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Staff Sergeant
- 1,219
- Jan 31, 2021
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While looking at the ORBs for 77 Squadron, I came across this item in the bomb load for the Whitley V on the 23/24 April 1942 mission to Rostock. Here is exactly how it is listed:
8 S.B.C. (4 x 30, 4 x 20)
My first thought is that this means four SBCs filled with 30-lb bombs and four with 20-lb bombs. This suspicion is reinforced by the listing for the 26/27 April 1942 mission, also to Rostock, which included the item:
6 S.B.C. (8/20 lbs)
I do not believe there was a 20-lb incendiary bomb used by the RAF. Presumably, then, this is referring to the 20-lb fragmentation bomb, but SBCs normally carried 12 such bombs, not 8. Was this an SBC filled to less than full capacity? Or was it indeed a 20-lb incendiary? Or perhaps that first item description means four SBCs filled with 30 x 4-lb incendiaries and four filled with 20 x 4-lb incendiaries? If so, those are uncharacteristically light loads for SBCs in use at that time.
I tried to cross-check these loads by looking at the ORBs for 51 Squadron, which also flew the Whitley V at this time, and to the same target on the same days. That first Rostock mission lists the load as including "8 containers of incendiaries", which does not help clear things up. (Indeed, it would seem to point more to a 20-lb incendiary.) The second mission doesn't help either, as it was carrying fewer SBCs that the 77 Squadron aircraft, with the description being only "2 containers of incendiaries".
So, anyone have any info that might help clear this up?
You are correct, no 20lb incendiary for the RAF. The RAF did have a 20lb Fragmentation bomb dating from pre-war that was fitted with a normal or parachute tail unit. As well as being fitted directly to a light bomb rack, they could be fitted in SBCs as follows:-
8 in a 160lb SBC
12 in a 250lb SBC
This is a 1946 manual that contains details. Page 8 of the .pdf
This came from this site.
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So am I to an extent.according to the ORB of the respective squadrons. I'm not sure how to reconcile these with the Bomber Command Monthly Summaries figures.
In 1941/42 the 4 pound incendiaries tended to be dropped in groups of 60. The next size up I know of is the number 14 cluster carried 106, the 17 with 110 and the 15 with 158. Similarly the 30 pound incendiaries tended to be dropped in groups of 8 or 16.
It should be helpful to understand that early war the 4 pound IB was supplied in hermetically sealed cans of 20 later superseded by cans of 30. Bombs were not supplied as individual units but in quantities of 20 or 30 pre-packed at the factory. The bombs were packed in such a way that the spring-loaded Safety Plunger of each bomb was kept in place by an adjacent bomb.While looking at the ORBs for 77 Squadron, I came across this item in the bomb load for the Whitley V on the 23/24 April 1942 mission to Rostock. Here is exactly how it is listed:
8 S.B.C. (4 x 30, 4 x 20)
My first thought is that this means four SBCs filled with 30-lb bombs and four with 20-lb bombs. This suspicion is reinforced by the listing for the 26/27 April 1942 mission, also to Rostock, which included the item:
6 S.B.C. (8/20 lbs)
I do not believe there was a 20-lb incendiary bomb used by the RAF. Presumably, then, this is referring to the 20-lb fragmentation bomb, but SBCs normally carried 12 such bombs, not 8. Was this an SBC filled to less than full capacity? Or was it indeed a 20-lb incendiary? Or perhaps that first item description means four SBCs filled with 30 x 4-lb incendiaries and four filled with 20 x 4-lb incendiaries? If so, those are uncharacteristically light loads for SBCs in use at that time.
I tried to cross-check these loads by looking at the ORBs for 51 Squadron, which also flew the Whitley V at this time, and to the same target on the same days. That first Rostock mission lists the load as including "8 containers of incendiaries", which does not help clear things up. (Indeed, it would seem to point more to a 20-lb incendiary.) The second mission doesn't help either, as it was carrying fewer SBCs that the 77 Squadron aircraft, with the description being only "2 containers of incendiaries".
So, anyone have any info that might help clear this up?
It should be helpful to understand that early war the 4 pound IB was supplied in hermetically sealed cans of 20 later superseded by cans of 30. Bombs were not supplied as individual units but in quantities of 20 or 30 pre-packed at the factory. The bombs were packed in such a way that the spring-loaded Safety Plunger of each bomb was kept in place by an adjacent bomb.
Now for unsupported speculation, 77 squadron, 5 aircraft each with 4x30 and 4x20, assuming the 30 and 20 refer to the number of 4 pound bombs in each SBC compartment, gives 20 of the heavier containers, the 9 aircraft of 51 squadron each had 8 containers of incendiaries.
Interesting, Thank you - my web search only found the electric detonators on that site and missed the other two.The AP 1661B Vol. 1 manual can be found online at the Bullet Picker website.
Interesting, Thank you - my web search only found the electric detonators on that site and missed the other two.