 | | 116th PANZER DIVISION 'DER WINDHUND' | | 'Schnell wie ein Windhund, Zäh wie Leder, Hart wie Kruppstahl, Windhund Vor! ------ A UK based re-enactment group. |
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Here are a selection of grenades & infantry support weapons that would have been used by men of the 116th and that we have copies of within the group.
Hand Grenades
In the German Army the hand grenade was often referred to as the ‘poor man’s mortar’ because it was a high trajectory weapon which was used by a single soldier. There were two basic types: the stick grenade (Stielhandgranate) and the egg grenade (Eihandgranate). The stick grenade came in two main variants the Model 24 and the Model 43. The Model 24 ‘Stielhandgranate’ was the standard hand grenade of the German Army from the end of World War I until the end of World War II. The very distinctive appearance led to it being called a "'stick grenade', or 'Potato Masher' and is today one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th Century. The stick grenade was first introduced in 1915 and the design developed throughout WWI. A friction igniter was used - this method was uncommon in other countries but widely used for German grenades. A pull cord ran down the hollow handle from the detonator within the explosive head, terminating in a porcelain ball held in place by a detachable base closing cap. To use the grenade, the base cap was unscrewed, permitting the ball and cord to fall out. Pulling the cord dragged a roughened steel rod through the igniter causing it to flare-up and start the five-second fuse burning. This allowed the grenade to be hung from fences to prevent them from being climbed; any disturbance to the dangling grenade would cause it to fall and ignite the fuse.
Stick grenades were stored in cases for transport, and their fuse assemblies inserted prior to going into combat - a reminder for the user was stenciled on each explosive charge ("VOR GEBRAUCH SPRENGKAPSEL EINSETZEN" - "Before use insert detonator"). This type of grenade, featuring a high explosive charge encased in a thin sheet steel can, is an example of an "offensive" (relying on blast effect), rather than a "defensive" (fragmentation) grenade. A serrated fragmentation sleeve (‘Splitterring’) was adopted in 1942 which could be slid over the head of the grenade. Fragments of the sleeve would be scattered on detonation, making the grenade more effective against personnel. The stick part of the grenade provided extra leverage, significantly improving the throwing distance. The Model 24 could be thrown approximately 30-40 yards whereas the British Mills bomb could only be thrown about 15 yards. The design also minimized the risk of the grenade rolling downhill back towards the thrower when used in hilly terrain or in urban areas. The grenades were extremely useful for clearing out entrenched infantry positions.
Although they were not individually very effective against armoured vehicles and fortifications, the grenade could be used in an improvised "bundle" style with another six explosive heads (without their sticks) wired around the central stick grenade. These were known as ‘Geballte Ladung’ (literally "balled charge" or "concentrated charge").The Stielhandgranate went through numerous variants, several versions being deployed in World War I before a settled design emerged in 1917. Into World War II the grenade had a slightly smaller head and the unnecessary belt clip was removed. Each change was essentially a move towards a lighter device which was easier and less costly to manufacture, and to these ends the Model 24 was eventually superseded by the simpler Model 43 grenade, although the former continued to be used through to the end of the war. Numerous ‘ersatz’ variations were developed towards the end of the war as Germany's resources and production capabilities dwindled. Other than the common high explosive (HE) stick grenade, Germany produced a smokescreen version, which existed in the early and later models and is easily identified by a white band around the handle and (on the later model) a grooved handgrip to permit a user to differentiate it from the regular explosive version in the dark by touch alone. As a cold climate could cause the Model 24 to fail to detonate, a special explosive powder was used in those destined for Russia, and these were marked with 'K' ('Kalt' or 'cold') on the can. Inert (non-exploding) training versions were also produced.
The Model 43 ‘Stielhandgranate’ was introduced by the German Army mid-way through World War II to replace the earlier Model 24 type. This development was intended to simplify production and to enhance its versatility, evidenced by even more simplification between the early and late versions. The Model 43 consisted of an explosive-filled sheet-metal can affixed to a solid wooden stick for throwing. Although at first glance this grenade looks very similar to its predecessor, it differs in the main respect that the actual explosive charge and fuse form a self-contained unit in the head. As such, the explosive charge could be dismounted from the stick handle and used separately as a booby trap, a marked change from the older grenade which could only be used when both parts were connected. When the porcelain ball was pulled there was a 5.5- 7 second delay before explosion.The Model 43 used the same fuse assembly (the BZE 39) as the egg-shaped Model 39 Eierhandgranate, which was screwed into the top of the explosive charge.
The Model 39 Eihandgranate (or Eierhandgranate, "egg hand grenade") was a German hand grenade that was first introduced in 1939 and was produced until the end of World War II. The Eihandgranate used the same fuse assembly (the BZE 39) as the Model 43 Stielhandgranate, which again was screwed into the top of the sheet-metal body. To activate, the domed cap was unscrewed, and the pull-cord that had been coiled inside it was tugged sharply before throwing at the target.The colour of the cap indicated the burning time of the type of fuse fitted as follows:
| Red |
1 second |
| Blue |
4.5 seconds |
| Yellow |
7.5 seconds |
| Grey |
10 seconds |
However, if a grenade was to be used as a fixed booby-trap then an instantaneous fuse would be fitted, whilst fitting a blue cap. Enemy soldiers who found seemingly discarded grenades would attempt to use them (expecting a standard time delay) only to be blown up the moment they tugged on the pull-cord. Another scenario was to wire an instantaneously fused grenade to a door-frame in an abandoned building, then the pull-cord would be attached to the door, when the door was kicked open by opposing troops the grenade would detonate. The 'wings' on the grenade were used to help to screw the fuse into the grenade and were installed facing upwards, downwards or even not at all!
Infantry Support Weapon - 8cm Mortar
The German Army’s 8cm ‘schwere Granatwerfer 34’ (heavy grenade launcher model 1934) gained for itself an enviable reputation amongst Allied soldiers for its accuracy and rate of fire. The weapon was encountered everywhere the German army was in action for the sGrW 34 was one of its standard weapons throughout the whole war.
Despite its reputation there was nothing special about this weapon, much of the respect that it gained as a weapon should be directly attributed to the thorough training and efficiency of the crews who operated it, throughout the war the German mortar crews seemed to have the edge over their opposite numbers. They became experts at getting their mortars in and out of action quickly and by careful use of plotting boards and other fire control aids they were able to obtain maximum accuracy from their fire.
The sGrW 34 was straightforward in design and very well made. It was consequently robust and easily broken down into three loads for man-pack carrying; more men had to carry the ammunition. The range of the bombs available for use with this mortar was wide. There were the usual HE and smoke bombs but innovations included illuminating and target-making bombs for use in association with ground attack aircraft. There was even a special ‘bouncing bomb’, the ‘Wurfgranate 39’ that was pushed back up into the air after it had struck the ground. This was done using a small rocket motor and at a predetermined height the bomb exploded to scatter its fragments over a much wider area thus increasing its lethality. Another bonus for this ubiquitous weapon was its ability to fire a wide range of captured ammunition, although as expected, with a small loss in range performance.
Specifications:
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| Calibre |
81.4mm |
| Barrel Length |
1.143m |
| Bore Length |
1.033m |
| Weight (in action) |
56.7Kg |
| Elevation |
+40 to +90 degrees |
| Traverse |
9 to 15 degrees variable with elevation |
| Maximum range |
2400m |
| Bomb weight |
3.5Kg |
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