Army divers recently raised a German Luftwaffe bomb from the Munxar Reef off Marsascala at a depth of 12 metres, after information was provided by some civilian divers.

An EOD diving team from the AFM's Ammunition and Explosives Company of 3 Regiment was sent to investigate. The munition was a Sprengbombe Cylindrich (SC) 1000 general demolition bomb.

The bomb weighed one ton and was 100 inches long with its tail attachment. It was among one of the largest bombs in the Luftwaffe's arsenal, used to great effect in all theatres of conflict during WWII.

In the recovery operation, the bomb was slung and attached to a gradual-release air-lifting bag. Once the bag surfaced, it was replaced by four 45-gallon drums, and after the bomb was rendered safe it was towed further out to sea by an AFM Maritime Squadron patrol-boat for disposal.

Over these last 10 years, the EOD have tackled well over 158 cases of unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants.

The bomb, which was intended mostly for use against merchant ships, was also effective against non-armour plated targets. Low-level attacks using this bomb were not made because of the lack of safety for the releasing aircraft, which included the Junkers Ju-87, the Heinkel He-111and the 234th Arado Ar.

The Luftwaffe's SC series of bombs had a very heavily constructed pointed nose welded to the forward end of their drawn steel body, while the rear end was threaded to take a female base plate. The tail attachment brace was tack-welded to the body just forward of the base plate.

Major Consiglio is Staff Officer 2 - Public Information, HQ AFM.