Gewehr-Panzergranate

The Gewehr-Panzergranate was a shaped charge rifle grenade that was developed by Germany and used by the Wehrmacht during World War II.

Gewehr-Panzergranate
A schematic of components.
TypeShaped charge rifle grenade
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
Used byWehrmacht
WarsWorld War II[1]
Specifications
Mass250 g (8.8 oz)
Length160 mm (6.4 in)
Diameter30.16 mm (1.1875 in)
Muzzle velocity50 m/s (160 ft/s)[2]
Maximum firing range46–114 m (50–125 yd)[1]
WarheadTNT
Warhead weight50 g (1.75 oz)
Detonation
mechanism
PETN Base fuze[1]
Blast yield25–30 mm (0.98–1.18 in) RHA[2]

Design
Drawings of German Schiessbecher and grenades.

The Gewehr-Panzergranate was launched from a Gewehrgranatengerät or Schiessbecher ("shooting cup") on a standard service rifle by a blank cartridge. The primary components were a nose cap, internal steel cone, steel upper body, aluminum lower body, rifled driving band, TNT filling, and a PETN base fuze.[1]

The Gewehr-Panzergranate was an anti-armor weapon which upon hitting the target ignited the PETN base fuze which in turn ignited the TNT filling which collapsed the internal steel cone to create a superplastic high-velocity jet to punch through enemy armor.[1] Since shaped charge weapons rely on chemical energy to penetrate enemy armor the low velocity of the grenade did not adversely affect penetration. A downside of the Gewehr-Panzergranate was its short range 46–114 m (50–125 yd).[2]

References
  1. unknown (1 August 1945). Catalog Of Enemy Ordnance Material. www.paperlessarchives.com/FreeTitles/CatalogOfEnemyOrdnanceMateriel.pdf: Office of the chief of ordnance. p. 317.
  2. Natzvaladze, Yury (1996). The Trophies Of The Red Army During The Great Patriotic War 1941–1945. Volume 1. Scottsdale, Arizona: Land O'Sun Printers. p. 44. ASIN B001J7LCD2.
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