German Explosives
Introduction
The following list gives the abbreviated designations used for the identification of German bombs, the full German designation and the English equivalent.
General
The three principal types of German demolition bombs are:
-"Spreng Cylindrisch" (SC) or general purpose bombs
-"Spreng Dickenwand" (SD) or splinter bombs
-"Panzer Cylindrisch" or armor piercing bombs.
In addition to these three general types there are: SB and SA types of bombs for maximum blast, SBe concrete bombs, PD armor piercing bomb and the BT (Bomben Torpedo) bomb.
The SC or general purpose bombs are used primarily for general demolition work. The SC 250 and SC 500 may be fitted with two athwartships fuze pockets instead of the usual one. These two bombs are usually associated with time and protective fuzing. The other SC bombs are fuzed either instantaneously or with a short delay. SC bombs have thin parallel walls with a comparatively heavy nose. Usually they are of three piece welded construction. SC bombs have a loading factor of approximately 55 percent and are filled in most cases with cast TNT, powdered amatol or trialen. Bomb identification for the SC type is made easy by the presence of yellow paint on the tail cone.
The SB type of bomb is designed to give maximum blast effect. It has very thin walls and loading factors run as high as 80 percent. Fuzing is instantaneous.
The SD "splinter" or fragmentation bombs are used primarily against personnel, tanks, all type sof armored and unarmored vehicles, and against other surface targets which are vulnerable to fragmentation damage. They are usually fuzed instantaneously and may have extension rods from the nose to actuate the fuze above ground. The walls are thick, the thickness being uniform throughout the sides with a slightly heavier nose. They are usually forged in one piece. They have a loading factor of approximately 35 percent and are filled with TNT, amatol, or trialen. Bombs may be identified by the presence of red paint on the tail cone. (This should not be confused with the base coat of red lead which is used on all German bombs.)
SD (small antipersonnel bombs). A special grouping of these is desired, for they are a very distinctive group and not just a miniature model of the larger type. Bombs have thick walls and a low loading factor. A mechanical instead of electric fuze is used in most of these bombs and bombs are usually carried in containers. SC bombs of this type are so designated, but it seems they might more correctly be called SD to keep classification uniform.
SBe or concrete bombs are used for the same purpose as SD's/ They have thick concrete walls reinforced with steel. Loading factor is around 20 percent and a low power explosive is normally used.
The PC or armor-piercing bombs are used primarily against ships and fortifications. They are fuzed with a short delay for penetration. PC bombs are slightly streamlined with a heavy nose and thick walls. The thickness of the walls decreases toward the base of the bomb. They are made of cast steel and the nose is specially hardened. PC bombs have a loading factor of approximately 20 percent and are filled with a TNT wax mixture. PC bombs may be identified by the presence of dark blue paint on the tail cone. PC bombs have been used as SD's for fragmentation and fuzed instantaneously; if so, the dark blue may be over-painted with red.
The PD is even more exclusively armor piercing. Bombs are thinner, longer, have thicker case and a lower loading factor.
BT. The BT (bomben torpedo) was put into production during the last 2 months of the war, but was never used operationally. It is designed along the lines similar to a torpedo except for the after section where there are three large tail fins. The missile has no propulsion except that induced by gravity and the forward motion of the mother aircraft.
SA 4000 (Experimental) is a very large high capacity bomb. The loading factor is about 80 percent. It was never used operationally against the allies.
Misc. Place Destroying Bombs. The aircraft-towed paravane bomb is a small 2-kg bomb towed by a plane. The plane destroying bomb is a small charge with a pull type igniter and safety fuze.
Coloring
Bombs which are carried in internal bomb racks (up through 500 kg) are usually colored dark green. Bombs which are carried in external bomb racks (1,000 kg and over) are usually colored sky blue. Color may also be controlled by the conditions of the bomb stowage. Aluminum, tan, buff, etc., are colors that may be used.
Typical Bomb Explosive Train
The fuze is located in an athwartship fuze pocket extending the full internal diameter of the bomb. The fuze is usually held in thje top of the fuze pocket by a locking ring and a locating ring. Threading into the bottom of the fuze is a steel case called the gaine. The gaine is filled with a PETN-wax mixture. A small pellet of lead azide and lead styphnate mixture is positioned in the top of the gaine. Tehse pellets may be of granular TNT. In bombs with powdered filligns, a column of granular TNT pellets is placed longitudinally in the bomb adjacent to the fuze pocket.
