German Explosives
Hollow Charge Grenade (Schuss Gg. P-40)
Overall Length: 9.3 inches
Length of Body: 3.1 inches
Maximum Diameter: 2.4 inches
Filler: Cyclonite/Wax
Markings: Blue band around projection at the base of the body.
Color: Olive Green
Description: The grenade consists of a stream-lined bell-shaped body, with a slightly convex closing disk of aluminum, a graze fuze which screws into a projection on the base of the body, and a vaned tail unit which screws on the base of the fuze and is closed by a rubber plug.
The body is made of thin steel and is streamlined with a cylindrical projection welded at the base. The projection is screw-threaded internally for the insertion of the fuze. A hole in the base of the body is fitted with an aluminum cup to accommodate the protruding magazine of the fuze. The head of the body is closed by a concave disk of aluminum which is secured by the overturned rim of the body.
The bursting chare consists of cast cyclonite-wax with a hemispherical cavity in the head. The cavity is fitted with an aluminum liner of corresponding shape with a flange which fits inside the body at the head.
The fuze is cylindrical with an external screw-thread at each end for assembly as the connecting piece between the tail unit and the body. A central recess contains the striker and creep spring and is closed at its enlarged front end by an aluminum magazine which is screwed in and contains a detonator and an intermediary explosive. A transverse channel near the base contains a spring-loaded screwed shearing pin which engages in a recess in the stem of the striker. Another channel containing a cutting pin with spring, is bored from the base of the body and communicates with the shearing pin at a point where the shearing pin is reduced in diameter. A circular plate, secured in a recess in the base of the body by two screws, retains the cutting pin in its channel. The base end of the cutting pin passes through a hole in the circular plate and is thus exposed to the pressure of the propellant gases.
The tail unit screws on to the base of the fuze and consists of a drawn-steel tube with six vanes formed in pairs. The cartridge is placed inside the tube for transport and the tube is closed at the base by a rubber plug. The cartridge is of the 7.92mm small arm type with an undyed hollow wooden bullet.
Operation: The grenade is fired from the spigot type discharger. On firing, the hollow wooden bullet is shattered by the propellant gases, which project the grenade. The propelling gases overcome the spring of the cutting pin and drive the pin forward, causing it to cut the shearing pin away from its screwed end. The shearing pin is then ejected by the spring held in compression under its head, and thus leaves the striker held off the detonator only by the creep spring. On graze the momentum of the striker overcomes the creep spring and the detonator is pierced.
Propaganda Rifle Grenade - Gewehr Propaganda Granate
Overall Length: 5.7 inches
Total Weight: 8 ounces
Weight w/o Leaflets: 7 ounces
Delay: 9 seconds
Range: 500 yards
Description: This grenade is fired from the rifled 3-cm discharger cup (Schiessbecher) which can be fitted to most types of German rifles. The body of this grenade is a steel case with a pre-rifled base. Inside the base there is a 9-second delay fuze and an ejecting charge for the pamphlets. Two steel leaflets packing covers are held loosely inside the case and fitting over the top of these is a removable steel cap. The leaflets are inserted by removing the steel cap and rolling the leaflets tightly making sure that they do not show above the rim of the case. The cap is then replaced.
The case and cap are varnished to protect them from rust and the ejecting charge is protected by a cardboard disk to prevent moisture from causing deterioration.
The propelling cartridge is distinguished from other rifle grenade cartridges by a red ring around the base.
Operation: When the grenade is fired, the propelling cartridge will ignite the delay fuze.
Approximately 9 seconds after discharge, the delay fuze will set off the ejecting charge, blowing off the cap and forcing the leaflets out the nose.
Illuminating Star on Parachute Rifle Grenade
Gewehr Fallschirmleuchtgranate (Gw. F. S. St. Gr.)
Overall Length: 6.88 inches
Diameter: 1.18 inches
Weight: .28 grams
Propellant: 1.5 g propellant enclosed in a cartridge case which is closed with a wooden bullet
Color: White cap. "Gewehr Fallschirmleuchtgranate" stencilled on body.
Description: This grenade consists of a thin-walled body which contains another internal container. The internal container holds the parachute and illuminating star. The grenade has a thin conical cap and is fitted with two delay pellets and two ejection charges.
Operation: On firing, delay 1 is ignited by the flash from the propellent gases. After 6.5 seconds of flight, ejection charge 1 is initiated. This ejects the container holding the star and parachute. At the same time, delay 2 is initiated. During this part of the flight, the cap hands from the container by means of a cord. After delay 2 has burned through (2 seconds), ejection charge 2 is initiated and the parachute and star eject. It is stated that distances up to 650 meters may be illuminated.
Remarks: Each grenade is packed together with a propellent charge in a cardboard container.
Next Time: German Mines and Grenades (Part 17)
Source: German Explosive Ordnance Vol. 1: Bombs, Rockets, Grenades, Mines, Fuzes & Igniters
