How can they unscrew the fuse from a WW2 bomb that was rotting under the ground or in water for 80 years, when you may have to use brutal force, heat, etc to remove bolts from a 10-year-old car (and the bolt will snap anyway)?

Question

I would expect that you wouldn’t be able to loosen anything on an old, rusty bomb, especially that it is so unstable and can go off anytime.

In: 1985

Answer 1

Bomb tech here. Depends on the bomb.

WW2 bombs in particular in the U.K. have a particular set of tools involving water neutralisation to make the fuzes inert.

More modern bombs that have been buried for say 50 years e.g can be removed with a little force and WD.40 depends on the extent of the rust around the fuze. Depends on how much the fuze can be disturbed for this method.

However, usually fuzes are not hand removed unless you are 100% sure the bomb has not gone through any of its arming mechanisms. Many fuzes have anti withdrawal mechanisms. As mentioned in the thread; rocket wrench, IGOL, hook and line, Cracker Barrel are all methods of fuze removal seen that provide stand off. Or there are low order techniques to deflagrate the explosives. Or simply high order. I wouldn’t take any footage recently seen in Ukraine as good safety procedures!