List of explosives used during World War II


Almost all the common explosives listed here were mixtures of several common components:
This is only a partial list; there were many others. Many of these compositions are now obsolete and only encountered in legacy munitions and unexploded ordnance.
NameCompositionNotes
AmatolAmmonium nitrate and TNTExtensively used in bombs, shells, depth charges and naval mines
BaronalBarium nitrate, TNT and powdered aluminium
BaratolBarium nitrate and TNTUsed in British hand grenades. Also used as the low velocity explosive lens in the implosion type nuclear weapon, Fat Man
Composition A88.3% RDX and 11.7% plasticizer
Composition BRDX, TNT and waxUsed as the high velocity explosive lens in the implosion type nuclear weapon, Fat Man
Composition H645% RDX, 30% TNT, 20% powdered aluminium and 5% waxReplaced Torpex for use in naval applications.
DBX 21% RDX, 21% ammonium nitrate, 40% TNT, 18% powdered aluminiumAn alternative for Torpex, that used less of the strategic material RDX
Minol40% TNT, 40% ammonium nitrate and 20% powdered aluminium Developed by the British Royal Navy and used in torpedoes, depth charges and naval mines. Unsuitable for shells because of a risk of detonation if subjected to very high accelerations.
Octol75% HMX and 25% TNTStill in use
Pentolites50% PETN and 50% TNT
Picratol52% ammonium picrate and 48% TNTUsed in armour-piercing shells and bombs as insensitive to shock
PIPE81% PETN and 19% oil
PTX-130% RDX, 50% tetryl and 20% TNT
PTX-241-44% RDX, 26-28% PETN and 28-33% TNT
PVA-490% RDX, 8% PVA and 2% dibutyl phthalate
RIPE85% RDX and 15% oil
Tetrytols70% Tetryl and 30% TNT
Torpex42% RDX, 40% TNT and 18% powdered aluminiumDeveloped for use in torpedoes, it was especially effective at producing destructive, underwater explosions.
Trialen 10515% RDX, 70% TNT and 15% powdered aluminiumUsed by the Luftwaffe
Explosive "D"Ammonium picrateUS Army/Navy
Type 91 ExplosiveTrinitroanisol Japanese Army/Navy

Two nuclear explosives, containing mixtures of uranium and plutonium, respectively, were also used at the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki