[Lone Sentry]
   ©2010
[Lone Sentry: Photos, Articles, and Research on WWII]
Home Page  |  Site Map  |  What's New  |  Search  |  Contact Us
  

          
 

German Hand & Rifle Grenades
Bulletin No. 59, March 7, 1944
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from a U.S. wartime publication on enemy ordnance. As with all wartime material, the text may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the original contents. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]


Miscellaneous Pistol Grenades

Types

1. Smoke (Nebelpatrone fur Kampfpistole)
2. Indicator (Deutpatrone fur Kampfpistole)
3. Illuminating Star on Parachute (Fallschirm Leuchtpatrone fur Kampfpistole)

1. SMOKE (Nebelpatrone fur Kampfpistole)

Externally this is similar to the HE grenade; internally it contains a smoke generator. It is fitted with a nose fuze which is similar to that in the HE grenade, except that there is a charge of gun powder in place of the detonator below the flash cap. The projectile functions on impact. The gunpowder is ignited by the flash cap and blows off the smoke generator, at the same time igniting it. It has been ascertained that the smoke generator may be projected a considerable distance from the point of impact. The projectile may be recognized by the following stencilled marking on the base of the cartridge case: NEBEL Z.

2. INDICATOR (Deutpatrone fur Kampfpistole)

This grenade emits a puff of reddish-brown smoke after it has been in flight for about two seconds. It is similar, externally, to the two grenades described above except for the head which is parabolic. There is no fuze, the smoke train being fired by the flash from the propellant.
Weight of complete round       4½ ounces.
Weight of grenade       3 ounces.
Marking       Base of cartridge case stencilled Deut.Z.

3. ILLUMINATING STAR ON PARACHUTE (Fallschirm Leuchtpatrone fur Kampfpistole)

This grenade has the general external appearance of the other types. It has a black bakelite head which has a white spot in the center. F.Leucht.Z. is stencilled on the base of the cartridge case. The base of the projectile has a screwed-on plug which is perforated to hold a gunpowder pellet. Above this is a star to which a parachute is attached. The parachute is towards the forward end of the projectile. The action is as follows: On firing, the flash from the propellant ignites the gunpowder pellet which, after a brief delay, ignites the star. The bakelite head is blown off and the star ejected. The star is of the illuminating type.

 


[Back to Table of Contents] Back to Table of Contents
  

Advertisement