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Dutch handgrenade Nr.20C1

pzgr40

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Cutaway model of a Dutch handgrenade Nr20C1. This handgrenade was designed and produced by the Dutch EMZ compandy (Eurometaal Zaandam) for the Dutch army. The Nr20C1 was the successor of the Handgrenade Nr.1C1.
As long ago as 1969 the chief of staff of the Dutch armed forces had written a concept of the requirements for the new handgrenade for the Dutch army:
- It must be able to combat enemy troops behind a cover at a short distance, either uncovered troops in the field on a short distance of the own position
- to be suitable for destruction of own equipment
- light weight
- small in size
- easy handling
- to be able to be thrown 40 mtrs. with little training
- have a predictable and regular shrappnell pattern all around
- the thrower does not have to go into cover with a long throw as the lethal radius is 5 mtr, and above 20 mtrs it is safe to stand. For the cast iron predecessor Nr 1C1 this radius was 300 mtrs.

The plastic body of the Nr.20C1 contains appr. 2100 steel balls that are launched with 1600 mtrs/sec. The predecessor (the handgrenade Nr.1C1) had a cast iron body with an unregular and unpredictable shrappnel pattern. This grenade also weighed 670 grams, making a far throw difficult.
The fuze used on the grenade is the Nr.19C3-20. The number 20 stands for the pyrotechnic delay detonator Nr.20, used in the fuze.
The safety pin blocks the lever. The lever in turn blocks the firing pin from rotating and hitting the firing cap. If the firing cap is hit, the flame ignites the pyrotechnic delay (black) which burns down, igniting the flame sensitive igniter (green) which ignites the detonator (yellow), which ignites the main charge in the grenade.
The safety pin of the fuze is of the type that has to be rotated 90 degrees first before it can be pulled out. The advantage over the old type split pin is that it can be removed much easier and cannot be pulled out accidetally when the ring snags.

The difference between the handgrenade Nr.20 and the handgrenade Nr.20C1 is that the grenade body of the Nr20 consists of two half spheres glued together, and the handgrenade Nr.20C1 body is a one piece cast.

The Nr.20C1 was taken into service around 1975, and was replaced by the Handgrenade Nr. 331 in 1998. The Handgrenade Nr.331 is the Dutch name for the Swiss HG-85.

Data:
Length : 104,5mm
Diameter : 61mm
Total weight grenade : 390 gram
Weight grenade body : 160 gram
Weight explosive charge : 150 gram Comp.B
Delay time Nr19C3 : 3,5 plm. 0.5 seconde.

Regards, DJH
 

Attachments

  • 01 - Nr.20C1 cutaway model.jpg
    01 - Nr.20C1 cutaway model.jpg
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  • 02 - Nr.20C1 Backside.jpg
    02 - Nr.20C1 Backside.jpg
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