German Explosive Ordnance - German Mines and Grenades (Part 13)

German Explosives

Hand Smoke Signal (Red) (Handrauchzeichen-Rot)

Overall Length: 4.9 inches

Maximum Diameter: 1.8 inches

Total Weight: 4.4 ounces

Filling:

-Red Dye-ortho methoxy phenylazo B-naphthol (55%)

-Potassium Chlorate (20%)

-Lactose (10%)

-Unidentified light oily material (15%)

Weight of Filling: 54 grams

Description: This signal is included as an example of many German colored smoke signals.  It is a cardboard cylinder with a cardboard pull tape lid at the fuze end and a glued-in cardboard disk with an emission hole at the other end.  The whole signal is wrapped in red paraffined paper upon which the name and instructions are printed.  Beneath the pull tape lid is a cardboard striker ring, one half the top side of which is coated with a red phosphorus abrasive mix.  A paper wad separates this and the match head.  Beneath the match head is a cardboard inner cover and a wire screen.  A perforated metal cylinder containing the quickmatch sheath is partitioned in the middle by a cardboard disk which is impregnated with gunpowder and has two diametrically opposite holes in it.  At the emission end is another wire screen and the cardboard disk with a tissue paper covered emission hole.

Operation: By striking the striker ring on the match head the quickmatch is ignited.  This burns its entire length and ignites the gun powder disk which is in direct contact with the inflammable smoke mixture.  Smoke is then emitted at both ends of the cylinder.  The signal may be placed or thrown.

Employment: It is used as a signal from the ground to an air observer.

Remarks: German smoke signals numbers 350, 160, and 80, which are orange, are analogous to this signal but differ in some respects.  There are also similar signals in yellow and violet.

Lachrymatory Grenade

Overall Length: 5 inches

Maximum Diameter: 1 and 1/2 inches

Filling: C.A.P.

Color: Aluminum

Description: The case is made of thin sheet aluminum.  Within the case, below the lid, is a cylindrical holder retained in position by four indentations in the case which correspond to four indentations in the holder.  This holder has a screwed projection to take the friction igniter.  The latter has a short piece of cord, 10 cm in length, attached to a wire loop.  Below the holder is a dish-shaped aluminum piece which contains a small compressed charge of black powder.  On the upper side of this charge is a thin disk of white powder.  The main filling consists of ten cylindrical pellets of a yellow compound and one pellet of a white substance wrapped in cellophane.   The charge is held between the two dish-shaped pieces.  The grenade generates a lachrymatory vapor when ignited and the vapor escapes through the holes in the holder.  The containers are unpainted aluminum, and the lid is secured by a piece of adhesive tape colored blue.  They are safe to handle when the lids are in place.  To disarm the grenade, the igniter may be unscrewed from the holder, taking care not to twist the wire in so doing.

Operation: The lid is removed and the friction igniter is pulled.  The vapor will be emitted through the holes in the holder.

Rifle Grenade (S.S. Gewehr Panzergranate 46 mm)

Overall Length: 7.7 inches

Maximum Diameter of Head: 1.8 inches

Length of Stem: 4 inches

Diameter of Stem: 1.2 inches

Description: This grenade has an unpainted, phosphate, streamline body and is closed by a conical, unpainted steel impact cap.  The stem has the normal pre-rifling to fit the rifled discharge cup.  The base plug is conical and provided with two screw flats.

The propelling cartridge consists of a lacquered steel cartridge case with a diameter of 7.92mm, crimped at the neck and sealed with wax.  The cap is colored yellow.

Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 14)

Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters 

German Explosive Ordnance - German Mines and Grenades (Part 12)

           

German Explosives

Smoke Grenade (Blendkorper 14)

Overall Length: 6 inches

Maximum Diameter: 2 and 1/2 inches

Total Weight: 13.2 ounces

Filling: (FM) Titanium Tetrachloride

Weight of Filling: 10.6 ounces

Description: This grenade is a tear drop shaped glass flask sealed at the upper end by drawing out the flask.  The sealed tip is protected by a cardboard sleeve, sealed with a plaster of paris type material.

Operation: The munition is used by throwing against a hard surface which breaks the flask.  The titanium tetrachloride then vaporizes, forming an effective smoke cloud if relative humidity is high.  The smoke cloud is then at low relative humidity.

Employment: The grenade is used to produce a small smoke screen to blind the enemy.  It is also used to patch gaps in larger screens.

