Re: Kensington runestone in the Scandinavian press

In article <QSZqe.8706$rt3.7801@xxxxxxxx>,
tmcdonald2672@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tom McDonald) wrote:

> I also read online an article that suggested the Nazis may have
> tested an extremely small atomic bomb--only a small fraction of
> the size of 'Little Boy.' This article also included reports of a
> bright light seen by many that may have been related to the test.

Making a small atomic bomb is much harder than making one the size of
"Little Boy". That was a gun type device using a critical mass of uranium
not an implosion device. There is no evidence the Germans ever got as far
as a reactor. Heisenburg got the critical mass wrong to start with and the
reactor was going to be moderated with heavy water. The entire German
supply of heavy water was destroyed by allied action. You can not make a
dirty bomb from unenriched uranium and there is no evidence that Germany
ever managed to produce that. Japan was probably closer to making a bomb
than Germany.

One possible cause of confusion is that Germany may have used Uranium as
a substitute for tungsten in AP shot. The German weapon programs were
thoroughly investigated after the end of the war.

Ken Young
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Atomic Airplane - True Story
    ... Chemistry and metallurgy is and was a strength in Germany; ... out that a gun-type weapon won't work. ... possibility a a bomb becomes recognized. ... centrifuges which did enrich gram quantities of Uranium and they did ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: Atomic Airplane - True Story
    ... out that a gun-type weapon won't work. ... possibility a a bomb becomes recognized. ... centrifuges which did enrich gram quantities of Uranium and they did ... Wartime Germany could never have managed a ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: Kensington runestone in the Scandinavian press
    ... >> dirty bomb from unenriched uranium and there is no evidence ... >> than Germany. ... Nazis nor the Soviets would care ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Were any Nazi targets selected for atomic bombs?
    ... AFAIK the answer is NO b/c the B-36 bomber was the one ... intended to do the bombing of Germany had Britain fallen. ... Incorrect as the B-29 was NEVER designated to bomb Germany- that job ... The pens would have been largely impervious to attack ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: Who was in charge of Japan in WW2
    ... The atomic bomb was originally developed with white Germany in mind. ... (He later got over his reluctance when trying to end the Korean War.) ... that his father's memory of opposition to use of the Bomb grew over ...
    (soc.history.war.world-war-ii)
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