Bombs shut down a large area of Cologne.

[MiTasol]

The evacuated area seems way too large to me - seems like a bad case of MORS* by the authorities.

Germany: Cologne evacuation lifted after WWII bombs defused – DW – 06/04/2025

Buildings across the center of the western city of Cologne were evacuated after the discovery of three World War II bombs. Some 20,000 people had been under evacuation orders.

www.dw.com

* Massive Over Reaction Syndrome

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Just another day in Germany.

 

[Engineman]

The evacuated area seems way too large to me - seems like a bad case of MORS* by the authorities.

Germany: Cologne evacuation lifted after WWII bombs defused – DW – 06/04/2025

Buildings across the center of the western city of Cologne were evacuated after the discovery of three World War II bombs. Some 20,000 people had been under evacuation orders.

www.dw.com

* Massive Over Reaction Syndrome

Well, the BBC initially reported the bombs as, American, 3 bombs, two of 20 tons and one of 10 tons! They attributed that to an official statement, but, corrected later without stating the bomb sizes!

Eng

 

[yosimitesam]

Well, the BBC initially reported the bombs as, American, 3 bombs, two of 20 tons and one of 10 tons! They attributed that to an official statement, but, corrected later without stating the bomb sizes!

Eng

There are long tons, short tons, metric tonnes, and, finally "Garden Gnome Tons." Must be the latter.

 

[Engineman]

Hi,
Later reporting on the DW site quoted the bombs as "American manufacture, two 2,000lb and one 1,000lb".

Eng

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

Again, the use of 'defusing' instead of 'defuzing'
A 'fuse' (noun) is an electrical component. A 'fuze (noun) is the explosive component.
The article even invents a new word 'defusals'

 

[MiTasol]

Even the Americans spell it with a Z (a rarity in the only country that out of 193 in the UN that spells aluminium incorrectly) but most dumbos do not know that as their spell check says fuse is correct. It is one of those there, their, they're words that the uneducated often get wrong.

 

[hw97karbine]

* Massive Over Reaction Syndrome

I suppose it's a question of liability, these days they cannot risk being held legally responsible for the slightest harm that might occur.

Compare it to this 1953 operation with the press happily filming from a few feet away:


View: https://x.com/i/status/1902042315965002086

 

[MiTasol]

Unfortunately you are almost certainly correct. Lawyers are responsible for many MORS caused activities.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Even the Americans spell it with a Z (a rarity in the only country that out of 193 in the UN that spells aluminium incorrectly) but most dumbos do not know that as their spell check says fuse is correct. It is one of those there, their, they're words that the uneducated often get wrong.

... says the guy who uses the extraneous "u"!

 

[tango35]

Die BBC berichtete zunächst, es handele sich um drei amerikanische Bomben, zwei mit 20 Tonnen und eine mit 10 Tonnen! Sie schrieben dies einer offiziellen Erklärung zu, korrigierten diese jedoch später, ohne die Bombengrößen anzugeben!

Eng

Die korrekte Angabe war wc 20 Zentner= 1tonne und 1x 10 Zentner = 0,5 tonne.

 

[elbmc1969]

Die korrekte Angabe war wc 20 Zentner= 1tonne und 1x 10 Zentner = 0,5 tonne.

So a translation error.

 

[MiTasol]

... says the guy who uses the extraneous "u"!

That is because I mainly use real English, not bastardised English like in that country where new is pronounced nuu

 

[SaparotRob]

In NuhYawk, it's sometimes pronounced "nuh".

 

[special ed]

Do Aussies speak English?

 

[MiTasol]

Struth mate - how would I know.

 

[MIflyer]

Sounds like Breaking News From 1944.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

That is because I mainly use real English, not bastardised English like in that country where new is pronounced nuu

bastardized*

 

[Joe Broady]

This Avweb article has some technical details. Main reason for dud bombs? Didn't impact nose first because tail fin assembly separated. I wonder how the EOD people analyze strike photos. How can you tell where a bomb landed but did not explode?

Three bombs disarmed in Cologne

At least the writer spelled "ordnance" right. I once tried to explain why "ordinance" is the wrong word when you're talking about munitions, thereby causing someone (not the person addressed) to blow a fuse over my excessively learned reply.

 

[elbmc1969]

This Avweb article has some technical details. Main reason for dud bombs? Didn't impact nose first because tail fin assembly separated. I wonder how the EOD people analyze strike photos. How can you tell where a bomb landed but did not explode?

Three bombs disarmed in Cologne

At least the writer spelled "ordnance" right. I once tried to explain why "ordinance" is the wrong word when you're talking about munitions, thereby causing someone (not the person addressed) to blow a fuse over my excessively learned reply.

It buries itself in the earth with small entry hole that usually semi-fills with loose sand, soil, debris, or whatever. Careful forensic work can find the "tube" of much looser material that filled the hole drilled by the bomb.

This videos uses primary sources:

View: https://youtu.be/H1p25U0OZW8?si=WZPofZoYpdltTZrJ