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Belgian and German Rifle Grenades

O

oktato

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Hi,

Can anyone help me with information regarding these rifle grenades?

The first photo shows 2 different types from Mecar. They are 55mm wide. Any idea of the designation or time period? are they even rifle grenades?

The second photo shows what I believe are German rifle grenades. The top one is a standard DM28 practice grenade. the other one with markings is marked DT 10, is dated 01-57 and has similar "LOS HS" markings to the DM28.

The 2 unmarked rifle grenades are very similar in construction to the DT 10.

So, are they all German grenades from the 1950's? And who was the manufacturer?

Any information appreciated!

Thanks,

Gary

image.jpgimage.jpg
 
The Mecar ones look much like HEAT grenades. The German one on top is the adopted practice grenade from Hispan Suiza (factory code HS), the ones below are Trial models. They are later than 1950 as the Energa type was in the early 1960's and These cam alter, so they are at least from 1965. A nice selection you got there.
 
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Tha second unmarked is a DT20 65mm from HS too. All this was tested but not adopted from german army. DT stand for "Deutscher Truppenversuch" = german army trial. About the 1st picture i think are not riflegrenades (too shorts) , but sub-munitions. Sure are from Mecar (A.P.55).germ GGR DT20-EX 65mm.jpg
 
Brilliant!

Thanks for the positive identification of the Hispano Suiza grenades. Regarding the date, the marking on the DT 10 is 01-57 - doesn't this suggest 1957 production?

Regarding the Mecar grenades, I agree they look too short for rifle grenades. I hadn't thought of sub- munitions. The 2nd from the right has a label on the point fuze saying "Withdraw before firing" - would it be practical to have individual fuze covers and safety pins for sub-munitions?

Thanks again for the information,

Gary
 
The DT variant is from the development/testing which was earlier. German production related documents of the final version (DM22, the life version of the blue practice one on top)) are dated 1964. The technical requirement catalog is dated 1963.
 
mmmm another mystery.... Yes, for me too it has no sense to put a hand safe on a sub-munition... are you sure the fuze it is original and right for that munition? The print 01-57 stands for Genuary 1957 it is right (the second one from left looks alike very old).
About the DM28 it is from the HS start production; new one has the DN (Diehl or Dynamit Nobel) code.
 
As for the MECAR - when I was teaching ground ord at the EOD school in the late 70s we had 3 of these in out training aids locker. Don't remember a pub, but they all had point det fuzes that were extremely similar to the M28 rifle grenade. Can't recall the European version right now. I remember one of the ones we had had a bullet trap, one still ahd the cone in it, but for the most part they ahd all be striped clean. These almost look lilke the same ones, but it has been a couple decades since aI last saw them. I remember we didn't pull them oout for display as within the office there was a discussion as to whether or not all of these were rig\fle grenades or mortars - but since most all the parts were missing we coulc not fully agree, except for the one with the bullet trap
 
exactly - but ever have a heated coversation with another EOD tech who "knows more about ordnance then you"? I say rifle grenades
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I think there might be some connection to the PRB 422 Hi Blast Grenade which was fired from the PRB disposable mortar but the length of the 422 was 265mm.

At least that would go some way to explaining the mortar bomb shape with plastic fins.

In case it helps with identification, the ones on the left of the photo are 225mm long. The inner diameter of the launch tube is 22mm and the tube extends quite far into the grenade (135mm).

The 2 on the right of the photo have holes in 2 of the fins but they are on opposite sides so different from the holes you get from the aiming grid on other rifle grenades.

Still hoping for a positive identification!

Thanks,

Gary
 
At this point, if the launch tube extends inside the grenade, we can think the grenades are some prototype for minimize the length to carry it, but I remain perplexed by the fact that the inner tube removes the space for the charge and is in contact with the hollow liner!
oktato said:
Thanks for the suggestions.

I think there might be some connection to the PRB 422 Hi Blast Grenade which was fired from the PRB disposable mortar but the length of the 422 was 265mm.

At least that would go some way to explaining the mortar bomb shape with plastic fins.

In case it helps with identification, the ones on the left of the photo are 225mm long. The inner diameter of the launch tube is 22mm and the tube extends quite far into the grenade (135mm).

The 2 on the right of the photo have holes in 2 of the fins but they are on opposite sides so different from the holes you get from the aiming grid on other rifle grenades.

Still hoping for a positive identification!

Thanks,

Gary
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