RAF Bomb disposal equipment from ww2 until modern times
The Stevens Stopper or "S set"
The RAFBD Boss throughout the war was Wing Commander J Stevens. He invented a device called the "Stevens Stopper" A device to introduce a fluid into a ticking type 17, 17A or 17B bomb fuze which could stop the mechanism and render it unable to start again regardless of vibrations or movement.
The method used was to first evacuate all the air from the fuze pocket in the bomb and then introduce a suitable resinous liquid into the fuze pocket under vacuum pressure to ensure penetration into the mechanism of the fuze thus jamming up the works. Very effective and very simple.
Operating the "S set"
How the Stevens Stopper operated:
A flat circular metal band about 2 feet in circumference, 2 inches wide and 3/16ths of an inch thick had 3 metal stays 30 inches high which formed a cone connected to a small metal platform to which a vacuum pump was attached. The pump had a gauge fitted to a connector outlet on the pump body. A 5/8th inch rubber tube was connected to the outlet with a jubilee clip. 4 feet along the rubber tube a single bar tap is fitted known as tap "A". 18 inches from this tap a tee piece is fitted. On the right angle bit of the tee, another 12 inches of rubber tube is fitted to which another bar tap is also fitted known as tap "B". A further 18 inches of rubber tube is fitted to the tap and inserted into a jar containing 15 fluid ounces of immunising liquid. To the other end of the tee, 3 feet of rubber tube connected to a bronze collet with a rubber washer to fit on the fuze head.
With tap "A" ON and tap "B" OFF the operator stands on the metal ring to stabilise the vacuum pump and with vigorous up and down strokes of the handle evacuates the air from the fuze pocket. When the needle on the gauge reaches a black marked area and is holding steady, the immunising operation can proceed. Should the needle start to fall then a leak is occuriong and this must be rectified before anything else can be done.
With all the air extracted from the fuze pocket, tap "A" is turned OFF and tap "B" is turned ON. The immunising fluid will now flow from the glass jar into the fuze pocket via the bronze collet attached to the fuze head. When the majority of the fluid has entered the fuze pocket the lines are disconnected and cleaned out otherwise the fluid sets hard in the pipe and renders the apparatus unserviceable.
RAF Bomb Disposal Equipment "The Pass Trepanner"
Operation of the Pass Trepanner
The introduction of the Pass Trepanner was very much welcomed by all RAF Bomb Disposal units. With the use of this equipment, a 41/8 inch hole could be cut into the bomb casing of most German bombs fro 250Kg upwards. Apart from fitting the trepanner to the bomb, the operation was carried out at a safe distance by remote control. The hole could be cut directly over the fuze itself or anywhere on the casing, usually near the rear of the bomb where the case was thinner. After the hole was cut, the operation of "Steaming Out" could commence.
The trepanner was in 2 parts, the base and the trepanner cutting head. The bomb was raised a few inches of the ground and wedged to prevent movement. The trepanner was then attached using adjustable chains and bolts. Cutting fluid of the type used on lathes or milling machines was used to cool the cutter and prevent overheating. Once the cutter was cutting all round the cutting indicator needle stays steady instead of waving back and forth. Once the cutter is through the case the needle drops to zero and remains steady. Everything is then switched off and the trepanner removed.
RAf bomb disposal equipment part two
The Steam Generator
(Steam Jenny)
A platform mounted on 2 wheels covered in chequer plate sheeting to form a platform that was non slip and a tow bar for transportation. The platform had 4 adjustable folding legs for levelling. Bolted to the nearside of the platform was a JAP 2 stroke engine to drive the water and steam pumps. Water is pumped from a large tank and through a copper coil heated by a paraffin heater a bit like a blowlamp but bigger.
Steaming out the explosive
The heating of the water in the coil produces steam under pressure. An armoured hose is attached to the coil to deliver the steam to the previously trepanned bomb.
The steam generator must be watched in case "Blue Steam" is produced. Blue steam is thin and bluish in colour and is an indication of lack of water and overheating of the copper coil. The correct steam is a thick cloud with plenty of moisture as shown in this picture of a Bomb Disposal Operation in the 1950's.
The Rocket Wrench
The Rocket Wrench is a robust high torque wrench developed for the UK MOD for Bomb Disposal Engineers as a means of unscrewing fuzes from unexploded bombs at a safe distance. It is powered by 2 x 0.5 inch calibre electrically initiated power cartridges which when fired simultaneously will turn the wrench like a Catherine wheel and unscrew the bomb pistol or fuze. The picture shows the Rocket Wrench being attached to a bomb fuze by an EOD technician.
Crabtree Discharger
This was used to discharge the condensers in a Rheinmetall bomb fuze. A simple two pin metal cap screwed onto the fuze and discharged the reseroir condensers to earth. Once discharged, the fuze was subjected to a jerk check
The Magnetic Clock Stopper
The type 17 delayed-action fuse located at the nose end of a two Fuze bomb, was governed by a clockwork mechanism set to ignite at a pre-determined moment within a period of 72 hours. Up to the development of the magnetic clock stopper there was no safe way of removing the time delay Fuze.
The magnetic clock-stopper was a large coil of wire about the size of a car wheel, which when powered up became a massive electromagnet. when this was sat around the type 17 clockwork fuze the powerful magnetic field was enough to stop the Fuzes mechanism and therefore stop the bomb exploding. The use of the Stethoscope was the method to confirm the clock was not ticking.
Clock-stopper” or Q-coil was about the size of a horse collar and weighed 90kg and was powered from a 140VDC source and came with an electronic stethoscope to check that the ticking had stopped. Once the clock-stopper was applied, the bomb could be moved to a safe location for further work.
Later deployed in improved form, the K.I.M. could injected urea formaldehyde resin into the fuse which Solidified and jammed the mechanism.
Fuze Extractor (IGOL)
This WW2 Design 7 fuse extractor, is a manual extractor tool that was developed for the early bomb disposal, and removes fuses from their pockets at a safe distance.
During the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by Turkish Forces, a bomb dropped on the Venus Beach Hotel and was rendered safe by two RAF Bomb Disposal personnel assisted by a Greek Cypriot Army soldier. This peice of equipment was sused to remove the fuze from the tail end of the bomb therefore making it safe to remove to a place where it could be safely disposed of.
Modern Bomb Disposal Equipment
Talon Robots for EOD .
The EOD Robot has now become commonplace among modern EOD in both military and civilian capacities.
Developed initially as a necessity for EOD operations against the IED threat in Northern Ireland during the troubles, the EOD robot has to be the best thing since sliced bread.
The first robots were cumbersome and unreliable due to the fact that the operator had to use a long lead to control the robot. They also had a tendency to throw a track making the robot inoperable.
In use, the robot can in most circumstances avoid the EOD operator from having to approach the device or bomb and should the device detonate there is no loss of life. In EOD Parlance this is called the “Longest Walk”
This was true when in April 1991 the IRA placed a device between the RAF Office and Baptist Church on Fishergate in Preston. The office boss had been working on Sunday to clear some paperwork and was leaving for the day. He left by the rear entrance and noticed a suspect package. He called the Police and the Army Bomb Squad from Liverpool came with a robot but as the robot approached the device it detonated, wrecking the robot and severely damaging the Offices and church. No-one was injured but the Army needed a new robot!.
The most up to date robots called TALON BY QinetiQ are some of the fastest robots in production, TALON can travel through sand, water, and snow, as well as climb stairs. The TALON transmits in color, black and white, infrared, and/or night vision to its operator who may be up to about 4000 ft (1,200 m) away.[1] It can run off lithium-ion batteries for a maximum of seven days on standby before needing to recharge. It has an 8.5-hour battery life at normal operating speeds, two standard lead batteries providing two hours each, and one optional lithium ion providing an additional 4.57 hours. It can withstand repeated decontamination, allowing it to work for extended periods of time in contaminated areas. It was used at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks, working for 45 days under contaminated conditions without electronic failure.
