SB 2500

Last updated
SB 2500
SB 2500.jpg
Schematic of SB 2500 components.
Type Luftmine
Place of originFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by Luftwaffe
Wars World War II
Specifications
Mass2,400 kg (5,300 lb)
Length3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Diameter787 mm (31 in)

Warhead Amatol or Trialen
Warhead weight1,570 kg (3,460 lb) [1]

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

Contents

History

The SB series of bombs were designed to be high-capacity bombs that were intended to create the largest lateral blast effect on detonation. This was in contrast to most other German bombs, which were either armor-piercing, cluster bombs, fragmentation or incendiaries. Since the SB series was not designed to pierce armor or to create fragments, the casing of the series was very light, and the ratio of charge to weight was high at 65%, while the majority of general-purpose bombs were up to 50%. [1]

Design

The SB 2500 was constructed of three parts; a threaded cast steel nose plug, a welded sheet steel center section, and a welded sheet steel tail cone with four alloy tail fins. The SB 2500 was filled through the nose and the tail cone was hollow to increase the bombs charge to weight ratio. There were two transverse fuze pockets; the forward pocket housed the anti-break-up fuze and the rear pocket was for a normal impact fuze. The SB 2500 was fitted with an anti-breakup rod which extended from the nose plug to the forward fuse pocket, which on impact crushed the impact fuze and detonated the bomb. A central exploder tube also ran through the center of the bomb from the forward fuze pocket to the tail. The SB 2500 was suspended horizontally by reinforced H-type lugs. The SB 2500 was filled with either Amatol or Trialen 105. Trialen 105 was a mixture of 15% RDX, 70% TNT and 15% aluminum powder. Due to its thin case and powerful explosives, the SB 2500 was vulnerable to enemy gunfire. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

SC250 bomb A general purpose high-explosive bomb

The SC 250 was an air-dropped general purpose high-explosive bomb built by Germany during World War II and used extensively during that period. It could be carried by almost all German bomber aircraft, and was used to notable effect by the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. The bomb's weight was about 250 kg, from which its designation was derived.

SC1000 bomb Type of General purpose HE bomb

The SC 1000 was a large air-dropped general-purpose thin cased high explosive demolition bomb used by Germany during World War II. Weighing more than 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), it was nicknamed the Hermann by the Germans in reference to the portly Luftwaffe commander, Hermann Göring.

SC50 bomb Type of General-purpose bomb

The SC 50 or cylindrical explosive bomb in English was a family of general-purpose bombs used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

SC2500 bomb Type of General-purpose bomb

The SC 2500 or cylindrical explosive bomb in English was a general-purpose bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

AB 250-2 Type of Cluster bomb

The AB 250-2(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

SB 1000 Type of Luftmine

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

SD 50 (bomb) Type of Fragmentation bomb

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

SD 70 (bomb) Type of Fragmentation bomb

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

SD 250 Type of Fragmentation bomb

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

SD 1700 Type of Fragmentation bomb

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

PC 500 Type of 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.

PC 1000 Type of 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.

PC 1400 Type of 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.

PC 1600 Type of 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.

SD 15 (bomb) Type of Fragmentation bomb

The SD 15 or thick walled explosive bomb in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

SBe 250 Type of Fragmentation bomb

The SBe 250 or concrete fragmentation in English was a fragmentation bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

AB 500-3A Type of Cluster bomb

The AB 500-3A(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

AB 500-1B Type of Cluster bomb

The AB 500-1B(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

AB 500-1 Type of Cluster bomb

The AB 500-1(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

AB 250-3 Type of Cluster bomb

The AB 250-3(Abwurfbehälter) was an anti-personnel cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 3 United States War Office (1953). German explosive ordnance : (bombs, fuzes, rockets, land mines, grenades and igniters). United States Government Printing Office. OCLC   713755660.