German rocket propelled bombs of World War II

German Rocket Propelled Bombs
German Rocket Propelled Bombs
Type	Unguided rocket-powered; armor-piercing bomb
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by	Luftwaffe
Wars	World War II
Production history
Variants	PC 500 RS; PC 1000 RS; PC 1800 RS; PC 1000 Rs EX
Specifications
Mass	490 kg (1,080 lb); 987 kg (2,176 lb); 2,057 kg (4,535 lb)
Length	7 ft 2+3⁄4 in (2.203 m) PC 1000 Rs
Width	1 ft 3+1⁄2 in (0.394 m)
Warhead	TNT
Warhead weight	119 lb (54 kg) PC 1000 Rs
Detonation; mechanism	Base fuzed
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Guidance; system	None

Last updated August 07, 2024

During the Second World War, the Luftwaffe developed a series of unguided rocket-propelled armor-piercing bombs. The three main types were the PC 500 Rs, PC 1000 Rs, and PC 1800 Rs. PC from Panzersprengbombe Cylindrisch ("armor piercing cylindrical bomb") the number from the approximate weight of the bomb in kilograms, and Rs meaning rocket propelled. These bombs were intended to be used against armored ships or similar targets. The purpose of the rocket propulsion was to increase the terminal velocity of the bomb and aid penetration.^[1]

Construction

The three types were similarly constructed with a warhead, spacer, and tail sections:

Warhead – The warhead was of similar construction to other bombs of the period with thin-walled construction and the filling consisted of alternating layers of high and low-quality TNT. The explosive filling was poured through the base of the warhead. The base of the warhead was threaded and it screwed into the spacer.^[1]
Spacer – The purpose of the spacer was to separate the tail unit from the warhead and it contained a delayed action base fuze for detonating the bomb and a black powder ignition charge. The spacer was also threaded and screwed into the tail unit.^[1]
Tail section – The tail section consists of the following parts: pressure chamber, six venturi tubes, six metal spacers at each end of the pressure chamber, and a spring-loaded pressure release valve. The pressure chamber contained 19 sticks of diglycol dinitrate solid-rocket fuel with the propellant gasses being vented through six venturi tubes that were sealed with pitch until ignited. The pressure chamber also has a spring-loaded pressure release valve in the center for safety. The tail unit also had a total of 12 fins with 4 large fins and 8 small fins for stability.^[1]

Operation

The bombs are normally released from a minimum height of 1,200 m (4,000 ft). When the bomb is released an electrical charge is sent to the charging head. This charge is then passed on to both the pyrotechnic fuze and the impact fuze arming the bomb. The pyrotechnic delay is immediately ignited and after 3 or 4 seconds it burns through to the black powder igniter. The solid-rocket propellant burns for three seconds and produces a trail of flame 46 m (150 ft) long. When the bomb hits the target its delayed action base fuze is triggered and the bomb explodes after penetrating the target. ^[1]

Variants

Designation	Weight	Diameter	Overall length	Body length	Explosive weight
PC 500 RS	490 kg (1,080 lb)	28 cm (11 in)	208 cm (6 ft 10 in)	84 cm (2 ft 9 in)	14 kg (30 lb 14 oz)^[2]
PC 1000 RS	987 kg (2,176 lb)	36 cm (1 ft 2 in)	224 cm (7 ft 4 in)	112 cm (3 ft 8 in)	54 kg (119 lb 1 oz)^[3]
PC 1800 RS	2,057 kg (4,535 lb)	53 cm (1 ft 9 in)	269 cm (8 ft 10 in)	169 cm (5 ft 7 in)	360 kg (794 lb)^[4]

Gallery

PC 500 RS
PC 1000 RS
PC 1800 RS

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References

1 2 3 4 5 "Rocket-Propelled Bomb PC 1000 Rs". Catalog Of Enemy Ordnance Material. Office of the Chief of Ordnance. 1 August 1945. p. 316.
↑ "PC 500 RS". Luftwaffe Resource Center. Retrieved 30 January 2019. citing Army Technical manual TM 9-1985-2/Air Force Technical Order TO 39B-1A-9 GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE (Bombs, Fuzes, Rockets, Land Mines, Grenades & Igniters)
↑ "Luftwaffe Resource Center – Drop Ordnance – A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
↑ "Luftwaffe Resource Center – Drop Ordnance – A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 5 "Rocket-Propelled Bomb PC 1000 Rs". Catalog Of Enemy Ordnance Material. Office of the Chief of Ordnance. 1 August 1945. p. 316.

[2] "PC 500 RS". Luftwaffe Resource Center. Retrieved 30 January 2019. citing Army Technical manual TM 9-1985-2/Air Force Technical Order TO 39B-1A-9 GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE (Bombs, Fuzes, Rockets, Land Mines, Grenades & Igniters)

[3] "Luftwaffe Resource Center – Drop Ordnance – A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.

[4] "Luftwaffe Resource Center – Drop Ordnance – A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.

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v t e German aerial weapons of the Second World War
Machine guns	MG 15 MG 17 MG 81 & 81Z MG 131
Autocannons	MG FF MG 151 MK 101 MK 103 MK 108 MK 214A Schräge Musik
Anti-tank autocannons	BK 3.7 BK 5 BK 7.5
Unguided rockets	Panzerblitz R4M Werfer-Granate 21
Guided bombs and missiles	Fritz X Hs 117H Hs 293 V-1 flying bomb
Anti-personnel bombs	SD 1 SD 1 FRZ SD 2 SD 10 A SD 10 FRZ SD 10 C SD 15 SBe 50 SD 50 SD 70 SBe 250 SD 250 SD 500 SD 500A SD 500E SD 1400 SD 1700
Armor-piercing bombs	PC 500 PC 1000 PC 1400 PC 1600 PC 500 Rs PC 1000 Rs PC 1800 Rs PD 500 PD 1000 SC 10 SC 10 DW SD 4 HL SD 4/HL RS SD 9/HL
Cluster bombs	AB 23 AB 250-2 AB 250-3 AB 500-1 AB 500-1B AB 500-3A AB 70-D1 BDC 10
High-explosive bombs	SB 1000 SB 1800 SB 2500 SC 50 SC 250 SC 500 SC 1000 SC 1200 SC 1800 SC 2000 SC 2500
Experimental weapons	Blohm & Voss BV 143 Blohm & Voss BV 246 Blohm & Voss BV 950 Henschel Hs 294 Henschel Hs 298 Jagdfaust MG 213 MK 112 MK 214A MK 115 Ruhrstahl X-4 SG 116 [ de ]