The art of defusing a second world war bomb
4 hours ago
- Two unexploded WWII bombs were discovered on the same day in Devon, one at a building site in Plymouth and another at Exmouth Marina.
- The bomb disposal team used X-rays, mic stethoscopes, and careful handling to assess the fuzes of the 50kg and 250kg bombs.
- Both bombs were safely moved and detonated at sea, causing no injuries or significant damage, but requiring large-scale evacuations.
- Unexploded WWII ordnance remains a common challenge in the UK, with about 2,000 incidents per year, and the frequency of large bombs is increasing.
- The passage of time makes these bombs unpredictable due to corrosion and degraded fuzes, requiring specialized expertise and equipment.