He 111 bomb load permutations
 

I've run up against a question that I can't resolve from my available references. An He 111 crashed on to houses in Bromley, Kent on 9 November 1940 and the A.I.1.(k) report says 16 x SC 50 were recovered from the wreckage while another account (possibly anecdotal) speaks of 30 bombs being dealt with.

I know that a typical internal load was 8 x 250 kg but does anyone know what other combinations were possible without using external racks?

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Conventional Bombs or Incentinary Bombs (Brandbomben).
I think there lies the difference ...

http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/...ate/abwurf.htm

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

or this text here.
http://thedaysofglory2.blogspot.com/...ffe-bombs.html

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Each 250kg bomb could be replaced with a carrier for 4x 50kg bombs which makes 32x50kg bombs. Don't know if they could be mixed, If yes I assume 4x250 + 16x50.

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

there lies the detail I was thinking about ...
fitments within the ESAC carrier

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Hi Nick

I have a Flugbuch for a man with 5./KG53 who recorded the bomb loads for his Heinkel He 111 in the opening days of Barbarossa as follows:

23.6.41 Bomb load 1 x 1000, 16 x 50
24.6.41 Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50
26.6.41 Bomb load 1 x 500, 16 x 50

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Sounds like H-4 or higher, 1x big bomb in external carrier on one side and 50kg bombs internally loaded on the other side. Suggest a similar split was possible for 250/50 mix.

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Also, don't forget to factor in fuel. Sometimes bomb loads were non-standard or in odd numbers due to the amount of fuel carried.

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

On H-4 (or was it not H-5 or higher?), one internal fuel tank was the reason for external carrier (and two in the H-6), but also providing provision for 500 kg or larger bombs, on external carrier.

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

Ed, just out of curiosity was the adding or deleting of internal fuel tanks on various models something that was done only at the manuf. or could it be done at near-front repair facilities to match operational needs?

THKS

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

From what I have seen, so far, tanks were built in on assembly - i.e. versions stayed the same, unless "modified out" (for training use mostly)

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

AFAIR four internal bomb cells (one side) could be replaced with a fuel and oil tank.
The H-4 was just a H-3 modified to carry larger external bombs.
In theory both H-5 and H-6 should be capable to carry full internal load or bigger bombs on external mounts.

Re: He 111 bomb load permutations
 

H-6 had more powerful engines, the Jumo 211 F/J, and larger Wooden props, so in theory was superior to the H-5 (VDM Alumin props and Jumo 211 H-1 engines); which in case of the (15) 4./KG 40 machines (1941) had been fitted with 2x internal tanks (in both sides of cabin) and all bombs externally.