Categories
Japanese

High Explosive Rifle Grenade Model 3

High Explosive Rifle Grenade Model 3This grenade, designed to be fired from Models 38 and 99 rifles by means of a spigot launcher and wooden bullet, is similar in use and operation to the Model 91 rifle grenade. However, it is smaller and has a smooth-wall body rather than the serrated type. It contains a cyclonite primer enclosed in a brass container, a tetryl booster, and a three-ounce bursting charge of cast TNT; it is also fitted with an instantaneous fuze and a tail assembly with four fins spot welded to the rear part of the tube.

The grenade is armed by the removal of a safety fork. On impact, an inertia block is forced into the fuze body shearing a brass shear wire and driving the firing pin into the detonator.

SPECIFICATIONS

Diameter of grenade body         1.63 ins.
Length of grenade body 2.43 ins.
Wall thickness 1/8 in.
Overall length of grenade 7.88 ins.
Weight of grenade without explosive 14 ozs.
Weight of explosive body without explosive 10 ozs.
Length of fin assembly 4 15/16 ins.
Outside diameter of tube 1 13/16 ins.
Inside diameter of tube 1 1/16 ins.
Width of tail assembly 2 1/8 ins.
Length of tail fin 2 3/8 ins.
Width of tail fin 1/4 in.
Material of construction Steel
Weight of main charge 3 ozs.
Weight of primer 3 gr.
Weight of booster 1 gr.

Japanese: p. 304.2 (April 1, 1945)

Categories
Japanese

Pottery Hand Grenade

pottery-hand-grenadeThis hand grenade, made of terra cotta, and, like the Model 3 Flower Pot Land Mine, filled with Type 88 explosive, is assumed to be a Navy weapon. Except for the neck at the top, it is spherical, consisting of two halves baked together. It is light brown, in color, and lightly glazed both inside and out. The grenade is encased in a straw-colored, waterproof rubber sack.

The ignition system consists of a match composition and scratch block, a 4-5-second delay element, a lead azide initiator, and a tetryl booster. All are encased in a rubber tube except the match composition which is lacquered into the neck of the grenade. In order to operate the grenade, the small rubber covering is removed from the top and the scratch block is struck on the protruding match composition, igniting the delay element.

SPECIFICATIONS

Height (base to top of neck)         99 mm—3.9 ins.
Diameter 79 mm—3.1 ins.
Total weight 1 lb.
Weight of explosive 100 grams—3.5 ozs.
Pottery thickness 7/16 inch

Japanese: p. 304.2 (April 1, 1945)

Categories
Japanese

Conical Antitank Hollow Charge Hand Grenade

Japanese Conical Antitank Hollow-Charge Hand Grenade

This Japanese antitank grenade consists of a Pentalite (50/50 TNT & PETN) explosive charge cast around a thin aluminum cone, a wooden stand-off head, a fuze, and a tail attachment.

The explosive charge, which is shaped in the form of a hollow truncated cone, has a covering of thin waxed paper and a well in the upper end to receive the booster of the fuze. A cast ring pellet surrounds the cyclonite booster. The fuze, an all-ways impact type, is constructed in two parts which are threaded together. It will not function unless the mine has attained a velocity of approximately forty feet per second, and strikes a hard surface. The wooden base provides proper stand-off distance and has a central hole of slightly smaller diameter than that of the cone.

The grenade is encased in a silk bag, either white or olive drab in color, and closed by a draw-string at the bottom. A tail made of hemp is tied around the top of the grenade to provide stability in flight. The device, which will penetrate about 2 inches of armor plate, should be thrown from a distance of approximately ten meters.

A modified version of this grenade, referred to as the Type B, has been recovered. It differs from the grenade previously encountered in the Philippines in the following respects: it is smaller, the cover is yellow silk instead of canvas, the fuze is screwed into a metal seat on top of the mine, the fuze body is metal with a single-pronged safety pin, and the detonator tube is larger.

According to reports, there is also a larger grenade of the same type which has a Type 94 explosive charge.

