German Explosive Ordnance - SD Bombs

German Explosives

SD 50 (D50; D50D; D50L)

Overall length: 43 inches
Body Length: 23.5 inches
Body Diameter: 8 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.4 wall to 1.8 inches in nose
Tail Length: 23.5 inches
Tail Width:
-Type I: 11 inches
-Type II: 10.5 inches

Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 16.4 kilograms
Total Weight: 55 kilograms (approx.)
Charge/Weight Ratio: 30%

Color: Bomb is dark green overall and tailcone is striped with red.


Construction: The body of the SD 50 is a one-piece steel casting.  When machined down it has provisions for one transverse fuze pocket just forward of the horizontal carrying lug.  It is threaded at the base to accept a male type filling lug.

Either the Type 1 or Type 2 tail assemblies can be used.  Type 1 has a cast alloy adapter with sheet steel vanes.  The four vanes are not supported by struts.  Type 2 is a one-piece construction assembly of cast magnesium alloy with no strut supports for the tail fins.

In addition to the horizontal carrying lug, there are threads machined in the nose to take an "eye" type lug for vertical suspension.


Suspension: Horizontal or vertical.


Remarks: A small angle iron kopfring is normally fitted to the bomb.  In addition to the kopfring a 24-inch dinort rod may be added to obtain penetration detonation of the bomb.  An extension rod used with the (55) A can be used for the same purpose.

When the bomb is used against water targets, the tail fins are removed.  It is claimed that the ballistics are not changed by removing the tail fins providing the dropping range is less than 200 meters.  The E1AZ (38) fuze with a maximum delay of 5 seconds allows for water travel of 12 to 18 meters.

SD 70-kg

Overall length: 43.2 inches
Body Length: 28 inches
Body Diameter: 8 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.4 inches
Tail Length: 16 inches
Tail Width: 11 inches

Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 21 kilograms
Total Weight: 66 kilograms
Charge/Weight Ratio: 39%

Color: Bomb is field gray overall.  Red stripes on tail fin.


Construction: The SD 70 body is of one-piece forged steel and is normally fitted with a kopfring.  The tail is of sheet steel construction and the fins are ribbed to supplant the diagonal fin braces.

This bomb, on occasion, is fitted with a parachute.  The tail unit is removed and a sheet metal cylinder 18 inches long and 7 and 3/4 inches in diameter is attached to the base of the bomb.  Contained in the cylinder is a red lattice type parachute 5 feet square with four double shroud lines.  The shroud lines are secured by means of four U-shaped brackets to a collar over which the base plate screws.  The overall length of the cylinder and bomb is approximately 45 inches.


Suspension: Horizontal or vertical suspension is used.


Remarks: Parachute bomb apparently designed to give air burst.





SD 250 kg D250, D250 JB, D250 L, D250 DL

Overall length: 64.5 inches
Body Length: 34.4 inches
Body Diameter: 14.5 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.6 wallpoint 3.5 inches
Tail Length: 38.2 inches
Tail Width: 20 inches

Filling: TNT
Weight of filling: 79 kilograms
Total Weight: 250 kilograms
Charge/Weight Ratio: 32%

Color: Bomb body and tail are painted dark green, sky blue, or aluminum.
Tail cone is striped with red or blue.


Construction: Bomb is of three-piece construction.  Nose and tail pieces are welded to main part of body.  One fuze pocket.  A female base plate is used.

The tail is of sheet steel construction.  Four vanes are welded to a cone.  There are also box-type struts of bar steel.  Extension cylinder has a dummy fuze head.


Suspension: Horizontal or vertical.






Nose Spikes for SC 50 Stabo, SD 70 Stabo, SC 250 Stabo, and SC 500 Stabo

SC 50 Stabo

Total weight: 62 kilograms
Length of spike: 47 centimeters
Diameter: 4.5 centimeters

SD 70 Stabo

Total weight: 77 kilograms
Length of spike: 47 centimeters
Diameter: 4.5 centimeters

SC 250 Stabo

Total weight: 282 kilograms
Length of spike: 57 centimeters
Diameter: 7.5 centimeters

SC 500 Stabo

Total weight: 305 kilograms
Length of spike: 60 centimeters
Diameter: 7.5 centimeters

Construction: Stabo bombs have a threaded lug forged to the nose of the case.  Stabo spikes screw on to this threaded lug.  The same spike fits both SC 50 and SD 70 and is of one-piece construction.  The SC 250 and SC 500 Stabo spikes have an additional piece, a pressure plate, which fits between the bomb case and spike to increase the rigidity.  The spikes are used in low altitude attacks to prevent ricochet.  A 1-cm hole through the spike allows use of a bar to screw spike securely to bomb.

Remarks: Stachebomben, or "Stabo" for short, are used in low altitude attacks to ensure the bomb does not ricochet.  The SC 250 and SC 500 are both two fuze pocket bombs and fuzing is usually a time fuze 17 or 57 and an antidisturbance fuze (50).  The SC 50 Stabo and SD Stabo are normally fuzed with a (55).

Discs fitting on the end of these spikes have been found.  It is thought nose switches have been used to give instantaneous action.

SD 500, SD 500A and SD 500E

Overall length: 82 inches

Body Length: 54 inches
Body Diameter: 17.5 inches
Wall Thickness: 1 inch wall; point 5 inches
Tail Width: 18 inches
Tail Length: 35.5 inches

Filling: Amatol 60/40; TNT and wax
Weight of Filling: 200 kilograms (approx.)
Total Weight: 535 kilograms
Charge/Weight Ratio: 37%


Color: Field grey overall with red stripes on cone.  "D500 stg" stenciled on body in black.


Construction: All bombs in the SD 500 series are of one-piece drawn steel construction.  The main difference between the three modifications is the variation in wall thickness.

One transverse fuze pocket is located aft the suspension band.  To insure high order detonation, a central exploder tube has been inserted longitudinally through the explosive cavity.

The tail unit is constructed of sheet steel and has a ring type strut.  The unit is secured to the bomb in the same manner as the tail on the SC 1000 bomb.

A parachute type tail unit for this bomb has been found.  This unit is composed of a detachable sheet metal parachute container, open lattice type parachute, and a standard base plate with an additional web and ring of cast steel spot welded together to form an anchorage for the parachute shackles.  (Only one such unit has been found.)


Suspension: Horizontal, by means of an H-type lug secured to a suspension band.

SD 1700

Overall length: 129.6 inches

Body Length: 92 inches
Body Diameter: 26 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.9 inches wall to nose 3.5 inches
Tail Width: 24 inches
Tail Length: 46.5 inches

Filling: TNT; Amatol 60/40
Weight of Filling: 730 kilograms
Total Weight: 1,703 kilograms
Charge/Weight Ratio: 43%


Color: Black or sky blue overall.  Red stripes on tail.
"D1700" stenciled on opposite sides of body in letters 40mm high.


Construction: Body is of one-piece, forged steel construction.  A single fuze pocket is used with an extension cap fuze in the nose.  The base of the bomb is threaded to take a normal female type base plate.  A cast steel kopfring is welded to the nose as a preventative against excessive penetration.

The tail is made of light alloy and is of the cylinder type.  The 8-inch wide band is attached to the fins by rivets.  This band is known as a ring-type strut.


Suspension: Horizontal, by means of an H-type lug.

Next Time: PC Bombs


Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters