Sorpe Dam
I saw a programme some years ago about the Sorpe Dam, because it was basically an earth bank wider at the base, it is now considered the bombs would not have been able to breach it had they all been dropped, the Mohne Dam was a concrete construction and more brittle.
The Air Staff produced a report in April 1943- “Economic & Moral Consequences of the Destruction of German Dams”. Here’s a few extracts from the Economic Effects;
“The destruction of this dam (Mohne) would not necessarily have any large or immediate effect on the supply of industrial & household water in the Ruhr region”.
“The Sorpe dam is essentially complementary to the Mohne dam & its simultaneous or subsequent destruction would reinforce the effects of the destruction of the Mohne dam……For this reason the destruction of both dams would be worth much more than twice the destruction of one & it is most strongly urged, if operational possibilities hold out any reasonable prospect of success, that an attack on the Mohne dam be accompanied, or followed as soon as possible, by an attack on the Sorpe dam”.
Here I suggest is the reason for using Upkeep in a manner for which it was not designed. See: After the Battle book – “The Dams Raid – Through the Lens” from which I have quoted.
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