German naval measuring charge?

[Tmine35]

Any information about this "bomb"? Made of bakelite. It has been assumed that it could be kind of a measuring charge, dropped over board a ship and exploding when hitting seabed, water depth measured by recording sinking time but no confirmation to this found.

 

[pzgr40/42]

By no means sure of this, but might it be a charge designed to blow up magnetic mines (which would have been unapproacheable for any metal vessel / destruction charge) ?
Nowadays charges packed in glassfibre etc. are used.

just a thought,

greetz,

Menno.

 

[Fuzeman]

The writing reads Attention Live Demolision block , so it looks as though its use is to be towed behind minesweepers , to snag moored mines and to explode them ! the Germans called them sweep obstructors.

 

[Tmine35]

It has no attachment for towing wire, further it has fins to make it rotate quite rapidly. Therefore I rather think it's dropped overboard. Also the maker "Hydroakustik, Kiel" somehow sounds more like a measuring device. All internal parts are missing but there seems to have been some kind of centrifucal safety device and compartment for charge is just a fingertip size.

 

[Fuzeman]

Is that hole in the front for the towing cable with the wording demolision block i would dought it was for measuring ! more for blowing something up, i dont think you can read too much into the maker as a lot of companies were engaged in war work Ie Jurgens the watch makers made demolision timers

 

[Tmine35]

No, there has been a centrifugal safety device. I have seen another one with some remains of internal parts and in this hole there were pieces of metal which centrifugal force from rotation pushed out releasing a striker pin safety.

 

[Madbomber31]

Here is some info on it.
I hope it helps.

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Mad,
That's it. Slightly different from mine in some details but use is the same.
Tmine35

 

[Fuzeman]

well done jack for that information