Cutaway model of a Dutch “Eihandgranaat No.1”, which translates as Egg handgranade No.1. It was the standard Dutch infantery defensive handgrenade at the start of WW2. It was made by the AI (artillerie inrichtingen) weapons and ammunition factory in Zaandam.
The body is made of cast iron. The hole in the base is threaded to alow a zinc base plug to be screwed in. This base plug acts as a filler hole for the granular Trotyl (TNT) in the grenade, as well as for placing the detonator when the grenades are made ready for usage. The detonator, the pyrotechnic delay train and the friction igniter are placed in a brass tube in the centerline of the grenade. This tube is fixated to the grenade body by means of a pointed, radialy placed screw i.w.o. the wide part of the tube.
The filler plug has a lead gasket ring which was later replaced by a rubber gasket ring in later models as the lead ring was found to be not watertight. A felt washer is placed in a recess in top of the filler screw to protect the detonator.
On top, a pressed sheet metal twist off cap is screwed over the cast thread on the grenade body to protect the friction fuze. When the cap is removed a lead button on a rope falls out. By pulling the button outward the friction fuze composition (red) is ignited. The flame ignites the black powder pyrotechnic delay below it. At the end of the delay the detonator is ignited, detonating the main charge of TNT. Grenades produced before 1937 were black, those produced after 1937 were painted green. In may 1940 500.000 No.1 handgrenades were available.
Weight of the grenade : 600 grams
Weight of the explosive charge : 65 grams trotyl
Delay : appr. 3,4 seconds
A “Halfscherpe Eihandgranaat No.1” , which translates as live traininghandgrenade No.1 was also available. In this granade the Trolyl had been replaced by sawdust, only the detonator was live. A yellow band was painted around the wide part of the body to mark the grenade as a live training model. The remains of these granades can often be found on Dutch training grounds, typically existing of only the top half of the grenade.
A story goes that Dutch troops defending the Grebbenberg in 1940 were given these practice handgrenades by mistake, leaving the defenders with useless handgrenades to defend themselves against the German troops.
The Germans took the grenade into their own use as the Handgranate 312(h).
The body is made of cast iron. The hole in the base is threaded to alow a zinc base plug to be screwed in. This base plug acts as a filler hole for the granular Trotyl (TNT) in the grenade, as well as for placing the detonator when the grenades are made ready for usage. The detonator, the pyrotechnic delay train and the friction igniter are placed in a brass tube in the centerline of the grenade. This tube is fixated to the grenade body by means of a pointed, radialy placed screw i.w.o. the wide part of the tube.
The filler plug has a lead gasket ring which was later replaced by a rubber gasket ring in later models as the lead ring was found to be not watertight. A felt washer is placed in a recess in top of the filler screw to protect the detonator.
On top, a pressed sheet metal twist off cap is screwed over the cast thread on the grenade body to protect the friction fuze. When the cap is removed a lead button on a rope falls out. By pulling the button outward the friction fuze composition (red) is ignited. The flame ignites the black powder pyrotechnic delay below it. At the end of the delay the detonator is ignited, detonating the main charge of TNT. Grenades produced before 1937 were black, those produced after 1937 were painted green. In may 1940 500.000 No.1 handgrenades were available.
Weight of the grenade : 600 grams
Weight of the explosive charge : 65 grams trotyl
Delay : appr. 3,4 seconds
A “Halfscherpe Eihandgranaat No.1” , which translates as live traininghandgrenade No.1 was also available. In this granade the Trolyl had been replaced by sawdust, only the detonator was live. A yellow band was painted around the wide part of the body to mark the grenade as a live training model. The remains of these granades can often be found on Dutch training grounds, typically existing of only the top half of the grenade.
A story goes that Dutch troops defending the Grebbenberg in 1940 were given these practice handgrenades by mistake, leaving the defenders with useless handgrenades to defend themselves against the German troops.
The Germans took the grenade into their own use as the Handgranate 312(h).
Attachments
Last edited: