FightingSteel1
Mar-13-2016, 18:00
I may have a little more information or images to add later, but for now here is:
Ruhr Dam Raids
As the air war opened up in the European theater with more American involvement and strikes reaching further and further into German itself, many interesting raids and battles occurred in 1943. This article will explore one particular operation to the Ruhr valley, officially known as Operation Chastise. This operation found specially equipped RAF bombers striking at the heart of German industry, hitting the vital dams of the region and flooding out a much needed region in the war effort.
Beginning
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/crew.jpg
The squadron, Guy Gibson center - photo credit Imperial War Museums
In early March 1943, a special squadron was formed in the RAF, initially known as Squadron “X”, to carry out a special mission to the German Ruhr Valley. This area was of great importance to the Germans. The valley contained the heart of German industry and large part of it's war effort. Factories like Krupp steel works were located in the area, as well as component factories supplying parts for aircraft and other weapons. Also, the disruption of power and water to a large area could have far reaching effects on material and morale. It had already been identified as a prime target location by the British before the war had even begun.
The leader of the hastily assembled group was Guy Gibson, a well-decorated pilot in the RAF's Bomber Command. Gibson was a well-liked pilot that had earned praise at each stop in his career. He was experienced with many different English aircraft; indeed he had flown Blenheim's at the beginning of the war, night fighting Beaufighters, and had transitioned to the Lancaster in 1942. He had three full tours completed in bombers, and had recently attained the rank of Wing Commander before being chosen as the leader of Operation Chastise.
The Lancaster and “Upkeep”...
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/Avro.jpg
Avro Lancaster- photo credit Imperial War Museums
The aircraft chosen for the raid was the Avro Lancaster, a four-engined heavy bomber in the RAF. The Lancaster quickly became the RAF, RCAAF and other European countries heavy bomber of choice, and was used extensively in the night bombing campaigns of German targets. The aircraft's large bomb bay (some 10m/33ft) allowed for a multitude of traditional and more unusual ordnance choices. By bulging out the bomb bay doors, or completely removing them, bombs from 3,600kg to 5,400kg were able to be equipped. Anything from AP bombs, mines, parachute incendiaries or huge 7.8m long (weighing 10,000kg) “Grand Slam” earthquake bombs were carried by the bomber. A special variant, B.III, was created for this mission by modifying the bomb bay and removing the dorsal turret.
This special weapon of choice for the mission was the “Upkeep” bomb, a 4,200kg bomb that resembled a depth charge. In fact, in was originally referred to as a surface torpedo for it's water skimming qualities. It's design allowed for it to be released, skip along across water, clang against it's target, then sink underwater before exploding. It's designer, Barnes Wallis, believed it to be very useful against Dams and ships moored in port. By exploding underwater, the explosion would be magnified and utterly decimate a ships hull/keel or the base of a hydroelectric dam.
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/upkeep1.jpg
"Upkeep" Bomb - photo credit National Archives
The Mission
Three principal sites were chosen as targets in the operation, the dams Mohne, Eder and Sorpe. The Mohne dam and it's smaller companion to the South, Sorpe, controlled about 75 percent of the water supply to the valley industries. Mohne was huge; the dam was 777 meters long, 36 meters high, and controlled a 19 km (12 mile) long lake with 140 million tons of water. Eder dam held back an even larger volume of water of 200 million tons. After preparations had been made, it was decided to hit the dams at night in the middle of May. It would be a full moon period with the right amount of visibility and water levels to help the mission succeed.
The group was soon named “617 squadron”, and an intense amount of daylight training was started to prepare for the mission. Tinted screens were placed over the Lancasters windows to simulate low light levels, and the pilots were encouraged to practice flying as low as possible. The run on the dams would need to be at around an altitude of 18m to be successful. To help cope with flying over water at this height, a spotlight system was put in place in the nose and tail sections that would shine and (at the right altitude) converge over the water. Also, special “roller” maps were used instead of large, cumbersome charts to ease the strain on the navigator (as the terrain was rushing by) at such a low altitude.
Continued in Part 2
Ruhr Dam Raids
As the air war opened up in the European theater with more American involvement and strikes reaching further and further into German itself, many interesting raids and battles occurred in 1943. This article will explore one particular operation to the Ruhr valley, officially known as Operation Chastise. This operation found specially equipped RAF bombers striking at the heart of German industry, hitting the vital dams of the region and flooding out a much needed region in the war effort.
Beginning
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/crew.jpg
The squadron, Guy Gibson center - photo credit Imperial War Museums
In early March 1943, a special squadron was formed in the RAF, initially known as Squadron “X”, to carry out a special mission to the German Ruhr Valley. This area was of great importance to the Germans. The valley contained the heart of German industry and large part of it's war effort. Factories like Krupp steel works were located in the area, as well as component factories supplying parts for aircraft and other weapons. Also, the disruption of power and water to a large area could have far reaching effects on material and morale. It had already been identified as a prime target location by the British before the war had even begun.
The leader of the hastily assembled group was Guy Gibson, a well-decorated pilot in the RAF's Bomber Command. Gibson was a well-liked pilot that had earned praise at each stop in his career. He was experienced with many different English aircraft; indeed he had flown Blenheim's at the beginning of the war, night fighting Beaufighters, and had transitioned to the Lancaster in 1942. He had three full tours completed in bombers, and had recently attained the rank of Wing Commander before being chosen as the leader of Operation Chastise.
The Lancaster and “Upkeep”...
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/Avro.jpg
Avro Lancaster- photo credit Imperial War Museums
The aircraft chosen for the raid was the Avro Lancaster, a four-engined heavy bomber in the RAF. The Lancaster quickly became the RAF, RCAAF and other European countries heavy bomber of choice, and was used extensively in the night bombing campaigns of German targets. The aircraft's large bomb bay (some 10m/33ft) allowed for a multitude of traditional and more unusual ordnance choices. By bulging out the bomb bay doors, or completely removing them, bombs from 3,600kg to 5,400kg were able to be equipped. Anything from AP bombs, mines, parachute incendiaries or huge 7.8m long (weighing 10,000kg) “Grand Slam” earthquake bombs were carried by the bomber. A special variant, B.III, was created for this mission by modifying the bomb bay and removing the dorsal turret.
This special weapon of choice for the mission was the “Upkeep” bomb, a 4,200kg bomb that resembled a depth charge. In fact, in was originally referred to as a surface torpedo for it's water skimming qualities. It's design allowed for it to be released, skip along across water, clang against it's target, then sink underwater before exploding. It's designer, Barnes Wallis, believed it to be very useful against Dams and ships moored in port. By exploding underwater, the explosion would be magnified and utterly decimate a ships hull/keel or the base of a hydroelectric dam.
http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/vipe155/CondensedHistory/upkeep1.jpg
"Upkeep" Bomb - photo credit National Archives
The Mission
Three principal sites were chosen as targets in the operation, the dams Mohne, Eder and Sorpe. The Mohne dam and it's smaller companion to the South, Sorpe, controlled about 75 percent of the water supply to the valley industries. Mohne was huge; the dam was 777 meters long, 36 meters high, and controlled a 19 km (12 mile) long lake with 140 million tons of water. Eder dam held back an even larger volume of water of 200 million tons. After preparations had been made, it was decided to hit the dams at night in the middle of May. It would be a full moon period with the right amount of visibility and water levels to help the mission succeed.
The group was soon named “617 squadron”, and an intense amount of daylight training was started to prepare for the mission. Tinted screens were placed over the Lancasters windows to simulate low light levels, and the pilots were encouraged to practice flying as low as possible. The run on the dams would need to be at around an altitude of 18m to be successful. To help cope with flying over water at this height, a spotlight system was put in place in the nose and tail sections that would shine and (at the right altitude) converge over the water. Also, special “roller” maps were used instead of large, cumbersome charts to ease the strain on the navigator (as the terrain was rushing by) at such a low altitude.
Continued in Part 2