Smoke Grenade (Blendkorper 24)

Overall Length: 4.8 inches

Maximum Diameter: 2 and 1/2 inches

Total Weight: 17 ounces

Filling: Titanium Tetrachloride (Outer Flask), Aqueous solution of Calcium Chloride (Inner Flask)

Filling Weight: 270g (Outer Flask), 36g (Inner Flask)

Description: The grenade consists of an outer glass bulb of molded construction and an inner glass tube which seats and is sealed on the neck of the outer flask.  There is a white plastic washer at the junction.  The grenade is sealed by a sulphur and cement plug.  The solution of calcium chloride is supplied in the inner tube to provide water necessary for the reaction so that the grenade will cause an effective smoke at conditions of low relative humidity.  The calcium chloride has probably been added to lower the freezing point of the water, thus the grenade is practical in a cold, dry climate.

Operation: The grenade is thrown and upon impact with a hard object it breaks causing a smoke.

Employment: It is for use to blind the enemy and also to repair gaps in larger screens.

Smoke Hand Grenade (Egg Type)

Overall Length: 5.3 inches

Overall Diameter: 1.96 inches

Body Length: 4.1 inches

Body Diameter: 1.7 inches

Description: The grenade body is of thin metal and is of an elongated egg shape.  At the bottom, a small metal loop is welded or riveted on, and at the top there is a threaded hole to take the igniter.  Near the top are three holes in the body for smoke emission.

The igniter used with this grenade is a standard pull type ZDSCHN ANZ 29.  This igniter has a brass body and a steel ring at the top.  The igniter screws into the top of the grenade and functions when the ring is pulled.

The grenade is identified by three white bands stencilled around the body and the letters "NB Eihgr. 42."  A label near the bottom of the grenade warns that the fumes can be fatal in an enclosed space.

Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 13)

Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters 

German Explosive Ordnance - German Mines and Grenades (Part 11)

          

German Explosives

AntiTank Grenade (Panzerwurfmine)

Overall Length: 21 inches

Length of Body: 9 inches

Length of Fins: 11 inches

Diameter of Body: 4 and 1/2 inches

Weight: 1 kilogram

Filling: Cast TNT

Color: Grey

Description: The grenade consists of a metal body and a wooden handle to which are attached four canvas fins.  The fins are held against the handle, before throwing, by a metal cap at the base of the handle.  The body is made in two pieces crimped together and attached to the handle by a metal band.

The fuze is located at the top of the handle and consists of a striker which is held away from the primer by a creep spring and two steel balls.  The two balls fit into a recess in the striker and are held outward by a safety pin fitting between them, thus causing them to bear against the top of the striker housing and prevent the striker from moving down.  Attached to the safety pin is a small length of tape which is held in by the metal cap and a semicircular clip attached to one fin and fitting around the handle.

Beneath the primer and in the base of the handle is a detonator and a picric acid gaine.  The main filler is cast around a cone in the body to give a hollow-charge effect.

Operation: Before throwing, the cap over the end of the handle is pulled off and the fins held against the handle.

When the grenade is thrown, the four fins fly out because of their spring ribs.  When the clip attached to one fin is pulled away from the housing, this releases the tape which unwinds and pulls the safety pin out of the striker.  During flight, the safety balls move in freeing the striker which compresses the creep spring on impact, setting off the primer, detonator, gaine, and main filling.

Smoke Hand Grenade 41 and Prototype Nebelhandgranate 41

Overall Length: 4.7 inches

Maximum Diameter: 2.3 inches

Total Weight: 21 ounces

Filling: (HC) Berger type mixture.  Zinc and Hexachlorethane.

Delay: (N4 Ignition Tube) 4.5 seconds

Color: Olive Drab

Description:

-Prototype: This grenade consists of a body which is the head of the smoke hand grenade 39 into which the B.Z.E. igniter is fitted by means of an adapter made of some synthetic resin.  The adapter is threaded externally to screw into the neck of the grenade body and internally to receive the igniter.  The closed end of the ignition tube is painted green.  Nb. Hgr. 39 is stenciled in white over a broken white band around the body.  Is has the eight smoke emission holes of the Model 39.

-Model 41: This grenade is of the same construction as the Nebelhandgranate 39 and the Nebelhandgranate 41 prototype.  However, the body has been modified so that in order to take the B.Z.E. igniter, an adapter is not necessary.  A dished plate with a small central neck in the top replaces the old wide screw neck plate which required the adapter.  There are only two smoke emission holes.  The letters Nb. Hgr. 41 and a broken line are stenciled in white on the grenade body.

