High Explosive Unexploded Ordnance Neutralisation – Alford Magma v Tallboy Air Bomb

On October 13, 2020, Alford Technologies’ renowned shaped charges were crucial in a historic UXO defeating operation.

An underwater hazardous object of historical significance – the British deep penetration bomb Tallboy – was successfully neutralised on the fairway connecting the Polish Baltic ports of Świnoujście and Szczecin. The bomb was dropped during the bombing of the German cruiser ‘Lützow’ in April 1945. This successful operation, believed to be the first of its kind, marked a significant milestone in bomb neutralisation, previously only neutralised on land in Europe.

An Unprecedented Operation

Preparation for this unprecedented operation took an entire year. This extensive period was necessary to ensure the safety of the operation and to address the various challenges involved. It included projects such as clearing the area around the bomb of other identified unexploded ordnance (UXO), international consultations, historical analyses and assessing the risk to residents and critical infrastructure in case of an explosion.

Low Order Deflagration Achieved

The bomb, containing approximately 2,400 kg of TORPEX explosive, with a force equivalent to nearly 3600 kg of TNT, was neutralised at a depth of 12 metres near a ferry crossing. This was accomplished by the expertise of specialists from the 41st Navy EOD Team of the 12th MCM Squadron (8th Coastal Defence Flotilla) using Alford Technologies Magma charges to achieve Low Order Deflagration.

Unfavourable conditions excluded the use of blow-in-situ explosive methods (BIP) and the extraction and transport of the object to a military site. After a partial deflagration of the explosive, the remaining explosive was detonated (DDT). Estimates suggest that the deflagration level reached between 55 and 60%, significantly reducing the strength and impact of the underwater explosion.

If you want to go deeper into the momentous project, dive into the entire case study (Initially published in Defence Technology Volume 18, Issue 3, March 2022, Pages 524-535)