SC 1800 “Satan” Aerial Bomb and Heinkel He 111 Bomber

December 27, 2025 - Reading time: 9 minutes

A wartime photograph showing German ground crew preparing an SC 1800 “Satan” aerial bomb for a Heinkel He 111 bomber, illustrating Luftwaffe heavy ordnance.

This wartime photograph shows German ground crew preparing a SC 1800 “Satan” aerial bomb for loading onto a Heinkel He 111 H-5 medium bomber at a Luftwaffe field airbase. The image provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at German heavy aerial ordnance and bomber operations during World War II.

The SC 1800 “Satan” Bomb:

The SC 1800, nicknamed “Satan”, was one of the largest conventional high-explosive bombs used by the Luftwaffe.

Key characteristics:

• Weight: approximately 1,800 kg

• Type: high-explosive general-purpose bomb

• Designed for use against large ground targets

• Massive blast and shockwave effect

Such bombs were intended to destroy industrial facilities, transport hubs, fortified positions, and urban targets.

Heinkel He 111 H-5 as a Bomb Carrier:

The Heinkel He 111 H-5 variant was capable of carrying heavy bomb loads, including oversized ordnance like the SC 1800.

Relevant features:

• Twin-engine medium bomber

• Internal and external bomb-carrying capability

• Crew of five

• Widely used across multiple theaters of war

Carrying an SC 1800 significantly affected aircraft performance, limiting speed and range, and often required carefully planned missions.

Luftwaffe Ground Crews and Field Airbases:

This photograph highlights the critical role of Luftwaffe armorers and ground personnel.

Their responsibilities included:

• Transporting and positioning heavy bombs

• Arming and fusing ordnance

• Ensuring secure attachment to aircraft

• Working under time pressure and combat conditions

Field airbases often lacked permanent infrastructure, making the handling of such massive weapons particularly demanding.

Operational Use of Heavy Bombs:

Bombs like the SC 1800 were not used routinely. They were typically reserved for:

• High-value strategic targets

• Special missions

• Situations requiring maximum destructive effect

Their deployment reflects the Luftwaffe’s attempt to compensate for growing operational challenges with increased payload size rather than technological superiority.

Historical Significance of the Photograph:

This image is historically valuable because it:

• Documents one of the heaviest Luftwaffe bombs in service

• Shows real-world preparation rather than combat aftermath

• Illustrates the logistical complexity of aerial warfare

Photographs of bomb preparation are rarer than combat images, making this scene particularly informative.

Photo Information:

• 📝 Source: wartime German photograph

• 📍 Location: Luftwaffe field airbase (exact location unknown)

• 📅 Date: World War II period

• 📷 Photographer: unknown

The SC 1800 “Satan” bomb and the Heinkel He 111 bomber represent the extreme scale of aerial warfare during World War II. This photograph captures a moment before destruction — the careful preparation of one of the Luftwaffe’s most powerful conventional weapons.

👉 See also: rare photographs of Luftwaffe bombers, aerial weapons, and WWII aviation ground crews.