Tail Construction
Two tail types are used. The first type, a sheet steel tail, is usually made in four pieces to form a cone with four fins. The fins may be unbraced, braced with tubular struts, or braced with a cylindrical strut (ring). The second type is of magnesium alloy. The cone and four fins are cast in one piece. The fins may be braced with a cylindrical strut of the same material.
Suspension
Bombs up to and including some of the 500 kg type scan be suspended either horizontally or vertically. The remaining 500's and all larger types are suspended horizontally. All vertical suspension is by an eyebolt threaded into the nose of the bomb. Horizontal suspension is by an eyebolt for the 50kg series, either an eyebolt or a threaded T-type lug for the 250kg and 500kg series, and by means of an H-type lug for the larger series bombs. The H lug is secured either to a carrying band or directly to the bomb body. The SC 1000 and SC 1200 type bombs have been using a U bolt secured to the carrying band on the latest models.
Kopfring
Kopfrings (nose rings) are sometimes fitted to the nose of SC bombs to prevent excessive penetration against land targets and to prevent ricochet against sea targets. Kopfrings may also be found on the SD 70 and SD 1700 bombs when they are used against above-mentioned targets.
Anti-Ricochet Plates
The anti-ricochet plates are used for the same general purpose as the kopfring but are entirely different in construction. Type I, which is used only on the SC 250kg bombs, is constructed of a conical cup and a dished plate welded to it. The conical cup is of 3/16 inch steel and designed to fit as a sheath over the nose of the bomb. A dished plate, 10 inches in diameter, fits over the cup and is welded to it. Eight stiffening ribs, also of 3/16 inch steel, are welded between the plate and the cup. The entire assembly is attached to the nose of the bomb by means of a threaded bolt which passes through a hole in the apex of the cone.
Type II is used on the SC 50kg bombs. A circular plate, 5 and 3/4 inches in diameter and 15/16 inch thick, is machined conically to fit over the nose of the bomb. Welded to this plate is a circular cup, 2 and 11/16 inches in diameter and drilled centrally to take a bolt for securing the entire assembly to the bomb.
Dinort Rods
Dinort rods are secured to the nose of the SD type bomb and used to obtain a "daisy cutter" effect on impact. There are two types: steel rods and wood rods.
Steel Rod: The rod consists of a drawn steel tube with a circular steel plate welded to the base and a steel cup welded to the top. A threaded lug is welded to the upper end of the tube and passes through a hole in the cup. This lug screws into the suspension lug socket at the nose of the bomb.
Wooden Rod: The rod consists of the square, center stick with two square pieces of wood nailed to the base. Two U-shaped steel plates welded together are secured to the upper end of the main member by light woodscrews. A bolt, welded to the plates, is threaded to screw into the nos suspension lug socket at the nose of the bomb.
SD and HL Hollow Charge Bombs Hollow Charge Nose Device
Construction: In SD 250 bombs having a hollow charge, the cavity is semicircular in section. The cavity in the SD 500 is a truncated cone, the larger diameter being 30 cms and the smaller diameter, 11 cms.
The HE charge has a metal lining for the cavity which is supported on a flange and in order to permit the formation of the jet, the flange is located at a distance from the nose for the bomb approximately 1.5 times the diameter of the cavity. The opening at the nose of the bomb is approximately 5 and 1/4 inches.
The 250 HL will penetrate 35 cms of armor plate. The 500 HL will penetrate 62.5 cms of armor plate or 350 cms of concrete. The performance figures for the 800 HL are not available but it appears that with an HE charge of 110kg it was hoped to penetrate 100 cms of armor or 6 meters of reinforced concrete. They are generally filled with amatol 50/50 or 60/40.
The special nose device for use with SD 250 bombs consists of a hollow charge which is to be attached to a bomb of standard type. This charge which weighs about 4kg is detonated by its own fuze located int he nose of the device. In order that detonation of hollow charge shall not damage the bomb, the space between the charge and the bomb is filled with a mixture of sawdust and cement.
Remarks: Details of these types were obtained from documentary evidence only.
The SD hollow charge bomb proved disappointing in performance and modifications were made which resulted in the production of the HL type of bomb.
The special nose device for the SD 250 obtains greater penetration power from low altitudes. It produces a hole in the armor through which the bomb can pass. Bomb has a short delay fuze so that detonation of bomb will occur inside the target. Documents state that such a bomb will penetrate 7 cms of armor plate.
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
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