SPECIFICATIONS

           Large Grenade          Small Grenade
Length of grenade 6 3/4 ins. 5 7/8 ins.
Length of tail 14 ins.  
Diameter at base 4 3/8 ins. 4 ins.
Length of fuze 1 7/8 ins. 1 7/8 ins.
Length of cone 3 3/4 ins. 2 3/8 ins.
Diameter of cone 2 3/8 ins. 2 ins.
Cone angle, apex 30° 38°
Weight complete 1.25 kg. .84 kg
Weight of grenade 1.14 kg. .76 kg.
Weight of fuze 42.3 grams 42.3 grams
Weight of explosive .87 kg. .60 kg
Weight of cone 141.7 grams 42.5 grams
Weight of base 56.7 grams 50.0 grams
Weight of booster 5.1 grams 5.1 grams

Japanese: p. 304.1 (April 1, 1945)

Categories
Japanese

Rifle Grenade Launchers

There are three distinct types of grenade launchers in use by the Japanese. They are known as the Type 2 or cup type, the Type 100 or Kiska type, and the spigot type.

Type 2 Cup Type LauncherThe Type 2, which is patterned after the German grenade launcher of the same type, fits over the front sight of the rifle and has a short rifled barrel. It fires both the 30 mm and 40 mm hollow charge rifle grenades. This grenade weighs 12 1/2 ounces, is 8 inches long, has a maximum external diameter of 1 1/2 inches, and contains 3.8 ounces of TNT. The grenade, which is armed during flight by a base detonating, set-back actuated fuze, detonates upon impact with the target. It will penetrate 3 7/8 inches of mild steel plate.

Type 100 Grenade LauncherThe Type 100 may be used with either the 6.5 mm Type 38 or the 7.7 mm Type 99 rifle. Ordinary ball ammunition is used to launch the grenade from the rifle (the expanding gas from the fired cartridge is utilized to expel the grenade from the launcher), a feature which enables the rifle to be carried with the launcher attached and ready for use as either a rifle or as a grenade launcher. The Type 99 smooth bodied grenade known as the Kiska grenade is the only type used with the launcher. Ranges up to 100 yards may be obtained.

Overall length         8 3/4 ins.
Length of grenade tube 4 1/2 ins.
Diameter of grenade tube (interior) 1 3/4 ins.
Total weight 1 lb., 9 ozs.

Spigot Type Grenade LauncherThe spigot type launcher, which may be used with either the Type 38 or Type 99 rifle, fires the Type 91, Type 3 H.E., and several types of smoke and incendiary grenades. It consists of a rifled barrel threaded to an adapter. The launcher is attached to the rifle at the rear of the front sight mount by two locking arms on the adapter. When a bayonet is fixed to the rifle, additional stability is obtained by the use of a two-pronged lug on the adapter which fits on the bayonet guard.

Length of barrel         150 mm—5.9″
Outside diameter of barrel 27 mm—1″
Inside diameter of barrel 21 mm—.82″
Overall length 107 mm—4.2″
Weight (complete) 15.5 ozs.

Japanese: p. 208.2 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Wurfkörper Leuchtpistole: Pistol Grenade: Ammunition for 27 mm Signal Pistol

Wurfkörper Leuchtpistole: Pistol Grenade: Ammunition for 27 mm Signal PistolThis pistol grenade is formed by adding to the egg-type hand grenade (Eierhandgranate 39) a plastic stem to which it is attached by a retaining tube. The tube contains the delay igniter at the forward end inside the grenade. An alloy flash tube connects this to the fuze which is located in the base of the stem. The fuze is separated from the primer by a safety pin which is pulled out before the grenade is placed in the pistol barrel. Upon firing, the firing pin strikes the primer which sets off the delay igniter, detonating the explosive charge after a delay of 4.5 seconds.

Overall length        6.89 ins.
Maximum diameter 3 ins.
Color Olive green
Delay 4.5 sec.
Range 80 yds.

