SC250 bomb

Last updated
SC 250
SC250 bomb at National Museum of the United States Air Force.jpg
TypeGeneral purpose HE bomb
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used byLuftwaffe
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass250 kg (550 lb)
Length164 cm (65 in) (overall)
117.3 cm (46.2 in) (body)
Diameter36.8 cm (14.5 in)

FillingCast Trotyl, cast Amatol, cast Trialen
or pressed Ammonal charge
Filling weight130 kg (290 lb)

The SC 250 (Sprengbombe Cylindrisch 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 (Sturzkampfflugzeug or dive-bomber). The bomb's weight was about 250 kg, from which its designation was derived. [1]

Contents

It was used in the Eastern Front and many other theatres, and was feared for its destructive power. The SC 250 was one of the most commonly used bombs in World War II and was deployed extensively during the Blitz on London.

Design

The grade (Güteklasse) I bombs, the nose cone and the bomb body were forged out of a single piece of high quality alloyed steel or the nose was welded to the body; these bombs were of the highest mechanical strength and they were meant to be used against robust targets necessitating penetration before detonation of the bomb, or as "Stabos" ("spike bombs"). The grade II and grade III bombs were made of separate nose cone, main body and aft cone parts welded together; the mechanical strength of the grade II bombs was approximately 80% of the grade I, in the grade III bombs, the mechanical strength on impact was ca. 40% of that of grade I bombs; these bombs were therefore meant to be used only on targets where instantaneous detonation on impact was necessary.

After forging the body or welding the nose cone and the aft cone to the body, this was loaded with the exploder tube, the fuze pocket and then the main filling. Thereafter the body was sealed with the base plate, and the four-finned tail was attached. With an overall weight of 250 kg (550 lb) (245–256 kg) the bomb itself was 117.3 cm (46.2 in) long, 164 cm (65 in) including the tail, and 36.8 cm (14.5 in) in diameter. There were many fillings, all weighing ca. 125 kg (276 lb) (125–130 kg):

Bombs filled with Trialen 105 were to be used especially as water bombs/depth charges against enemy shipping and submarines, however the Trialen bombs could be used to a great effect against land targets as well. [2] [3] [4] The bomb was held in place by suspension lugs, which could be fitted either to the nose to hold the bomb vertically inside a bomb bay, or to the body if it were slung horizontally below the fuselage or wing of an aircraft. [5]

Variants

Type 1 (Güteklasse I)
Type 2 (Güteklasse II)
Type 333 (Güteklasse III)

Fuzes

The SC 250 could be fitted with a variety of fuzes depending on the target:

Post-war discoveries

After the war there was a steady stream of unexploded SC250s found and disarmed or detonated in the latter 55 years of the 20th century. However, even in 2000s, more are regularly discovered:

Citations

References
  1. "SC 250 Types 1, 2 and 3; J, L, L2, B And K". warbirdsresourcegroup.org. 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. Fleischer, W.: Deutsche Abwurfmunition bis 1945. Motorbuch Verlag, 2003, 1. Auflage. ISBN   3613022869 Stuttgart, Tübingen. p. 195–196
  3. Pawlas, K. R.: Munitions-Lexikon. Band 3, Deutsche Bomben. Journal-Verlag Schwend GmbH, Schwäbisch Hall, 2. Auflage, 1992. ISBN   9783880882164, p. 26–37
  4. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), p.8
  5. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.8–9
  6. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), p.141
  7. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.152–155
  8. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.177–181
  9. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), p.182-185
  10. Dunstable Town Centre (20 April 2005). "The Earl and the Secretary". BBC. A3924443. Retrieved 13 September 2015. The "Y" fuse behaved exactly like the normal one when tested, but it had an additional circuit that was isolated after activation. This circuit contained mercury tilt switches which would detonate the bomb if the fuse [was] turned, even slowly. This was a booby trap designed to kill bomb disposal personnel
  11. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.165–166
  12. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.172–173
  13. TM 9-1985-2 (1953), pp.172–173
  14. "Thousands evacuated as unexploded WW2 bomb found in Bermondsey". Southwark News. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  15. "WW2 bomb found in Portsmouth harbour". BBC News. 22 February 2017.
  16. "Во время сноса на площадке "БелЭкспо" нашли авиабомбу" [Bomb found during demolition on the BelExpo site]. Tut.By (in Russian). 13 April 2017.
  17. "WW2 bomb found in Aston". BBC News Online . 15 May 2017.
  18. "The moment Army detonates WW2 bomb found in Birmingham". BBC News Online . 16 May 2017.
  19. Onys'ko, Vitaly (31 May 2017). "Через бомбу евакуювали мешканців вулиці Нечая на "Новому світі"". 20 Minutes (in Ukrainian).
  20. "North Sea: Fishermen lucky to survive after line set off WW2 bomb". BBC News. 20 January 2022.
  21. "Great Yarmouth: Major incident declared over suspected WW2 device". BBC News. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  22. "Unexploded WWII bomb forces the evacuation of Wrocław". Euronews . 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
Bibliography

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