SD2 BUTTERFLY BOMB WINGS.

Victory is mine! Snagged an unmolested set set FINALLY!!!!!! original paint and in not too bad a condition. A soak in the “juice” & I think they will come out looking good.

Now If iIcan just locate a charge body……….

I think I’m addicted to books. This fine addition is winging its way into the museum library.

HISTORICAL SYUDY MOTHERLOAD.

Here are a few shots of my MP44 rounds. I picked up a full box last year locally.

S-mines both 35 & 42. Glass Mines 3 variations.

Got my ICE MINE all set up.

Nomenclature of Complete Round*      Action of Fuze    Weight of Projectile as Fired (Pounds)    Muzzle Velocity (Feet per Second)8.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. Zt. Z. S/30 (8.8 cm. fixed H.E. shell, with spring-wound mechanical time fuze)
Time (30 sec.)
20.06
2,6908.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. Zt. Z. S/30 Fg¹ (8.8 cm. fixed H.E. shell, with inertia-operated mechanical time fuze)
Time (30 sec.)
20.06
2,6908.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. A.Z. 23/28 (8.8 cm. fixed H.E. shell, with percussion fuze)
Superquick or delay (0.11 sec.)
20.34
2,6908.8 cm. Pzgr. Patr. m. Bd. Z. (8.8 cm. fixed A.P.C. shell, with base-detonating fuze)
Nondelay
20.71
2,657*For an explanation of German abbreviations, see paragraph 72.

63. PREPARATION FOR FIRING.

a. Complete rounds, when they have been removed from their packing containers (par. 66), and their fuzes properly adjusted, are ready for firing.

b. Should it be necessary to fuze or unfuze projectiles, authorized personnel only will do this work. A spanner wrench labeled “A.Z. 23 and Zt. Z. S/30” should be used if available. The fuze setter for “A.Z. 23 and Zt. Z. S/30” may also be used to screw and unscrew fuzes.

c. Fuzes are adjusted for the desired action as described in paragraph 65.

64. DESCRIPTION OF ROUNDS.

a. General. The components of a complete round of German 88-mm ammunition are shown in figure 71. A comparison of the 88-mm armor-piercing and high-explosive complete rounds with a U.S. 90-mm high-explosive round is illustrated in figure 70. The double rotating band on the German 88-mm projectiles immediately distinguishes these from the U.S. round, as does the double 360-degree crimps of the cartridge case to the projectile. Markings and labels on shipping containers and crates (par. 66, figs. 77 and 78) serve as a means of identification. Further identification may be made by means of markings on the ammunition as described in subparagraph b, below, and is illustrated in figures 72 and 73.

Figure 71 — Components of German 88-mm High-explosive Complete Round

Figure 72 — German 88-mm Cartridge Case, Showing Stenciled Markings

Figure 73 — German 88-mm Cartridge Cases — Base End Views

b. Identification.

(1) GENERAL. The following identification markings may be found on projectiles. These markings may vary, dependent upon the particular lots found in the field. German abbreviations and terminology, and their English equivalents are given in paragraph 72.

(2) ON THE PROJECTILE. Armor-piercing projectiles are painted black above the rotating bands; high-explosive projectiles are painted yellow. In addition, the following markings may be present:

(a) Weight-zone Marking (Gewichtsklasse). The weight-zone marking is a roman numeral in black. The numeral “III” generally indicates “standard” weight; no weight corrections in the firing tables are necessary in firing shells which are in weight-zone III.

(b) Shell Number. In the case of 88-mm shell, the number 28.

(c) Date of assembly and manufacturer’s initials or symbol.

(d) A number indicating type of high-explosive filler, for example: “1” indicates TNT; “2” indicates picric acid. Other number designations will be found in paragraph 72.

(e) Abbreviations denoting type of shell, for example:

1. Tp (Tropen), for the tropics.

2. Ub (Ubung), practice.

3. Nb (Nebel), smoke.

(3) ON THE SIDE OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE. Markings on the side wall of the cartridge case are shown in figure 72. Their English equivalents are given in Table II.

