pzgr40
Well-Known Member
Cutaway model of post WW2 ‘Grenade defensive Mk2’ . The grenade is fuzed with ‘fuze M204A1’ which uses the mouse trap spring to rotate the firing pin into the firing cap.
The grenade is easily recognizable by the 8 columns -5 rows cast iron fragmentation body, and is often referred to as a pineapple grenade, being one of the most recognizable hand grenade designs around.
The Design of the grenade can be traced back to 1918, and the grenade was used into the 1960’s.
The pre 1942 grenades had a 3/8” base plug for filling purposes, the post 1942 types did not have a base screw and were filled through the fuze well.
Pre 1942 grenades were mostly filled with EC powder, in fact coarse rifle powder. The M10A1 /A2 or M11 fuze on these grenades had no detonator, as no detonator was needed to ignite the EC powder. Grenade bodies were black or grey.
Grenades filled with flaked TNT were painted yellow as to warn the user that it was a more powerful grenade. In the field these were often painted green as yellow is not really a suitable camouflage colour. Often only a top ring below the fuze was left yellow as an indicator for the TNT filler. It used the M5 or M6A4C fuze which has a detonator, needed to ignite the flaked TNT.
All these pre 1945 type grenade fuzes had a big disadvantage; after releasing the lever, the firing cap went off with a loud bang, and the fuze could be heard hissing, not ideal in a battle situation. Another problem was the lever that hinged over the outer end of the fuze body, and which could creep forward when the grenade with the lever was held in a tight grip, allowing the firing pin to be released prematurely when the grip was loosened.
This grenade, which has a post 1945 M204A1 fuze has this problem solved, as the top end of the lever hooks into (instead of over) the upper end of the fuze body, only allowing the lever to rotate when released on purpose. Also, the problem with the firing cap and the fuze were solved, making the fuze nearly soundless.
Regards DJH
The grenade is easily recognizable by the 8 columns -5 rows cast iron fragmentation body, and is often referred to as a pineapple grenade, being one of the most recognizable hand grenade designs around.
The Design of the grenade can be traced back to 1918, and the grenade was used into the 1960’s.
The pre 1942 grenades had a 3/8” base plug for filling purposes, the post 1942 types did not have a base screw and were filled through the fuze well.
Pre 1942 grenades were mostly filled with EC powder, in fact coarse rifle powder. The M10A1 /A2 or M11 fuze on these grenades had no detonator, as no detonator was needed to ignite the EC powder. Grenade bodies were black or grey.
Grenades filled with flaked TNT were painted yellow as to warn the user that it was a more powerful grenade. In the field these were often painted green as yellow is not really a suitable camouflage colour. Often only a top ring below the fuze was left yellow as an indicator for the TNT filler. It used the M5 or M6A4C fuze which has a detonator, needed to ignite the flaked TNT.
All these pre 1945 type grenade fuzes had a big disadvantage; after releasing the lever, the firing cap went off with a loud bang, and the fuze could be heard hissing, not ideal in a battle situation. Another problem was the lever that hinged over the outer end of the fuze body, and which could creep forward when the grenade with the lever was held in a tight grip, allowing the firing pin to be released prematurely when the grip was loosened.
This grenade, which has a post 1945 M204A1 fuze has this problem solved, as the top end of the lever hooks into (instead of over) the upper end of the fuze body, only allowing the lever to rotate when released on purpose. Also, the problem with the firing cap and the fuze were solved, making the fuze nearly soundless.
Regards DJH
