B29 for testing but a B-36 needed operationally
from the same source you got your picture
Originally designed to meet a 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) target weight (the maximum payload for the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" bomber), the original design with its hardened case was slightly less than 43,000 pounds. The final T-12 weighed 43,600 lb (nearly 20 metric tons). This was twice the size of the United States' previous largest bomb, the Bomb, GP, 22,000-lb, M110 (T-14), the American-built version of the British Grand Slam. The T-12 was not a simple scale up of the M110, but incorporated modifications based on testing and calculations. The B-36 was redesigned so it could carry the T12, although a converted B-29 Superfortress was used for testing
Interesting to compare the design of B-36 and Barnes Wallis proposed "Victory Bomber"
B36 was 50% as big again
in 1948, a B-29 was converted to test this bomb
![]()
The T-12, 43,000 pound bomb
Had such a bomb existed in 1944, a B-29 would have had the range to drop it over France or Germany
from the same source you got your picture
Originally designed to meet a 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) target weight (the maximum payload for the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" bomber), the original design with its hardened case was slightly less than 43,000 pounds. The final T-12 weighed 43,600 lb (nearly 20 metric tons). This was twice the size of the United States' previous largest bomb, the Bomb, GP, 22,000-lb, M110 (T-14), the American-built version of the British Grand Slam. The T-12 was not a simple scale up of the M110, but incorporated modifications based on testing and calculations. The B-36 was redesigned so it could carry the T12, although a converted B-29 Superfortress was used for testing
Interesting to compare the design of B-36 and Barnes Wallis proposed "Victory Bomber"
B36 was 50% as big again