Hydrochemical Methods: Disarming WWII Aircraft Bombs Safely

The disarming of an unexploded wartime device, in the example of a World War II aircraft bomb, is carried out by “hydrochemical” methods. The shell is perforated with a solution of water and nitric acid at the level of the explosive chamber.

Disarmament Procedure

In the hole, “steam” is injected at 86°C, which dissolves the trinitrotoluene (TNT) and causes it to flow outward. The military then places microcharges to trigger the detonation of the fuzes, whose role is to make the ordnance explode. The TNT itself is burned away.

The fuzes can be one or two in number; up to three in the remnants of German military ordnance, which are the most difficult to handle because the Germans provided limited information about their munitions’ characteristics.

Complex Interventions

Among the most challenging operations in recent years conducted by the Genio (Engineer Corps) is the clearance of a section of the Brenta river in Vigodarzere (Padova). At the bottom of the river, around a dozen bombs were identified that, due to their characteristics, could not be moved.

A specific precaution was taken to limit damage to the river and surrounding environment. Cables with holes were lowered into the water upstream and downstream of the bombs, through which compressed air was released, creating a barrier of bubbles.

At that point, the bombs were detonated, and the bubbles contained the blast wave. It may seem incredible, but in the video filmed by the military, the movement of the waters generated by the explosion is clearly visible, crashing against the bubble barrier.