German Explosives
AB 250-2 Container
Overall Length: 63.7 inches
Body Diameter: 14.7 inches
Tail Length: 19.7 inches
Tail Width: 14.7 inches
Filling: 244 SD 1 bombs, 17 SD 10A bombs, 144 SD 2 bombs.
Total Weight: 221 kilograms
Colour and Markings: Khaki overall with two red stripes on tail cone.
Stenciled on container for SD 1 bombs:
AB 250-2
224 SD
Gew 215 kg
(79) A
(69) D
Stenciled on container for SD 10A bombs:
AB 250-2
17 SD 10A
(69) E
(89) B
The sheet steel tail of four fins, braced by two bars riveted to opposite fins, is welded to both the central cylindrical and cone-shaped tail portions of the container.
The SD 1 bombs are housed in the central compartment. No packing pieces have been found. When the SD 10A bombs are carried, a three plywood or cardboard partition is inserted making two compartments. The front compartment holds eight bombs and the rear nine. The bombs are positioned by a wooden structure placed in the center of the compartments. The odd bomb at the rear is stowed within this structure. Each cluster is held by small wooden blocks bound by two steel tapes.
Suspension: Horizontal. Welded to the lower half at the point of balance of the loaded container is a stout metal transverse suspension strip provided with a metal plate tapped to take a suspension lug.
AB 250-3 Container
Overall Length: 63.7 inches
Body Diameter: 14.7 inchesTail Length: 19.7 inches
Tail Width: 14.7 inches
Filling: 108 SD 2 bombs
Total Weight: 250 kilograms
Color: Dark green overall with two longitudinal red stripes on the tail cone.
Stenciled on Type I:
AB 250-3 (89) B
108 SD 2ZT; Gew 250kg
Stenciled on Type II:
AB 250-3 (89) B
105 SD 2ZT
Remarks: The SD 2 bombs found in one container were of the modified design, without drogue and with the arming vanes cut to a triangular shape.
AB 250 KZ Boden Container
Overall Length: 49 inches
Body Diameter: 14.5 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.075 inches
Tail Length: 19.5 inches
Tail Width: 13.5 inches
Filling: 19 Parachute Flares, 3 SD 2 bombs
Stenciled on body:
AB 250 KZ Boden
19 Mark SB2
Construction: The container body is made of sheet steel. It is built in two pieces, hinged at the tail. A subsidiary container for 3 SD 2-kg bombs is secured to the bottom half of the container by means of a wire cable secured to the base of the suspension strut.
Operation: On release from the aircraft, the clockwork mechanism of the fuze is initiated and after the predetermined delay period the fuze functions to initiate the bursting charge. This shears an unusually heavy shear pin and then the container opens on the tail hinge. The flares fall away and are ignited via friction pull igniters attached by eight cord loops to the main shroud lines.
The subsidiary SD 2 container falls away and on reaching the end of its cable receives a jerk causing the locking wire to break. The container opens and spills the three SD 2 bombs.
The flares are the metal cylindrical type, 13.5 inches long, 3.25 inches diameter.
Suspension: Horizontal.
MK 250 LK and MK 250 BK Flare Container
Body Diameter: 14.5 inches
Wall Thickness: 0.075 inches
Tail Length: 19.5 inches
Tail Width: 19 inches
Filling:
-LK: 41 single candle parachute flares
-BK: 25 modified red flares and three SD 2 bombs
Color: Both containers are khaki overall.
Mk 250 LK is marked:
Mk 250 LK
41 Weiss
(89) BOF
Mk 250 BK is marked:
Mk 250 BK
3 SD 2
A red bar 8 inches long and 1 inch wide is stenciled immediately above the nose weld.
Construction: The Mk 250 LK is constructed in two halves, which open along the longitudinal axis and which is hinged at the tail. The nose and tail cone is secured inside the body by spot welds. On the lower half of the body, a strengthening rib is welded to the bottom longitudinally. Seven locating plates are welded inside the joining edges of the two halves to insure alignment.
The fuze pocket is welded to the upper half of the container. The lower end of the fuze pocket is increased in wall thickness. Inserted into the lower part of the fuze pocket, and secured by a 5/32-inch steel shear pin, is the steel anvil. Around the base of the anvil is a collar upon which the base of the fuze pocket is seated. A steel tube, welded tot he underside of the anvil, is internally threaded to receive the container locking bolt. A steel collar is inserted in the fuze pocket and rests on the top of the anvil, and when assembled the fuze gaine locates inside this collar.
The container is held closed by the locking bolt. Locking bolt is held in the tube which is welded to the anvil. The anvil is held by the shear pin. When the container is dropped, the fuze initiates the burster charge. The explosion forces the anvil down. The shear wire is broken. The locking bolt is then forced out and the container opens.
Four tail fins are spot welded to the cone, the two on the upper half being slotted to facilitate loading on the bomb rack. An ordinary strengthening strut is riveted between the pairs of fins on each half of the tail cone.
The Mk 250 BK differs from the Mk 250 LK in that no cutaway portion exists in the upper tail fins and that it contains a subsidiary container for three SD 2-kg H.E. bombs similar but of approximately half the length of that described under the Mk 500 Boden 6SD. This container is secured to the bottom half of the larger container by means of a double wire cable secured around the base of the suspension strut. Large container operates the same as the Mk 250 LK. The SD 2 container falls until it reaches the end of its cable. The resultant jerk causes the locking wire to break and it then opens.
Suspension: Horizontal. The suspension lug threads into a suspension block welded to a suspension strut which itself is welded to the bottom of the lower half of the container. A rectangular plate is welded over the top suspension block and bears on the underside of the upper half when the container is closed.
Next Time: Containers (Part 4)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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