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. 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 (245–256 kg) the bomb itself was 117.3 cm long, 164 cm including the tail, and 36.8 cm in diameter. There were many fillings, all weighing ca. 125 kg (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. 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.

Variants

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:

Photo Gallery

Citations