German Explosive Ordnance - German Mines and Grenades (Part 18)

     

German Explosives

Pistol Grenade, 326 Leuchtpistole (26mm Wurfgranatepatrone)

Overall Length: 4.5 inches

Maximum Diameter: 1 inch

Weight of Complete Round: 4.2 ounces

Weight of Projectile: 3.2 ounces

Filler: TNT

Weight of Filler: 7 grams

Color: Yellow

Description: This grenade consists of a projectile having the appearance of a miniature mortar shell and a brass cartridge case.  The two parts are crimped together.

The grenade itself is constructed in two parts:  the nose cap and the body.  The nose cap is rounded and screws into the body of the grenade.  Within the body is a case containing the detonator and main filling.  Between the case and the fixed firing pin in the nose cap is a creep spring.  The case is prevented from moving forward before firing by two metal balls fitting into a hole in the base of the carrier and resting in grooves in a platform in the body.  An arming rod fits between the balls holding them out.

On the base are four fins which have the same diameter as the body.  Contained in the cartridge case which fits over the after part of the grenade is about 0.1 ounce of rifle powder.

Operation: On firing, the arming rod will be forced out of the base by setback.  This will happen after 10 to 12 yards of flight and the grenade is then armed.  When the rod falls out, the balls will move in and the case is free to move forward except for the creep spring.  On impact, the case moves forward and the detonator moves onto the fixed firing pin thus exploding the grenade.

H.E. Cartridge for 27mm (1-inch) Grenade Pistol (Sprengpatrone Fur Kampfpistole)

Overall Length: 3 inches

Weight of Complete Round: 5 ounces

Weight of Projectile: 3.5 ounces

Filler: PETN/Wax

Weight of Filler: 339 grams

Propellant: Graphited black powder

Color: Unpainted aluminum

Description: This grenade consists of a die cast aluminum container which encases a steel tube containing the explosive.  The fuse screws to the steel tube and the tube and aluminum container are secured by knurling and indents.  The propellant charge is contained in a cup which has a push fit to the grenade with 10 holes in the cup to lead the gases to the base of the grenade.

The grenade has five grooves making one-quarter turn in the length of the projectile, grooved on the aluminum body.  The steel liner is threaded internally to take a nose percussion fuze.  The explosive filler consists of two penthrite wax pellets separated by cardboard discs.  The fuze is a direct action type and is fitted with a protruding striker head.  The striker is held away from the primer by six steel balls which rest in a groove in the striker and on a platform of the fuze.  These balls are kept in position by a steel collar which is supported on three aluminum pins.  There is also a creep spring between the striker and the primer.  Beneath the primer there is a gaine contained in an aluminum case and consisting of lead azide and lead styphnate in the upper part and PETN in the lower part.  Between the gaine and the main filling there is an empty air space.

The discharge cup is a push fit with the base of the grenade which is turned down to fit into the cup.  The cup has in its base a lead styphnate primer contained in a brass holder.  Forward of the cap is the propelling charge of black powder and 10 holes to lead the gases to the base of the grenade.

Operation: On firing, the propelling charge propels the grenade and it rotates because of the rifling on the body.  On setback, the collar in the fuze moves back crushing the aluminum pins and, because of the centrifugal force, the balls then fly outward, freeing the striker which is kept off the primer by the creep spring.  On impact, the striker impinges the primer, setting off the gaine and main filler.

Hollow Charge Signal Pistol Grenade (Pz. W. K. 42 L. P.)

Weight: 1 pound 5 ounces

Diameter of Head: 2.4 inches

Diameter of Tail Tube: 0.875 inches

Description: The head of this grenade is pear shaped, contains the hollow charge and is fitted with an impact cap at the forward end.  At the rear is the tail tube containing the graze fuze, detonator and gaine.  A short length of this tube is prerifled.  Attached to this tail tube by a shear pin is a thinner tube containing the propellant, percussion cap and shearing bolt.

The grenade is fired from the German Walther 27mm signal pistol.  In order to fire this grenade, the signal pistol is fitted with a 23mm rifled linear, a special sight, and a folding butt.