(4) ON THE BASE OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE. The principle marking for identification on the base of the cartridge case is the number “6347,” which appears on all the cartridge cases of the German 88-mm complete rounds. For other markings, see figure 73. It will be noted that the primer design marking is “C/12nA St.” The caliber and model of the gun may also appear on the base, for example, “8.8 cm. Flak. 18.”

TABLE II. MARKINGS ON SIDE OF CARTRIDGE CASE

German Marking       English Equivalent2.700 kg.       2,700 kilogramsDigl. R.P.—8 (495-5, 4/2.75)
Diglycol powder, number (grain size)tgl. 41 P
Manufacturer, date, delivery numberLu. 14, 5.41 K.
Manufacturer, date, work markP.T. plus 25 C (in red)
Powder temperature (pulvertemperatur), plus 25 C

c. 8.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. Zt. Z. S/30 (8.8 cm. High-explosive Fixed Shell, with Spring-wound Mechanical Time Fuze).

(1) COMPLETE ROUND. This complete round, illustrated in figure 70, consists of cartridge case No. 6347, containing the primer and propelling charge, crimped to a high-explosive projectile which is fuzed with a 30-second spring-wound mechanical time fuze. It is identified as indicated in subparagraph b, above. The complete round weighs 31.69 pounds and is 36.69 inches in length. The maximum horizontal range is 16,200 yards, the vertical range being 32,500 feet. Muzzle velocity and weight of projectile are given in Table I. Packing of this round is described in paragraph 66.

(2) PROJECTILE. The two rotating bands on the projectile are fashioned from powdered iron impregnated with wax. The German high-explosive projectiles differ from those of U.S. manufacture, in that a base plug is screwed into the base. A lead gasket seals the base assembly against possible penetration of the hot gases of the exploded propellant. The German projectile has a square base and is 15.55 inches in length. The bursting charge consists of 2.19 pounds of TNT or 40/60 amatol.

(3) PREPARATION FOR FIRING. This round is ready for firing when removed from its packing, except that the mechanical time fuze must be set as described in paragraph 65.

d. 8.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. Zt. Z. 5/30 Fg¹ (8.8 cm. Fixed High-explosive Shell with Inertia-operated Mechanical Time Fuze). This complete round is the same as the fixed high-explosive round described in subparagraph c, above, except for the time fuze, which functions by different means. However, the timing of the fuze for this round is also 30 seconds. See paragraph 65 for description of fuzes.

e. 8.8 cm. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (kz.) m. A.Z. 23/28 (8.8 cm. Fixed High-explosive Shell, with Percussion Fuze). This complete round is the same as the fixed high-explosive round described in subparagraph c, above, except for the fuze, which is a combination superquick and delay (0.11 second) fuze similar in action and setting to the U.S. FUZE, P.D., M48, or FUZE, P.D., M51. See paragraph 65 for description of fuzes. This complete round weighs 32 pounds, the weight of the projectile being 20.34 pounds.

f. 8.8 cm. Pzgr. m. Bd. Z. (8.8 cm. Fixed Armor-piercing Capped Shell, with Base-detonating Fuze).

(1) COMPLETE ROUND. This complete round, illustrated in figure 70, consists of cartridge case No. 6347, containing the primer and propelling charge, crimped to an armor-piercing projectile which contains a high-explosive filler, base-detonating fuze, and a tracer. It is identified as indicated in subparagraph b, above. The complete round weighs 32.74 pounds and is 34.21 inches in length. Muzzle velocity and weight of projectile are given in Table I. Packing of this round is described in paragraph 66.

(2) PROJECTILE. The two rotating bands are bimetallic, being composed of copper electroplated on an iron band. Another type of rotating band may be of ductile iron. The projectile contains a bursting charge of TNT which is approximately 1.8 percent of the total weight of projectile. Weight of the tracer composition is 13 grams. The windshield is attached to the armor-piercing cap by spot welding at 12 places. The projectile has a square base and is 14.49 inches in length. The fuze is described in paragraph 65.

