Sprengpatrone
| Sprengpatrone | |
|---|---|
 A schematic of internal components. | |
| Type | Rifle grenade |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Wehrmacht |
| Wars | World War II[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Complete: 140 g (5 oz) Projectile: 99 g (3.5 oz) |
| Length | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Diameter | 25 mm (1 in)[1] |
| Warhead | PETN |
| Warhead weight | 22 g (.77 oz) |
Detonation mechanism | Nose fuze[1] |
TheSprengpatroneor"explosive cartridge"in English was arifle grenadethat was developed byGermanyand used by theWehrmachtduringWorld War II.The Sprengpatrone was designed to be fired from aKampfpistoleflare gun.
Design
[edit]The Sprengpatrone was a rifle grenade that could be fired from the Kampfpistole. The Kampfpistole was arifledsingle-shotbreak actiongun and the cartridge wasbreech loaded.The Kampfpistole was a rifled variant of the earlierLeuchtpistole 34.The Sprengpatrone was designed to give German troops a small and lightweight grenade launcher for engaging targets from close range which could not be engaged satisfactorily by infantry weapons or artillery without endangering friendly troops. The Sprengpatrone was used for low angledirect firewhere range and accuracy were needed. It was not recommended for use beyond 180 m (200 yd) due to inaccuracy or less than 46 m (50 yd) due to the risk from shell fragments.[2]
This grenade consists of an aluminumcartridge case,apercussion capin the center of the base,black powderpropellant charge, an internal steel projectile filled withPETNand was topped by anose fuze.The projectile had a rifled aluminum external sleeve which engages the rifling of the Kampfpistole barrel. The nose fuze contains a striker head that is held away from the detonator by six steel balls kept in position by a steel collar supported by three aluminum pins. A creep spring separates the striker and primer from the booster which is separated from the explosive filling by an empty air space. When the projectile hits the target the nose fuse ignites the primer which in turn ignites the booster and the explosives.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdunknown (1 August 1945).Catalog Of Enemy Ordnance Material.www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/CatalogOfEnemyOrdnanceMateriel.pdf: Office of the chief of ordnance. p. 326.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: year (link) - ^United States. War Department. Military Intelligence Division (1943-01-01).Tactical And Technical Trends, Nos. 21-30.