SBe 50 Concrete Bomb (AI, AII, C, CII, D, E)
DATA:
Overall Length:
Body Length:
Body Diameter:
Wall Thickness:
Tail Length:
Tail Width:
AI
42.5 in.
35.6 in.
7.9 in.
0.9 in.
16.0 in.
11.0 in.
AII
42.9 in.
N/A
7.9 in.
N/A
N/A
N/A
C
43.1 in.
28.0 in.
7.9 in.
1.6 in.
16.1 in.
11.0 in.
CII
42.7 in.
28.6 in.
7.9 in.
1.5 in.
16.1 in.
11.0 in.
D
43.1 in.
28.7 in.
7.9 in.
2.0 in.
16.1 in.
11.0 in.
E
43.1 in.
28.7 in.
7.9 in.
1.5 in.
16.1 in.
11.0 in.
Filling: In earliest specimens, TNT. In all specimens a napthalene explosive mixture. This latter is a lower performance explosive, used perhaps for better fragmentation.
Total Weight: 49-52 kg.
Fuzing: 55
CONSTRUCTION: The concrete walls in all these models are loaded with small fragments of scrap metal. The explosive filling of the model A1 is surrounded by a thin sheet metal container which acts as a former for the concrete. The fragmentation effect of this bomb was apparently unsatisfactory, owing to excessive weight of explosive causing pulverization of the concrete. An attempt was made to improve it in the Model C by reducing the weight of the explosive and increasing the thickness of concrete while still retaining the metal explosive container. A further modification along these lines was made in Model D, but it seems that the quantity of explosive had been reduced to too low a limit, and in Model E the weight of explosive was increased in amount to be the same as Model C. The metal explosive container, however, has been dispensed with, and the concrete has been precast on a gridded steel rod framework. The steel framework is welded to a cast steel plug at the nose and a cast steel ring at the tail. The tails are of sheet steel. Early models had the tail set in concrete. Later models have a detachable tail.
SUSPENSION: Vertical or horizontal suspension is used.
COLOR AND MARKINGS: Bright green overall.
All information for this entry were acquired from 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)
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