Cutaway model of a Dutch “Eihandgranaat No.3” (Egg handgrenade No.3) offensive handgrenade.
After the Russian-Japanese war the Dutch army realized that handgrenades were becomming an important infantery weapon on the battlefield.
The first Dutch designed handgrenades taken into service in 1918 were the “schokhandgranaat” (shockhandgrenade) and the “dooshandgranaat” (Boxhandgrenade); both were however not easy in usage.
At first, the grenade No.1 was designed, but also a batch of British No.5 Mills grenades was bought. One was satisfied with the grenade , exept fort he fuze burning time , that was deemed too long (5 to 6 seconds).
Therefore in 1923 a 1921 AI (Artillerie Inrichtingen / State ammunition factory) design for an offensive handgrenade was taken into produtction, the Offensive Egg grenade No.3.
The grenade was made of thin (0,3mm) sheet steel, with a scew in sheet metal screw cap. The grenade body contained 120 grams of flaked TNT. Weight of the complete handgrenade is 215 grams.
The fuze used in the grenade No.3 was basicly the same fuze as the fuze for the No.1. After unscrewing the top cap a lead bead with a piece of wire appeared. The bead was taken between the fingers, and with a sharp pull the friction compound of the fuze was ignited. Below the firction compound a brass tube was placed , filled with black powder; this is the 3 seconds delay fuze. After the fuze has burned up, the mercury fulminate filled detonator is activated.
The first grenades were varnished only , what gave them a gold-yellow finish like appearance, grenades produced after 1937 were painted green with the last two numbers of the year of manufacturing in black ink on one side.
After the occupation of the Netherlans in WW2 the remaining stock fell in hands of the wehrmacht.
Regards, DJH
After the Russian-Japanese war the Dutch army realized that handgrenades were becomming an important infantery weapon on the battlefield.
The first Dutch designed handgrenades taken into service in 1918 were the “schokhandgranaat” (shockhandgrenade) and the “dooshandgranaat” (Boxhandgrenade); both were however not easy in usage.
At first, the grenade No.1 was designed, but also a batch of British No.5 Mills grenades was bought. One was satisfied with the grenade , exept fort he fuze burning time , that was deemed too long (5 to 6 seconds).
Therefore in 1923 a 1921 AI (Artillerie Inrichtingen / State ammunition factory) design for an offensive handgrenade was taken into produtction, the Offensive Egg grenade No.3.
The grenade was made of thin (0,3mm) sheet steel, with a scew in sheet metal screw cap. The grenade body contained 120 grams of flaked TNT. Weight of the complete handgrenade is 215 grams.
The fuze used in the grenade No.3 was basicly the same fuze as the fuze for the No.1. After unscrewing the top cap a lead bead with a piece of wire appeared. The bead was taken between the fingers, and with a sharp pull the friction compound of the fuze was ignited. Below the firction compound a brass tube was placed , filled with black powder; this is the 3 seconds delay fuze. After the fuze has burned up, the mercury fulminate filled detonator is activated.
The first grenades were varnished only , what gave them a gold-yellow finish like appearance, grenades produced after 1937 were painted green with the last two numbers of the year of manufacturing in black ink on one side.
After the occupation of the Netherlans in WW2 the remaining stock fell in hands of the wehrmacht.
Regards, DJH
