Weapons 10/01/20 Why the Soviet grenades were worse than the German
Every kid from movies and games on the Second world war, knows what German grenades differ from the Soviet. Our “short and thick”, and their “long and lean”. Famous Stielhandgranate 24 along with a gun MP 38/40, recognizable infantry helmet and a cross on the form were hallmarks of the Wehrmacht.
“Clapper” or “the pestle”
But me and my “colleagues” at home games in the war games have always been embarrassed by the appearance of German grenades. Due to long wooden handles, they seemed to be some clumsy and hopelessly outdated. Besides resembled a simple wooden device used in household for cooking mashed potatoes. As the Germans were able to invent and use such an awkward “blank”? Because their weapons have always been perfection.
Versatile and unusual
As says Victor Shunkov in the book “Weapons of the infantry. 1939-1945.”, Stielhandgranate entered service in the distant 1916 – in the midst of the First world war. And the fact that in some countries it remained in service until the 90-ies of the last century, just says its high combat characteristics and ease of use. In fact it could be used as offensive and defensive. Detachable metal “shirt”, which went in a set, increased the radius from 10-15 to 30 meters.
as for the singularity, that in addition to a long handle is also a lack of checks. The fact that activated it is not quite the usual way. Before you use the handle you had to twist the metal cap. From arm had the lace for which it was necessary to pull. Thus starts a chemical fuse. After 7-8 seconds the grenade detonated. Regardless of the availability of impact.
Pros and cons
in Addition to the flexibility and lack of detonation on impact to the PLthe youth German grenade falls a lever. With a weight comparable to the weight of grenades allies, the Stielhandgranate 24 was flying around on it is due to the hilt. And do try to throw a hammer or a simple piece of iron of the same weight and see what will fly farther. Due to the handle was quite far to even throw bundled grenades, which, due to its high efficiency, effectively fighting even with a well-armored vehicles.
However, not without drawbacks. If you pull the cord too hard, he could just break the pomegranate didn’t work at all. In addition, the wood could swell from moisture, and the device was inoperable.
About short and thick
what the Soviet grenades? At the beginning of the war was used RGD-33, which is also somewhat like a pestle, but more “thick” and with a metal handle. This grenade was also versatile and could be used for defense and for attack. But in terms of reliability, convenience and efficiency of combat use of it is inferior to the German counterpart.
Therefore, in 1942, the armament was adopted by the grenade RG-42. In fact, it was a thin-walled tin can, filled with explosives and metal strip with notches for the formation of fragments with a thin handle, which was mounted fuse. The simplicity of the design more than covers certain disadvantages. Because, as says Vladimir Novikov in the book “Weapons of Victory”, to produce RG-42 was not only on any military enterprise, but also in the factories had the equipment for stamping and spot welding, including canning factories.
Yaroslav Gorbunov
Source:
© Russian Seven
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