German: p. 324

Categories
German

26 mm Wurfgranate Patrone 326 Leuchtpistole: Pistol Grenade: Ammunition for 27 mm Signal Pistol

26 mm Wurfgranate Patrone 326 Leuchtpistole: Pistol Grenade: Ammunition for 27 mm Signal PistolThis grenade, consisting of a rounded nose cap screwed to a cylindrical body, is equipped with four fins which are fixed to the base of the body. A brass or aluminum cartridge crimped to the grenade completes the assembly. A case containing the detonator and main filling is separated from a fixed firing pin in the nose of the grenade by a creep spring. The case is prevented from moving forward before firing by two metal balls in the base of the carrier. An arming rod inserted between the two balls prevents them from moving. This is forced out of the base by setback about ten or twelve yards after the grenade leaves the muzzle of the gun. The balls then slide out of their grooves and the case is free to move against the firing pin, exploding the grenade on impact.

Overall length         4.5 ins.
Maximum diameter 1 in.
Color Yellow
Weight of complete round 4.2 ozs.
Weight of projectile 3.2 ozs.
Filler T.N.T.
Weight of filler 0.25 oz.

German: p. 324

Categories
German

Blendkörper 1H u. 2H: Smoke Grenades

Blendkörper 1H u. 2H: Smoke GrenadesThese grenades are made in the form of glass flasks. Model 1H is a single container; Model 2H includes an inner glass tube filled with a solution of calcium chloride. The body of each grenade is filled with titanium tetrachloride which vaporizes, upon contact with the air. The calcium chloride permits the second model to operate at low relative humidity, whereas the first model produces a thin fog unless the air is quite moist. Both models discharge upon impact with any hard object.

1H

Overall length       6 ins.
Maximum diameter 2 1/2 ins.
Total weight 13.2 ozs.
Filling (FM) Titanium Tetrachloride
Weight of filling 10.6 ozs.

2H

Overall length       4.8 ins.
Maximum diameter 2 1/2 ins.
Total weight 17 ozs.
Filling & filling weight
   Outer flask 10 oz. titanium tetrachloride
   Inner flask 1.3 oz. aqueous solution of calcium chloride

German: p. 323

Categories
German

Nebelhandgranate 41: Smoke Hand Grenade 41 and Prototype

Nebelhandgranate 41: Smoke Hand Grenade 41 and PrototypeThe prototype of this grenade is comprised of the body of the smoke hand grenade 39 with a synthetic resin adapter to hold the B. Z. E. igniter. The Model 41 is of similar construction but the body has been modified so that the igniter fits into a small central neck without the use of an adapter. There are only two smoke holes instead of eight. The friction igniter operates with a 4-5 second delay, setting off a 2-minute smoke discharge.

Overall length       4.7 ins.
Maximum diameter2.3 ins.
ColorOlive drab
Total weight21 ozs.
Filling(HC) type mixture. Zinc and Hexachiorethane
IgniterB. Z. E.
Delay
   N4 Ignition tube4-5 sec.

German: p. 323

Categories
German

Nebelhandgranate 39: Smoke Hand Grenade 39

Nebelhandgranate 39: Smoke Hand Grenade 39This grenade closely resembles the high explosive stick grenade 24 in external form and size. However, instead of the high explosive filling this grenade is filled with a 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. Upon activation, smoke is emitted for a period of two minutes, forming an effective screen for machine gun nests and pillboxes.


Total weight        1 lb., 14 ozs.
Overall length  14 ins.
Igniter B. Z. 39
Delay
   N4 ignition tube 7 sec.
Filling (HC) mixture zinc and hexachlorethane
Color Olive drab
Markings White band 8 inches wide around center of handle and lettering Nb. Hgr. 39 stencilled in white around the body above a broken white band.

German: p. 322

Categories
German

Shaving Stick Grenade

Shaving Stick GrenadeThis is a thin-cased offensive type grenade with a B. Z. E. friction igniter screwed into the top. The cylindrical body is made of aluminum and painted yellow. There are two models of this grenade, one 3 5/8 inches long and the other 4 inches long. This grenade may also be used as a booby trap by the insertion of a D. Z. 35 Pressure Igniter. To operate the grenade, the head of the igniter is unscrewed and pulled, drawing the wire through the friction composition and igniting the delay pellet. The grenade is then thrown and after a 4-5 second delay, the delay element initiates the detonator.

Overall length        3 5/8 or 4 ins.
Color Yellow body with blue igniter head
Maximum diameter 2 ins.
Igniter B. Z. E.
Delay 4-5 sec.

German: p. 322