Tallboy

bomb

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The Tallboy was a 12,000-pound bomb developed in World War II by British engineer Sir Barnes Wallis. It was designed to penetrate deep into the ground or structures before detonating. The Tallboy, along with the even larger 22,000-pound Grand Slam bomb, was instrumental in destroying key German targets, including the battleship Tirpitz, V-rocket sites, and significant portions of Germany's railway infrastructure. These heavy bombs were crucial in the Allied effort to cripple Germany's war-making capabilities. The bomb's effectiveness lay in its ability to cause immense destruction to hardened targets.1

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Sir Barnes Wallis
…but also the 12,000-pound “Tallboy” and the 22,000-pound “Grand Slam” bombs. He was also responsible for the bombs that destroyed the German warship Tirpitz, the V-rocket sites, and much of Germany’s railway system. Wallis was chief of aeronautical research and development at the British Aircraft Corporation at Weybridge, Surrey,…
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…but also the 12,000-pound “Tallboy” and the 22,000-pound “Grand Slam” bombs. He was also responsible for the bombs that destroyed the German warship Tirpitz, the V-rocket sites, and much of Germany’s railway system. Wallis was chief of aeronautical research and development at the British Aircraft Corporation at Weybridge, Surrey,…
Read More