casualties rose and the number of unexploded bombs waiting to be dealt with increased each day.
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The first of the bombs falling on the UK were 50Kg bombs, these High Explosive blast bombs were designed for general demolition. This was the smallest of the High Explosive bombs in common usage by the German Luftwaffe, with tens of thousands being dropped across the UK throughout the war.
The fuzes fitted into the 50Kg bomb, could be varied to suit the requirement of the time With this It was agreed that there should be better organisation, with support and control of the independent sections. The change took place on 29th August 1940, which the original 220 bomb disposal teams split into companies with their own headquarters, and made up of ten sections. The very day the changes were announced, the Luftwaffe started its offensive on London. |
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The BD Company or Coy headquarters were as follows.
· 1 BD Coy in Newcastle · 2 BD Coy in London · 3 BD Coy in Nottingham · 4 BD Coy in Bury St. Edmunds · 6 BD Coy in Wiltshire · 7 BD Coy in Bristol · 9 BD Coy in Birmingham · 10 BD Coy in Manchester · 11 BD Coy in Edinburgh · 12 BD Coy in Horsham · 14 BD Coy in Leeds · 16 BD Coy in Cardiff · 20 BD Coy in Sevenoaks · 21 BD Coy in London · 22 BD Coy in Colchester · 27 BD Coy in Northern Ireland. |
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The Bomb Diposal Coy headquarters, should not be confused with the “Ministry of Home Security” area numbering which divided the UK into 12 civil defence regions allowing for the collating of information about bomb damage across regions.
1. Northern (HQ Newcastle-upon-Tyne) 2. North Eastern (HQ Leeds) 3. North Midland (HQ Nottingham) 4. Eastern (HQ Cambridge) 5. London 6. Southern (HQ Reading) 7. South Western (HQ Bristol) 8. Wales (HQ Cardiff) 9. Midland (HQ Birmingham) 10. North Western (HQ Manchester) 11. Scotland (HQ Edinburgh) 12. South Eastern (HQ Tunbridge Wells) |
With improved organisation and planning, a strategy for categorising UXB’s came into force.
Unexploded bombs were categorised in order of priority:
A1: Immediate disposal essential. Detonation of the bomb in situ cannot be accepted on any terms.
A2: Immediate disposal essential. Bomb may, if the situation demands it, be detonated in situ.
B: Rapid disposal urgent, but less urgent than A.
C: Not necessarily calling for immediate action.
D: May be dealt with as convenient.
Sites that had high or A1 priorities were factories, gas and oil supplies, and communications. UXBs in residential areas were usually left for 72 hours for the electric charge in the detonator to dissipate. This could cause terrible disruption as the presence of an unexploded parachute mine could mean that an area of up to 100 acres had to be evacuated.
Bomb disposal had two primary functions, finding the bomb and making it safe. It was the role of the RE military engineers, known as sappers, to discover the bombs. This often meant digging up to 50 feet down, shoring holes and pumping out water.
Unexploded bombs were categorised in order of priority:
A1: Immediate disposal essential. Detonation of the bomb in situ cannot be accepted on any terms.
A2: Immediate disposal essential. Bomb may, if the situation demands it, be detonated in situ.
B: Rapid disposal urgent, but less urgent than A.
C: Not necessarily calling for immediate action.
D: May be dealt with as convenient.
Sites that had high or A1 priorities were factories, gas and oil supplies, and communications. UXBs in residential areas were usually left for 72 hours for the electric charge in the detonator to dissipate. This could cause terrible disruption as the presence of an unexploded parachute mine could mean that an area of up to 100 acres had to be evacuated.
Bomb disposal had two primary functions, finding the bomb and making it safe. It was the role of the RE military engineers, known as sappers, to discover the bombs. This often meant digging up to 50 feet down, shoring holes and pumping out water.
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The sappers frequently had to dug bombs out in terrible conditions, knowing that a small mistake or misfortune could detonate the bomb. Once the bomb had been uncovered, they had to decide whether to defuse it on site or move it to a place of safety for demolition.
After exposing the bomb, the BD officer had to make the choice, either to battle with fuses and anti-tamper devices or take the risk and pump the explosive charge out of the casing using the steam steriliser. Overall, the Luftwaffe dropped over 500,000 bombs on Britain during the war. Bombs varied from small 50 Kg blast bomb, the 1000 Kg parachute mine to the 1800 Kg ‘Satan’ bomb. More than 45,000 bombs did not explode and had to be dealt with by the Royal Engineers, RAF or Navy bomb disposal units. In the month of September 1940 alone, over 2,000 unexploded bombs were still to be made safe, |
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