Introduction to Luftwaffe Submunition Dispensers/Containers

German containers can be subdivided into (1) those designed to scatter their contents before impact and (2) those intended to carry their contents safely to earth. The latter are few in number and simple in principle. They are a means of getting limited quantities of supplies to specific location. In general, they consist of a compartment to house the supplies and a parachute to bring it safely to earth. No explosive opening devices are incorporated.

Containers designed to scatter their contents from a height can be subdivided upon either of two bases:
A: Droppable containers and containers retained in the aircraft
Or
B: By content, as bombs, flares or a combination load of both bombs and flares

Nondroppable containers may be jettisoned but are primarily intended to be used repeatedly. They are constructed to carry and scatter a great number of small incendiary bombs, the release mechanism being such that desired spacing of the bombs is possible.

Droppable containers are fitted with fuzing and opening devices designed to release the contained missiles after a predetermined time of fall from the aircraft. Some of these containers are merely clustering devices, some are bomb shaped and hinge at the after end, other release missiles through large ports.

The contents of bomb containers are chiefly small antipersonnel or incendiary bombs and flares , the 1, 1.3 and 2-kg. electron incendiary bombs, SD1, SD2 and SD10 A/P bombs being the ones most frequently used. A common practice is to include a small number of SD2 bombs in a container of flares.

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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)