Operation: The igniter and adapter are removed from the grenade body.  The N4 ignition tube is inserted, painted end first, into the central channel of the grenade head.  The adapter and igniter are then replaced.  The blue painted cap in the igniter is unscrewed and pulled.  This functions the igniter.  The grenade is then thrown and after the 4.5 second delay has elapsed, smoke is emitted through the emission holes for 2 minutes.  Because of the short duration of the smoke, this grenade is used when accuracy in placing a small screen is most important, such as screening machine gun nests and pillboxes.

Smoke Hand Grenade 39 (Nebelhandgranate 39)

Overall Length: 14 inches

Total Weight: 1 pound 14 ounces

Filling: (HC) Berger type mixture.  Zinc and Hexachlorethane.

Delay: (N4 Ignition Tube) 7 seconds

Color: Olive Drab

Markings: White band 8 inches wide around center of handle and lettering Nb. Hgr. 39 stenciled in white around the body above a broken white band.

Description: This grenade closely resembles the H.E. stick grenade 24 in external form and size.  However, instead of the H.E. filling this grenade is filled with a Berger smoke mixture.  There are eight holes in the base of the head through which the smoke escapes.  The handle has three horizontal corrugations at the screw cap end to assist in differentiation by touch.

Operation: Insert the friction igniter into the handle and then place the open end of the flash cap into the recess in the top of the friction igniter, finally screwing the head onto the handle.  Then, by removing the screw cap and pulling the igniter, the delay is ignited and the grenade may be thrown.  Smoke is emitted for two minutes.  Because of the short duration of the smoke, this grenade is used where accuracy in placing a small screen is most important, such as screening machine gun nests and pillboxes.

Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 12)

Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters 

German Explosive Ordnance - German Mines and Grenades (Part 10)

         

German Explosives

Shaving Stick Grenade

Overall Length: 4 inches

Maximum Diameter: 2 inches

Delay: 4 to 5 seconds

Color: Yellow body, Blue igniter (head)

Description: This is a thin-cased "offensive" grenade with the B.Z.E. friction igniter screwed into the top.  The body of this grenade is an aluminum cylinder painted yellow.  There are two models of this grenade, one being 3 and 5/8 inches in length and the other 4 inches in length.

Operation: The head of the igniter is unscrewed and pulled, thus drawing the wire through the friction composition and igniting the delay pellet.  The grenade is then thrown and after a 4- to 5-second delay, the delay element will initiate the detonator.

Remarks: This grenade may be used as a booby trap by the insertion of a D.Z. 35 pressure igniter.

Magnetic Antitank Grenade, Hoft Hohl Ladun 3kg

Overall Length: 4 and 3/8 inches

Maximum Diameter: 3 and 1/16 inches

Total Weight: 7 pounds 11 ounces

Weight of Filler: 3 pounds 5 ounces

Filler: RDX/TNT

Delay: 4.5 to 7 seconds

Color: Field Gray

Description: This grenade is painted field gray and is fitted with magnets which are sufficiently powerful to cause it to adhere to a vertical surface.  The main filling is contained in a pressed metal container which is conical in shape with an elongated apex serving the dual purpose of forming a hand grip and accommodating the exploder pellet of PETN/Wax.  This latter is housed in a metal tube protruding from the underside of the screw-threaded closing cap.  The metal tube is screw-threaded internally to receive the igniter.

Attached to the base of the conical portion by means of six bolts protruding through the container is a plywood framework carrying three horseshoe type magnets.  During transit, these magnets are fitted with a keeper which must, of course, be removed before using the charge.  A brass chain terminating in a hook is attached to the frame.

This charge is reported to penetrate as much as 110 mm of armor.  The penetration is acquired through the use of the shaped charge formed around the 60 degree angle cone.

There are two igniters used in this grenade: one having a delay of 4.5 seconds and the other having a delay of 7 seconds.  The first igniter has a blue cap and the second has a yellow cap.

Operation: The friction igniter is pulled and this will ignite the delay element.  When the grenade strikes a tank the magnets cause it to cling to the side and at the end of the delay time the igniter will detonate the exploder pellet and the main filling.

Hollow Charge Grenade (Sticky Type)

Description: This grenade consists of a tapering steel body containing the hollow charge with a flat sticky pad at the nose covered by a press-on lid with a small handle.  The base of the grenade is fitted with a tapering fuze adapter terminating in an internally threaded hole for an igniter.  This hole is covered by a black plastic plug in transit.  It is presumed that the standard egg grenade igniter is used with this grenade employing a 4.5 second delay and used with a No.8 igniter.

Remarks: No information is available as to whether this grenade is thrown or placed against the target.  It is possible that it may be lobbed for short distances.

Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 11)

Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters