Barnes Wallis' Bouncing Bombs

A Bouncing Bomb

  Bouncing bombs were a peculiar type of bomb developed by British inventor Barnes Wallis during World War 2. The bombs worked using the same principle as skipping stones through a pond, albeit in a weaponized form. They were successfully used in dam busting  raids deep into Nazi Germany.

Such were the effectiveness of the bombs that the Germans were prompted to develop their own versions.

Bouncing bomb diagram

  The secret to the success of Barnes Wallis' bouncing bombs lie in their spin-stabilisation method of deployment. The spin induced onto the bombs allowed them to maintain their trajectory and travel in a relatively straight line towards the target. The bombs required nerves of steel to deploy as they could potentialy damage the aircraft upon bouncing through the water.

Bouncing Bombs released during training

Moehne Dam breached by the bouncing bombs

A humorous beer commercial on the Bouncing Bombs

German Maus Super Heavy Tank

    

The Germans were always at the forefront of tank design. They always wanted to make their panzers bigger and badder! This resulted in the heaviest tank ever made: The Maus (Mouse) superheavy tank. While most modern main battletanks only reach a maximum of 60 tons. The Maus superheavy tank weighed in at an earth shattering 180 tons! This also meant it had to drink alot of fuel so it wasn't a very mobile tank.

Maus tank with snorkel device

The steel behemoth was developed by Dr Ferdinand Porche and was to use a similar electrical-drive system he developed for the Elefant tank. It was to be armed with a 128mm main gun along with a 75mm secondary gun. The sheer weight of the Maus meant it couldn't use bridges so it had to go underwater when crossing rivers. It was equipped with a snorkel device.

It could have quickly destroyed any tank that came against it and was impervious to any anti-tank round of the era. Aside from rumors of it seeing action during the last days of the war, there is no evidence that this tank ever saw combat. For all  its supposed benefits, the tank was simply too expensive and thirsty to have been useful during the last days of World War 2.

The sole survivor Maus tank is located in Kublinka Tank Museum in Russia.

Maus Tank in the Kublinka Tank Museum showing hits on the front armor

More  Photos

Horten Ho-229 Flying wing

Ho-229 illustration by Dragon Models

    After the success of the British De Havilland Mosquito, the Nazis weren't so content sitting idly. Herman Goering got so envious that he decided to one-up the English by developing one of the most technologically advanced aircraft to ever take to the skies! What resulted was an aircraft that looked more from science fiction than weapon from World War 2!

A Horten Flying Wing prototype being constructed

The jet powered Horten Ho 229 / Go-229 was developed by the Horten Brothers, who were renowned for designs of "flying wing" aircraft. So capable was this new aircraft design that it was said to be the only entry that could meet Herman Goering's demanding 3x1000 requirement. It was also to be constructed of wood Since by 1944 things weren't looking so good for the Nazis with the Allies advancing on all fronts and scarce resources.

The Hortens promised Herman Goering that their new fighter would deliver the decisive blow to the Allies with its unmatched speed and heavy armament. Weather in its fighter or ground-attack configurations, the Ho-229 could destroy targets with up to a ton of bombs and its 30mm heavy cannons. It was also said to have radar absorption properties that made it hard to detect due to its wooden airframe and radar absorbent paint.

The last remaining Horten Ho-229 flying wing owned by the Smithsonian Museum

Even if it was ahead of its time, lucky for the Allies the war was over before this wonderweapon could see active service. It was amazing how this sleek, wooden, jet-powered fighter managed to be controllable even before computers that stabilize today's flying wing aircraft like the B-2 Spirit. There were also supposed plans of making a strategic bomber version of it.

More Ho-229 photos