German rocket propelled bombs of World War II

Last updated

German Rocket Propelled Bombs
TypeUnguided rocket-powered
armor-piercing bomb
Place of originFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by Luftwaffe
Wars World War II
Production history
VariantsPC 500 RS
PC 1000 RS
PC 1800 RS
PC 1000 Rs EX
Specifications
Mass490 kg (1,080 lb)
987 kg (2,176 lb)
2,057 kg (4,535 lb)
Length7 ft 2+34 in (2.203 m) PC 1000 Rs
Width1 ft 3+12 in (0.394 m)

Warhead TNT
Warhead weight119 lb (54 kg) PC 1000 Rs
Detonation
mechanism
Base fuzed

Engine Solid-fuel rocket
Guidance
system
None

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]

Contents

Construction

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

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

DesignationWeightDiameterOverall lengthBody lengthExplosive weight
PC 500 RS490 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 RS987 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 RS2,057 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]

See also

Related Research Articles

A bunker buster is a type of munition that is designed to penetrate hardened targets or targets buried deep underground, such as military bunkers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R4M</span> Rocket

R4M, abbreviation for Rakete, 4 kilogramm, Minenkopf, also known by the nickname Orkan due to its distinctive smoke trail when fired, was a folding-fin air-to-air rocket used by the Luftwaffe at the end of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammunition</span> Material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from a weapon or weapon system

Ammunition is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons and the component parts of other weapons that create the effect on a target.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiny Tim (rocket)</span> Air-to-surface anti-ship Rocket

The Tiny Tim was an American air-to-ground rocket used near the end of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 10 and Type 3 rocket boosters</span> WW2 Japanese rocket artillery

The Type 10 and Type 3 rocket boosters were rocket artillery systems used by garrison troops of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the late stages of World War II in defense of island bases in the Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">30 cm Wurfkörper 42 Spreng</span> Unguided spin-stabilized

The 30 cm Wurfkörper 42 Spreng was an unguided spin-stabilized artillery rocket developed by Germany and used by the Wehrmacht during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gewehr-Granatpatrone 40</span> Shaped charge rifle grenade

The Gewehr-Granatpatrone 40 or GGP/40 for short was a shaped charge rifle grenade used by German forces during the Second World War. It was originally developed for Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger units to provide them with a light and portable anti-tank weapon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AB 70-D1</span> Cluster bomb

The AB 70-D1(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb dispenser used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SB 1000</span> Luftmine

The SB 1000 (Spezialbombe) was a luftmine used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SB 2500</span> Luftmine

The SB 2500 (Spezialbombe) was a luftmine or aerial mine in English used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SD 50 (bomb)</span> Fragmentation bomb

The SD 50 or thick walled explosive bomb in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SD 70 (bomb)</span> Fragmentation bomb

The SD 70 or thick walled explosive bomb in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SD 250</span> Fragmentation bomb

The SD 250 or thick walled explosive bomb in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SD 1700</span> Fragmentation bomb

The SD 1700 or thick walled explosive bomb in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PD 500</span> Armor-piercing bomb

The PD 500 or thick walled armor-piercing explosive bomb in English was an armor-piercing bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC 500</span> Armor-piercing bomb

The PC 500 or cylindrical armor-piercing explosive bomb in English was a series of armor-piercing bombs used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC 1000</span> Armor-piercing bomb

The PC 1000 or cylindrical armor-piercing explosive bomb in English was an armor-piercing bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC 1400</span> Armor-piercing bomb

The PC 1400 or cylindrical armor-piercing explosive bomb in English was an armor-piercing bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC 1600</span> Armor-piercing bomb

The PC 1600 or cylindrical armor-piercing explosive bomb in English was an armor-piercing bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 21 and Type 22 rocket-bombs</span> Rocket artillery

The Type 21 and Type 22 rocket-bombs were rocket artillery systems used by garrison troops of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the late stages of World War II in defense of island bases in the Pacific.

References

  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.