Cutaway model of an Austrian ‘6cm high explosive - rifle grenade 73’ (6cm Spreng - Gewehrgranate 73), a rifle grenade that uses the body of the Arges Handgrenade (HdGr) 69, which is placed on a rifle grenade tail.
The grenade body weighs appr. 480 grams and consists of appr. 5000 hardened steel balls witha a 2 to 2,3mm diameter that have been cast in a transparant plastic body. A green plastic skin is placed over the outside of this body.
The explosive charge consists of 95 grams of plasticized PETN. The grenade has an effective radius of 20 mtrs.
The tail and the fuze housing are aluminium made. The grenade is fired by means of a propelling cartridge. The workings of the fuze are very simple; it consists of a steel firing pin, fixated by a split pin with a ring. Just prior to firing -with the rifle grenade placed over the rifle barrel- the split pin is removed, releasing the firing pin. The firing pin is kept in it;s backward position by a weak spring . Upon firing, inertia keeps the firing pin in it’s backward position, upon impact the firing pin is swung forward into the firing cap, riding the spring. The flame of the firing cap ignites the detonator, which ignites the grenade.
Length grenade body : 87 mm
Diameter grenade body : 60 mm
Length complete rifle grenade : 277 mm
Diameter tail ring : 60mm
Regards, DJH
The grenade body weighs appr. 480 grams and consists of appr. 5000 hardened steel balls witha a 2 to 2,3mm diameter that have been cast in a transparant plastic body. A green plastic skin is placed over the outside of this body.
The explosive charge consists of 95 grams of plasticized PETN. The grenade has an effective radius of 20 mtrs.
The tail and the fuze housing are aluminium made. The grenade is fired by means of a propelling cartridge. The workings of the fuze are very simple; it consists of a steel firing pin, fixated by a split pin with a ring. Just prior to firing -with the rifle grenade placed over the rifle barrel- the split pin is removed, releasing the firing pin. The firing pin is kept in it;s backward position by a weak spring . Upon firing, inertia keeps the firing pin in it’s backward position, upon impact the firing pin is swung forward into the firing cap, riding the spring. The flame of the firing cap ignites the detonator, which ignites the grenade.
Length grenade body : 87 mm
Diameter grenade body : 60 mm
Length complete rifle grenade : 277 mm
Diameter tail ring : 60mm
Regards, DJH
