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To: philman_36
I see plenty of structures still standing.

But those structures were some distance from the blast (not a dozen or so feet) and are likely hardened (being part of an industrial complex), and many other structures are no longer there.

A little after 9:00 a.m. ... A great column of smoke shot up an estimated two thousand feet, followed in about ten seconds by another, and even more violent shockwave. ... As entire buildings collapsed, trapping people inside, fires quickly spread to the refineries that made up the Texas City industrial complex. @
The concussion of the explosion, felt as far away as Port Arthur, damaged or destroyed at least 1,000 residences and buildings throughout Texas City.@

And the Grandcamps was right alongside the dock

I recalled it being towed once on fire; further checks show apparently not (my bad, but does not seriously undo my thesis). Do consider the distance of effect and force of the blast from there.

the shockwave caused a displacement of the water in the harbor and created a small tidal wave that washed inland over one hundred and fifty feet@
Pedestrians were knocked down ten miles away in Galveston! People 150 miles away heard the sound. Two airplanes were blown out of the sky. @

Note also that while the Grandcamp was near a building, that building was relatively short and small. The severe damage extended far beyond that building (see reference above to 1000 buildings damaged).

The High Flyer was moved.

The ship SS High Flyer, in dock for repairs and also carrying ammonium nitrate, was ignited by the first explosion; it was towed 100 feet from the docks@

Dipole Might tests

Interesting sounding, and likely exactly the data we need to see. Unfortunately, the FBI is unlikely to share it with us.

FWIW, the Grandcamp explosion:

Now: scale all that down to about 2 tons of ANFO specifically produced and arranged (as contrasted with AN accidentally detonated with little or no FO) to take out a few support columns of a medium-sized building just a few feet away. The scaling make sense to me; I'd like to understand why it doesn't make sense to you.

163 posted on 05/02/2002 6:07:42 PM PDT by ctdonath2
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To: ctdonath2
But those structures were some distance from the blast (not a dozen or so feet) and are likely hardened (being part of an industrial complex), and many other structures are no longer there.
But the blast was so "expansive"! According to your previous attitude it shouldn't have mattered how far away they were because it was such a large amount that exploded. According to your thinking everything should have been destroyed, hardened or not.
I'd like to understand why it doesn't make sense to you.
Just what do you think the Murrah building was? Softened? The place was built to withstand tornadoes and earthquakes! You've already partially stated why and don't even realize it apparently.
You do realize what a "hardened structure" is don't you?
You're cracking me up here...
164 posted on 05/04/2002 4:38:07 AM PDT by philman_36
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