Lewes bomb

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The Lewes bomb was a blast-incendiary field expedient explosive, manufactured by mixing diesel oil and Nobel 808 plastic explosive. It was created by Lieutenant Jock Lewes, one of the original members of L Detachment SAS in 1941. The SAS needed a combined incendiary and explosive device light enough to be carried by a small group of commandos yet powerful enough to destroy and set fire to planes on an enemy airfield. Weighing just 1 pound (0.45 kg), the Lewes Bomb could be carried in quantity by an individual.

The only available bomb at the time was too cumbersome to be carried by a paratrooper. Lewes experimented with various types of incendiary and explosive materials, using trial and error. His formula was a pound of plastic explosive, a quarter pound of thermite mixed with a bit of diesel oil. Inside the mass was inserted a 2-ounce dry guncotton primer and detonator and a thirty-second fuse. The most common ignition method used was time pencils or pencil detonators. Others included release switches and pressure switches.

It is not clear what was used as a container for the explosive, but it was most likely a canvas sack or pouch, probably a ration bag. In use the device was placed on the wing of an aircraft to ignite the fuel within.

[edit] References

Lewes, John (2001). Jock Lewes: The Biography of Jock Lewes, Co-founder of the SAS. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0850528054.
Reese, Peter (1999). The Scottish Commander. Canongate Books. ISBN 086241833X.

[edit] See also

British Grenades of World War I & World War II
Anti-personnel
Grenade, No 1 Hales \| No.s 5, 23, 36 Mills \| No. 69 \| No.s 8, 9 Double Cylinder Jam Tin
Anti-tank
No. 68 AT (Rifle) \| No. 73 Thermos \| No. 74 Sticky bomb \| No. 75 AT Hawkins \|
Special Types
No. 82 Gammon \| No. 76 (WP) \| No. 77 (WP) \| "Lewes bomb"