ALLIES USE WORLD'S LARGEST ROCKET BOMB

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 13

ALLIES USE WORLD'S LARGEST ROCKET BOMB

TERRIFIC POWER

British Inventor's Weapon For Special Targets

N Z P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 5 p.m. LONDON, April 20.

The existence of a new rocket-pro-pelled bomb in use by the Allies is disclosed in a joint communique by the British Admiralty and the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, which states: "Rocket-pro-pelled bombs conceived by the Admiralty were used by Flying Fortresses in their attacks against E-boat pens at Ijmuiden on February 10 and March 11. The bomb was designed to penetrate thick layers of concrete.

"It is known that several of the bombs hit and pierced the massive roofs of the pens, and it is believed they caused considerable damage inside.

"The new weapon is a high explosive bomb of special design, which is given by rocket propulsion much greater speed than would be attained by gravity alone. It strikes the target travelling at a speed greater than sound, more than 1100 feet per second in the air at sea level, is set to explode after deep penetration." This British idea came into existence because, in order to penetrate specially protected U-boat shelters and explode the charge inside, it was considered necessary to use a "power bomb." The Admiralty, in co-opera-tion with the Ministry of Supply and other departments, therefore designed a weapon using rocket gear as the propulsion unit. Launched By Fortresses The initial plans gave the bomb a striking speed greater than sound, and raised many problems. These were successfully solved, and tests made with prototypes showed that the rocket bomb maintained perfect stability from its release to the strike. Production in Britain of the new weapon was given high priority, and under reciprocal aid all details were made available to the United States in order that the United States Army Air Forces, which were then doing practically all the day bombing could freely apply the new developments to immediate operational requirements.

Trials were carried out in collaboration with the United States Eighth Air Force, and supplies of the rocket bombs were placed at their disposal. Hazardous tests were necessary, because the operational use of the bombs presented some difficulties.

Captain Edward Terrell, R.N.V.R., Recorder of Newbury, and a yachtsman, is the inventor of Britain's rocket-propelled bomb, says the Daily Express. It is the world's largest armour-piercing. projectile, and is designed specially to be fitted to Flying Fortresses, because it is too large for any existing naval plane. It is carried at the normal flying altitude of about 20,000 feet, and is released by the normal sighting technique. Captain Terrell has also invented plastic armour, which has confounded critics' expectations. He has also devised smoke elimination methods for convoys.