Catalog of Enemy Ordnance » rifle grenade

7.92 mm Granatbüchse 39 (Gr. B. 39): Grenade-Launching Rifle

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 03:23:35 +0000

The German grenade-throwing rifle (Granatbüchse 39) is a modification of the Pz. B 39 antitank rifle. The breech and shoulder stock are the same. Some parts, such as the bipod, bipod lock, carrying sling, sling band, and carrying handle are the same as on the Pz. B 39 but are at different locations on the barrel.

The barrel has been shortened to 24 1/8 inches. At the forward end, 4 7/16 inches of the barrel have been turned down to 13/16-inch diameter, and threaded back approximately 1 3/8 inch to accommodate the launcher base. The standard sights have been replaced by special sight equipment. The wooden forearm has been removed, and the carrying sling has been changed to the right side because of the position of the new sights. The bipod mount is located 6 3/4 inches forward of the breech.

The launcher threaded to the barrel is the Scheissbecher, which is also used on the Mauser Kar 98K rifle, firing the same grenades as with the present weapon. The launcher is 7 inches long; the inner tube is 5 1/8 inches long and 1 1/2-inch in external diameter.

Three types of grenades can be fired from the weapon: (1) antipersonnel grenade (Gewehr Sprenggranate); (2) small antitank grenade (Gewehr Panzergranate); (3) large antitank grenade (Gross Gewehr Panzergranate). The propelling medium used is a wooden bulleted blank cartridge. The cartridge case used is a standard 7.92/13 mm case such as is used in the Pz. B 39 antitank rifle.

SPECIFICATIONS


Caliber of launcher		3 cm (1.18 in.)
Weight		23 lb.
Length		48 1/2 ins. extended
		35 3/4 ins. folded
Length of barrel		24 1/8 ins.
Length of barrel with discharger		29 1/2 ins.
Feed		Handfeed
Effective range		80 yds. on moving targets
		136 yds. on stationary targets
Front sight		Special grid type sight graduated up to 150 meters for the Gewehr Panzergranate grenade
Hear sight		Fixed sight with open U notch

German: p. 212

High Explosive Rifle Grenade Model 3

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:36:51 +0000

This 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)

Rifle Grenade Launchers

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:24:38 +0000

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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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)

Rifle Dischargers

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:43:52 +0000

The two standard German rifle dischargers are the cup type (Schiessbecher) and the spigot type. The former is made of steel and consists of a rifled barrel which screws into a holder fitted with a clamp for attaching it to the rifle barrel. There are no gas ports, and varying ranges are obtained by altering the elevation of the rifle by the aid of the sighting attachment. The latter type consists of a hollow tubular spigot about one inch in diameter, terminating in a part resembling the hilt of a bayonet. It is fitted to the rifle in the same manner as a bayonet, and is locked in position by a spring-loaded bolt. The hollow tailpiece of the grenade is fitted over the spigot, and on firing the propelling cartridge, the gasses pass out of the barrel of the rifle through the spigot and into the hollow tailpiece to propel the grenade. Both a swing-over blade front sight and a rear sight are provided.

German: p. 320

German Rifle Grenade Propelling Cartridges

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:24:56 +0000

Cartridge for	German Name	Powder Filling Nz. T. P. (1.4;2;0,5/0;25) grams	Markings	Remarks

Large A. P. Grenade	G. Treib. Patr. für Gr. G. Pzgr.	1.9	Black wooden bullet

Propaganda Grenade	G. Kart. für G. Propgr.	1.7	Red ring	In the future to be used only for Rifle Propaganda Grenade

Propaganda Grenade (Old Type)	G. Kart. (Alter Art) für G. Propgr.	1.7	Red ring	Obsolete

Small A. P. Grenade	G. Kart. für G. Pzgr.	1.1	Black ring	Packed attached to grenade

Small A. P. Grenade	G. Kart. (Alter Art) für G. Pzgr.	1.1	Black ring (partly)	Obsolete

H.E. Grenade	G. Kart. für G. Sprgr.	1.0	Yellow ring	In the future to be used only for H.E. grenade

H.E. Grenade	G. Kart. (Alter Art) für G. Sprgr.	1.0	Yellow ring (partly)	Obsolete

H.E. Grenade (Old Type)	G. Kart. (Alter Art) für G. Sprgr.	0.85		Packed attached to grenade

German: p. 320

Gross Panzergranate 61 and 46: H.E.A.T. (Hollow Charge) Rifle Grenade

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:03:51 +0000

Two additional H.E.A.T. (hollow charge) armor piercing rifle grenades have recently been recovered and are illustrated herewith. They bear the designations G. Pz. Gr. 61 and G. Pz. Gr. 46. The numerals “61″ and “46″ refer to the diameter of the explosive head in millimeters. The maximum range of the “61″ is 218 yards. Static fired at normal, the “61″ is reported to penetrate to 4.96 inches of homogeneous armor plate; the “46″ is reported to penetrate 3.54 inches of the same plate.

“61″

Total weight		1 lb., 4.25 ozs.
Weight of H.E. filling		8.69 ozs.
Weight of booster explosive		.24 oz.
Weight of propelling cartridge powder		27 grains

“46″

Total weight		14.65 ozs.
Weight of H.E. filling		5.16 ozs.
Weight of booster explosive		.24 oz.
Weight of propelling cartridge powder		27 grains

German: p. 319

Schuss Gr. P-40: H.E.A.T. (Hollow Charge) Grenade

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:56:09 +0000

This grenade consists of a bell-shaped body of thin steel with a slightly convex aluminum closing disc, a graze fuze which screws into a cylindrical projection welded to the base of the body, and a finned tail unit. The bursting charge of cyclonite wax is cast around an aluminum hollow charge liner which is hemispherical in shape. A detonator and intermediary exploder are contained in an aluminum magazine which fits into the base of the main explosive cavity. The tail unit screws onto the base of the fuze housing and consists of a drawn-steel tube with six vanes formed in pairs. The cartridge is of the 7.92 mm small arm type with an undyed hollow wooden bullet.

Overall length		9.3 ins.
Maximum diameter		2.4 ins.
Color		Olive green
Markings		Blue band round projection at base of body
Length of body		3.1 ins.
Filler		Cyclonite/Wax

German: p. 319

Gewehr Propaganda Granate: Propaganda Rifle Grenade

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:44:16 +0000

This grenade which is used for propaganda purposes consists of a cylindrical steel body with a pre-rifled base and a removable ballistic cap. The base of the grenade contains a 9-second delay fuze and an ejecting charge covered by a cardboard disc to prevent moisture from causing deterioration. Leaflets are inserted in two steel packing covers held loosely inside the case, and then the case and cap are varnished to protect them from rust. On firing, the flash from the propelling cartridge ignites the fuze and approximately 9 seconds later the ejecting charge explodes, blowing off the cap and forcing the leaflets out of the nose of the projectile.

Overall length		5.7 ins.
Total weight		8 ozs.
Weight without leaflets		7 ozs.
Delay		9 sec.
Range		500 yds.

German: p. 318

Gross Gewehr Panzergranate: H.E.A.T. (Hollow Charge) Rifle Grenade

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:28:58 +0000

This grenade, while larger and of slightly different contour than that described on the preceding page, is basically the same in construction and operation. The body of pressed steel contains a steel cone around which the T.N.T. filler is cast, and at the bottom of the filler is an exploder pellet of penthrite wax. Two types of stem may be used, one entirely of light alloy and the other of plastic with a steel shank by which it is screwed onto the body. The booster assembly and the percussion type fuze are both located in the stem divided by a perforated septum which contains a small flash pellet. At the base of the stem is a rifled band which corresponds to the rifling on the discharger. The assembly is closed by a base plug.

Overall length		7 ins.
Maximum diameter		1 3/4 ins.
Color		Black overall
Total weight		13 1/2 ozs.
Weight of filler		4 1/2 ozs.
Filler		T.N.T./Cyclonite
Range (maximum)		100 yds.

German: p. 318

Gewehr Panzergranate: Antitank Rifle Grenade

Lone_Sentry_Admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:10:15 +0000

The Gewehr Panzergranate is constructed in two parts, the head and the stem. The head, a seamless steel tube fitted with a light ballistic cap, contains a hollow charge cone and an explosive filling of T.N.T. A cavity is provided in the rear portion of the main filling to take an exploder of penthrite wax. The stem of light alloy or aluminum is screwed onto the head of the grenade. It is divided into two compartments. The upper portion contains the booster which consists of a detonator surrounded by a penthrite wax filling contained in a light alloy case. The percussion type fuze is located in the lower part of the stem. In the septum is a small flash pellet held in place by a perforated screw plug. A pre-engraved driving band is formed on the outside of the grenade approximately 1/4 inch fromn the base. The entire assembly is closed by a base plug which positions the fuze by a stem which fits into a recess in the rear of the striker body.

Overall length		6.4 ins.
Maximum diameter		1 3/16 ins.
Color		Black body; aluminum stem
Total weight		8.8 ozs.
Filler		T.N.T./Cyclonite
Weight of filler		1.75 ozs.
Range		50 yds.

German: p. 317