(3) PENETRATION AGAINST HOMOGENEOUS ARMOR PLATE.

TABLE III. PENETRATION DATA OF A.P.C. PROJECTILE AGAINST HOMOGENEOUS PLATE

Range in Yards Thickness of Plate in Inches        Normal Impact     Impact at 30 Degrees500        5.07 4.331,000        4.68 3.971,500        4.33 3.622,000        3.93 3.30

(a) In addition to Table III above, the armor-piercing ammunition is effective against smaller concrete emplacements, particularly if they have exposed perpendicular walls. Eight well-grouped armor-piercing shells at 800-meter (8.75-yd) range is sufficient to penetrate 2 meters (2.2 yds) of reinforced concrete.

(4) PREPARATION FOR FIRING. This round is ready for firing when removed from its packing.

65. FUZES.

a. General. The point fuzes used with the German 88-mm high explosive shells consist of the following:

Zt. Z. S/30      Time fuze (30-second) with spring-wound actionZt. Z. S/30 Fg¹ 
Time fuze (30-second) with inertia-operated action A.Z. 23/ 28 
Percussion fuze, superquick or delay (0.11 second) action

(1) These fuzes, and their markings, are shown in figures 74 and  75. With the armor-piercing capped shell, a base-detonating (Bodenzunder, Bd. Z.) fuze is used. It appears that none of these fuzes are boresafe. The diameter over the threads of the point fuzes is 1.96 inch, and the pitch of the threads is 3-mm or 0.12 inch.

CAUTION: Fuzes will not be disassembled. Any attempt to disassemble fuzes in the field is dangerous, and is prohibited except under specific directions from the Chief of Ordnance.

Figure 74 — Spring-wound Time, Percussion, and Inertia-operated Time Fuzes for German 88-mm High-explosive Shell — View Showing Setter Grooves and Selector Element

Figure 75 — Spring-wound Time, Percussion, and Inertia-operated Time Fuzes for German 88-mm High-explosive Shell — View Showing Fuze Markings

b. German Fuzes, Zt. Z. S/30 and Zt. Z. S/30 Fg¹.

(1) DESCRIPTION. These fuzes, shown in figures 74 and 75, are 30-second time fuzes. These do not have impact elements. It will be noted that there are no graduations on the time ring. For use, the fuze must be set by means of the fuze setter provided. The zero setting of the fuze is “recess over recess;” on the fuze setter, the indicator (arrow) is at zero. The fuze setter is set at the fuze setting found in the firing table and the fuze is then set as described in chapter 4, section III. A time-safety feature in the fuze prevents time action below 2 seconds of flight. The Zt. Z. S/30 has a spring-wound mechanical time mechanism, whereas the Zt. Z. S/30 Fg¹ has an inertia-operated mechanical time mechanism similar to U.S. FUZE, time, mechanical, M43.

(2) PREPARATION FOR FIRING. The fuzes are prepared for firing as described in subparagraph b (1), above. Fuzes which have been set on rounds prepared for firing but not fired, must be reset at zero. This resetting is accomplished in the same manner as in setting, but with the fuze setter indicator at zero.

operationbarbarossa:

A British soldier poses with a case designated for German Sprengbombe Dickwandig 2 kg, or Butterfly Bombs, near the Peter sector of the Anzio Beachhead, Italy - 15 February 1944

The Butterfly Bomb, or SD2, was a 2kg anti-personnel submunition used by the Luftwaffe during WWII. Each individual SD2 contained 225g of TNT — the bomb was generally lethal at 10m and could inflict serious injuries as far as 100m.

The SD2 was one of the first cluster bombs to be used in combat, and it proved to be very effective. 

wehrmachtinternetmuseum even has a couple nifty parts from an SD2!

Got these today on the cheap. These are the Bakelite caps that screwed into the charge body of the SD2 Butterfly Bomb. These would be removed prior to fitting the fuze.

And another one. That’s the 2nd one today already.