SD1 Splitterbombe
The SD1 Splitterbombe (Fragmentation Bomb) is a Anti-personnel (fragmentation) that was used primarily in two roles, determined by the type of fuze and accessories fitted to the bomb.
The first was as a fragmentation bomb, with instantaneous fuze and when the bombs exploded above ground the case created large fragments which would kill enemy personnel and destroy unarmoured vehicles. The second role was as a general-purpose or armour-piercing role, In this role the bombs were fitted with a time delay fuze which detonated after it had pierced a target destroying it with a combination of its blast and fragments. The cluster bomb was introduced in 1942 as an anti-personal air dropped bomb designed to be airdropped in containers. There were 392 SD1 cluster bombs are contained in the AB500-1 container, 224 in the AB250-2 and 50 in the AB70-D1 container. When carried in containers, the nose of the fuse nestled in a cavity in the base of the bomb in front, so protecting the fuse. No safety device was fitted to the fuse once loaded. The reinforcing ring on the fins was made longer in 1943. |
The Anti-personnel (fragmentation) Sd1 Splitterbombe, was designed to be used against troop concentrations in clusters. When loaded into the containers, a mix of instantanious fuzes and delayed action fuzes. To make it harder fo the bomb disposal sections some of the splitterbombe's were fitted with anti-handling fuzes.
Even though the SD1 Splitterbombe was not used within the United Kingdom on civillians, they were used from 1941 in small quantaties at military targets such as airfields. |
What we do know about the SD1 Splitterbombes is, they were used exstensivly across Russia against both military targets and civillians. The idea was that with the German Blitzkrieg advance, the SD1 Splitterbombe custers were used to supress civilians and soldiers rertreating from the from the front line.
There is no doubt that after the Battle of Britain and the Luftwaffa gaining air supremasy, the prelude to invasion would have been the use of the SD1 splitterbombe's |