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Scharfer Sprengkörper - What is this WWII German artifact? A mine? A grenade? Or???

WWIIBuff

Well-Known Member
I wasn't sure what thread to put this in because I have no idea what it really is. I am being told by the seller that is ia some sort of water mine from very late in the war. Anyone have any idea?
 

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Someone founds these pictures on a Russian forum where it was discussed as well, but I do not think a definite conclusion was made as to what these are.
 

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The device is acoustic. They dropped in sea, when hits the ground the charge is ignited. Then they measure the time and see then how deep sea is.
I have somewhere an original leaflet, when I find it.
 
It must have an extremely sensitive fuze as not all sea bottoms are sand or stone , but often soft mud.
 
I´ve had that Lotkörper for a few years and it has the same construction as it on started post.

According the U-Boat archive vocabulary: German Freilot (aslo known as a Fallot, Electrolot) - Explosive depth sounder - an exactly 2m/sec little free-falling weight of torpedo shape with a cartridge at the tip which exploded when it hit the bottom. The time that elapsed between it touching the sea surface and detonation at the bottom gave fairly precise depth information.

Developed in the 1920s and up, weight ca 150gr (nose wight Zn ca 50gr), diameter 37mm, length 180mm.

Some closer picture shown and other pictures you can find http://http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/98170-Electroacustic-device-Scharfer-Sprengkörper
 

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