35 mm grenade

The35 mm grenadeis a type ofgrenade launcherammunition of Chinese origin. The type consists of many high-velocity and low-velocity grenades with a caliber of 35 mm (1.38 in).

AQLZ-87AGS fitted with 35×32 mm high-velocity grenades

History

Thirty-five millimeter grenades are proprietary designs originating from China. In the 1980s, China began to experiment with different types of grenade launchers. Chinese designers felt Soviet 30 mm grenades had inadequate firepower, while NATO40 mm grenadeslacked portability, resulting in the adoption of 35 mm grenades for their grenade launchers, such as theQLZ-87andQLZ-04.

Grenade types

35 mm high velocity

35×32 mm Type 87

A Type 87 grenade launcher in theMilitary Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution

AQLZ-04with 30-round 35×32 mm ammo container

The 35 mm Type 87 is a series of high velocity grenades designed for Type 87 grenade launchers and other automatic grenade launchers. The grenades are stabilized with spin rifling. The Type 87 has a typical grenade design with the propellant stored in the base, the warhead in the middle and the fuse in the nose section. The grenade is semi-rimmed with a relatively short case.

The shells are stored in an ammo box or attached to a belt. In additional to the Type 87, the ammo can also be used by theType 04automatic grenade launcher.The QLB-06, also known as the QLZ-87B, is an improved version of the Type 87 grenade launcher and shares its ammunition.

Various warhead types are available for 35×32mmSR Type 87s:

• DFS-87(Chinese:DFS-87 sát thương đạn): Anti-personnel fragmentation grenade with HE-frag warhead
• DFJ-87(Chinese:DFJ-87 phá giáp sát thương đạn): Dual purpose, armor-piercing grenade with HEAT warhead
• DFR-87(Chinese:DFR-87 nhiên thiêu đạn): Incendiary grenade
• DFN-87(Chinese:DFN-87 sát thương nhiên thiêu đạn): Anti-personnel fragmentation incendiary grenade
• DFD-87(Chinese:DFD-87 yên vụ đạn): Smoke/marker grenade, with colored smoke

Type 87cartridgeSpecification:

• Weight: 217–250 g (7.7–8.8 oz)
• Muzzle velocity: 190 m/s (620 ft/s)
• Maximum range: 1,750 m (5,740 ft)
• Blast radius: 11 m (36 ft)
• Penetration: 80 mm (3.1 in) of RHA

35×32 mm Type 11

TheQLU-11utilizes a new version of the 35×32mmSR (through old types are compatible).New ammunition is specifically designed for long range accuracy. Type 11 long range cartridges are derived from the DFJ-87 armor-piercing grenades, but the weights are reduced from 217 to 200 g (7.7 to 7.1 oz) due to lighter casings. Propellant takes a larger percentage of the cartridge space, thus improving the velocity from 195 to 320 m/s (640 to 1,050 ft/s). This modification greatly increases the recoil, which QLU-11 featuresadvanced primer ignition (API) blowbackto mitigate.

35 mm low velocity

35×115 mm Type 91

The 35×115 mm Type 91 grenades are a series of low velocity grenades designed for theType 91 grenade launcher,which comes with shoulder-launched, rifle-attached, and vehicle-mounted variants. The cartridge has a conventional design for breech loading similar to NATO40 mm low velocity grenades.

Various warhead types are available for 35×115 mm Type 91, including:

• DFB-91(Chinese:DFB-91 chấn bạo đạn): Stun grenade
• DFT-91(Chinese:DFT-91 thống cầu đạn): Sting grenade
• DFR-91(Chinese:DFR-91 nhiễm sắc đạn): Paintball grenade
• DFC-91(Chinese:DFC-91 thôi lệ đạn): Tear gas
• DFG-91(Chinese:DFG-91 thiểm quang đạn): Flashbang

35 mmCL Type 10

Type 10 is a series of low-velocity grenades designed for theQLG-10andQLG-10Arifle-attached grenade launchers. Standard Type 10 projectiles are caseless,and weigh 169 g (6.0 oz) with muzzle velocities of 78 m/s (260 ft/s).Type 10 grenades utilizehigh-lowcartridges designed for low recoil operation with extended range. The grenade has an effective range of 400 m (1,300 ft).

Various warhead types are available for the 35 mmCL Type 10, including:

• DFS-10(Chinese:DFS-10 bính tạc sát thương lựu đạn): High-explosive fragmentation grenade. Effective against infantry personal inside 400 m (1,300 ft) range.
• DFS-10A(Chinese:DFS-10A khiêu tạc sát thương lựu đạn): Bouncing air-burst fragmentation grenade with 400 m (1,300 ft) range. Equipped with pre-set airburst munition and jump-up detonation fuse, similar to the US M397A1 40 mm cartridge.
• DFJ-10(Chinese:DFJ-10 phá giáp sát thương lựu đạn): High-explosive dual purpose grenade that is effective against infantry personnel inside a 400 m (1,300 ft) range, as well as against light vehicles in a 100 m (330 ft) range
• DFX-10(Chinese:DFX-10 đạn đạo chỉ kỳ lựu đạn): Trajectory marker grenade with 400 m (1,300 ft) range, can be used for trajectory adjustment for other grenade types
• DFD-10(Chinese:DFD-10 yên vụ đạn): Smoke grenade with 400 m (1,300 ft) range, with colored smoke available

See also

• List of equipment of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force
• United States 40 mm grenades