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| GERMAN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE - BOMBS, BOMB FUZES, ROCKET, LAND MINES, GRENADES AND IGNITER |
| Chapter 4 |
| GERMAN LANDMINES, GRENADES, AND IGNITERS |
| EGG-TYPE HAND GRENADE, EIERHANDGRANATE 39 |
| DATA: |
| Over-all Length: 3 inches. |
| Maximum Diameter: 2 inches. |
| Color: Black body with blue igniter head. |
| Weight: 12 ounces. |
| Igniter: B.Z.E. |
| Delay: 4 to 5 seconds. |
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DESCRIPTION. This is a small thin-cased offensive type grenade with a high proportion of a low-grade explosive. It is ignited by a friction type igniter and a 4- to 5-second de-lay pellet. (See fig. 286.) This grenade uses the B.Z.E. friction-type igniter. The short body of this igniter is usually made of brass and contains a friction composition in which a friction pull wire is cast. The lower end of the friction wire is coiled to provide resistan-ce which serves to ignite the friction composition when the wire is drawn through it. The upper end of the friction wire has a loop to which is fastened one end of a cord. The free end of the cord is attached to a disk which is within the head. The head screws on to the top of the body and a steel tube containing the delay pellet screws into the bottom of the body. |
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OPERATION. The igniter head is unscrewed and pulled, thus drawing the wire through the frcition composition and igniting the delay pellet. The grenade is the thrown and after a delay of 4 to 5 seconds the delay pellet will initiate the detonator thus setting off the explosive filler. |
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REMARKS. There has been found a practice hand grenade of this type containing a spotting charge with the B.Z.E. igniter. The German designation of this is the Eihandgra-nate 39 (Üb). A modified egg grenade has also been found with a ring attachment on the base. |
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Figure 286 – Egg Type 39 Hand Grenade |
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