Operation: The complete round is loaded into the signal pistol from the muzzle end.  The propellant tube fits freely in the fore until the prerifled band hits the muzzle.  At that point, the grenade has to be screwed into the rifling of the pistol.  The grenade is safe until fired.

On firing, the propellant gases drive forward the shearing bolt which breaks the shear pin and the grenade is discharged.  The graze fuze in the tail unit is armed by setback as the grenade leaves the pistol.

Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 19)

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

Soviet Explosive Ordnance - 26mm Pyrotechnics

Soviet Explosive Ordnance

 

 

 

 

 

The Soviets are known to have both ground and aircraft types of illuminant and signal pyrotechnics, in variety.

 

The Soviet Army uses pyrotechnic signals which are very similar in appearance and operation to the "Very" signals which formerly were used by the United States Army.  These signals, which are fired from a regular pyrotechnic pistol, look like a standard shotgun shell; they have a brass base, a wrapped paper body, and a ferrous metal or cardboard closing disk known as the "identification top."  The signal cartridge body is usually tan or slate in color. 

 

The identification top is painted to correspond to the color of the stars in the cartridge, and it is embossed with either dots, bars, triangles, squares, or V's to signify the number of stars the signal will produce.   This painting and embossing of the identification top form a code for positive identification of the signal cartridge during day or night operations.

 

Stenciled markings on one side of the body of the signal cartridges indicate the lot number, date of assembly, and the factory number.

 

These signals are used primarily as visual signalling devices, rather than as illuminating devices, and may appear in the form of colored lights or colored smoke.  They are 26mm in caliber and vary in length from approximately three inches to approximately five inches, depending upon whether two, three, or five stars are contained within the cartridge.

 

Packing methods used by the Soviets for these signal cartridges are sound.  The cartridges are usually packed in hermetically sealed metal containers within wooden boxes.

 

 

 

26mm Signal Cartridges - I

 

 

The 26mm signal cartridges are used primarily as visual signalling devices, and they are fired from pyrotechnic pistols.  The cartridge has a brass base and a wrapped paper body on which printed markings appear.  These markings indicate the lot number, date of assembly, and factory number.

 

The top disk of each cartridge is painted and embossed, to aid in day-or-night identification.

 

The key to the Soviet Code for signal cartridges is not known at this time; however, the above-illustrated cartridges are tentatively identified as follows:

 

1. Yellow - Single Star

2. Green - Single Star

3. Red - Single Star

4. Green - Type Unknown

 

The stampings on the brass base indicate the factory number and the date of manufacture of the cartridge case.

 

 

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 26mm (1.02 in)

Weight of cartridge: 56.83g (877 gr)

 

Color:

Cartridge 1: Yellow

Cartridge 2: Green

Cartridge 3 : Red

Cartridge 4: Green

 

Type:

Cartridge 1, 2, and 3: Single Star

Cartridge 4: Unknown

 

Burning Time:

Cartridge 1: Unknown

Cartridge 2: 8 seconds

Cartridge 3: 12 seconds

Cartridge 4: Unknown

 

Method of Actuation: Fire from pyrotechnic pistol

 

 

Packaging

 

 

The illustrated packing box has a capacity of 400 red signal cartridges.  Within the box are four hermetically sealed cans, each containing 100 cartridges.  Markings appear on each can, as well as on the box.

 

 

 

 

26mm Signal Cartridges - II

 

The following tentative identification has been given the above-illustrated cartridges:

 

1. White - Type Unknown

2. Yellow - Type Unknown

3. Green - Double Star

 

 

Characteristics

Caliber: 26mm (1.02 in)

Weight of cartridge: Unknown
 

Color:

Cartridge 1: White

Cartridge 2: Yellow

Cartridge 3: Green

 

Type:

Cartridge 1, and 2: Unknown

Cartridge 3: Double Star

 
Burning Time:

Cartridge 1, 2, and 3: Unknown
 

Method of Actuation: Fire from pyrotechnic pistol

  
Packaging
 

 

The illustrated packing box has a capacity of 520 green, double-star signal cartridges. Within the box are four hermetically sealed cans, each containing 130 cartridges. Markings appear on each can, as well as on the box.