Tag: stielgranate

Categories
German

3.7 Stielgranate 41: 3.7 cm Stick Grenade

3.7 Stielgranate 41: 3.7 cm Stick Grenade Hollow-Charge Antitank

This deadly device is a hollow charge finned bomb for use on the 37 mm German Pak. It is believed that this type of ammunition was developed for the purpose of making this obsolescent gun more effective for antitank use.

The stick bomb which is made of pressed steel has a steel rod which fits into the bore and a perforated sleeve which fits around the barrel of the gun. The hollow charge is at the rear of the steel cup (or cone) and consists of two blocks of TNT with cyclonite. A nose fuze of the instantaneous percussion type and an instantaneous tail fuze are used. The nose fuze is used for impact against armor and the tail fuze is for graze action. Both fuzes arm on setback. The propelling cartridge consists of a steel case and is charged with tubular stick powder, an igniting charge of granular powder, and a percussion type primer.

Twenty-nine of these grenades were tested at Aberdeen. One was statically detonated against the face of 7-inch homogeneous armor plate. It penetrated completely, leaving a hole 2 1/8 inches wide at the face and 1 1/8 inches at the rear. The other rounds were fired from a German 37 mm A.T. gun for which they were designed. Range was found to be 203 yards at 5° elevation and 857 yards at 25° elevation. Accuracy was hard to determine because of the inexperienced gun crew.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber of rod       37 mm
Weight of grenade as fired18 lb., 12 oz.
Weight of burster5 lb., 5 oz.
Weight of propelling cartridge1 lb., 6 oz.
Overall length of round 29 1/8 ins.
Diameter of projectile body6 1/4 ins.
Types of fuze 1—P. D. Instantaneous
2—B. D. Instantaneous
Average velocity350 f/s
Average pressure18,600 p.s.i.
Range
     5° elevation203 yds.
     25° elevation857 yds.

German: p. 306

Categories
German

15 cm Stielgranate: 15 cm Stick Grenade

15 cm Stielgranate: 15 cm Stick Grenade

The German 15 cm high explosive Stick Grenade is reported to be used with the 15 cm heavy infantry gun, s. I. G. 33. Its prime purpose is for demolition, and for clearing minefields and wire obstacles. Of welded steel construction, the bomb has a 1/8-inch case consisting of three main parts: the nose, a cylindrical center piece, and a tapered rear piece. Both the nose and the base are reinforced with steel rings welded to the casing. The ring in the nose is tapped to receive the fuze adaptor; that in the base to accommodate a steel cup. This cup, which has machined surfaces, is 3/8-inch thick at the base and 3/16-inch at the sides. A stick unit which leaves the bomb approximately 150 yards from the muzzle of the gun fits over the cup. According to reports, the unit weighs 22.2 kg. (49 lb.) and the propelling charge 5.5 (12 1/8 lb.).

The main filling consists of approximately 60 pounds of poured 50/50 Amatol. A 2-inch cylindrical booster charge made up of compressed T.N.T. pellets is located in the center of the main filling about 15 inches from the booster; two normal annular picric pellets surround the booster. The bomb is fitted with a percussion type nose fuze, Wgr. Z. 36, which is also reported as being used in the German 20 cm Spigot Mortar Bomb. The tail, of unusual construction, has three tubular steel sockets equally spaced around the bomb and projecting from the rear portion of the casing at an angle of 20° to the main axis. These sockets receive tubular bars to which the sheet steel tubular fins are attached. The bars are bent in order to bring the fins parallel to the main axis and also to provide clearance of the muzzle of the gun. In addition there are six 5/32-inch steel plate fins welded to the casing and spaced in pairs between the tubular sockets.

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall length        50 1/2 ins.
Overall length (excluding tail fins & fuze) 30 3/4 ins.
Diameter (maximum) 11 1/2 ins.
Thickness of casing 1/8 in.
Total weight (approx.) 105 lb.
Weight of filling (approx.) 60 lb.
Color Field grey

German: p. 306.1