Unusual german small arms and infantry weapons of world war ii.

Site Issues 2008 Archive Room
#27

And I’m pointing out what a useless example that is. The American army actually designed a grenade shaped like a baseball with the idea that “every American male” would be able to throw it.

The problem is that throwing a ball in a field is a damn sight different from throwing a grenade on a battle field. In the time it takes to line up a throw through a window you have exposed yourself to return fire from those in the room you are trying to blow up.

Grenades are ment to be lobbed, up and over the object you are hiding behind and over the object the enemy is hiding behind.

#28

No, he is saying mabye not in combat but only for test or fun.

#29

???

Maybe we should see if SS Ouche-Vittes replies before continuing with such speculation.

#30

In that case it is even more of a pointless comparison.

The grenades of the German style, were (and are) quite easy to throw.

Try throwing a stick for a dog. Similar priciple.

They were also lighter than similar allied greades, certainly the Mills bomb.

#31

Another Luftfaust picture (with ammo) and another favourite the bent Stg 44.

Luftfaust.jpg
Luftfaust.jpg800×600 30.4 KB

stg44c.jpg

#32

How about grenades to fire from your flare gun, there was even an anti tank one.

walthergranaatpistole.jpg

grenadeflare.jpg
grenadeflare.jpg704×279 21.9 KB

Wurfgranate03.jpg

flare gun grenades.jpg
flare gun grenades.jpg350×601 38.5 KB

#33

Let’s not forget that other armies were equipped with stick grenades too, the russians for example…and the japanese IIRC.

#34

Well, i meant to say that it’s easier to throw it like a ball than with a handle. I might be wrong, I might just make a stick grenade and an American nade to test. I say that cause the throwing motion for a ball-like grenade is more effective. Shoot me down plz.

#35

A stick grenade can be thrown MUCH further than a non-stick grenade. It is basic physics, as told by Sir Isaac (deceased).

The principle was amply demonstrated by the idiotic discovery channel show “weaponology”.

#36

I’d like to get back on ptimm’s attachement of the Stg 44 with “Krummlauf” (buckled barrel) for I think it was kinda unique. Rapid fire was not possible though and the barrel had to be changed after 300 rounds (instead of the 10000 rounds with a common straight barrel).

This is probably the J-version with 30 or 45 degree deflection, there was even a P-version with 90 degree deflection.

#37

also the bent barrel would cause the bullet to heat up and spread giving it the effect of a shotgun blast

#38

More info info on the Sturmpistole and the grenades/ammunitions for it:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5233

#39

Well, tests with the “Krummlauf” showed that a field of 35cm x 35cm was easily hit from a distance of 100 meters.

#40

…talking of the StG 44: let’s not forget the version with the infrared sight ZF 1229 “Vampir”:


The infrared sight had a weight of 2,3kg, the backpack with the battery 13kg

#41

Well, tests with the “Krummlauf” showed that a field of 35cm x 35cm was easily hit from a distance of 100 meters.

Sorry but that sounds too good to be real, is that the 30 degrees bent barrel or the 90 degrees one?

#42

That would definitely be the 30 degree J-version. Doing rapid fire however it had been impossible for the shooter to keep the weapon on target.

#43

Jawohl, thas sounds logic.

#44

I heard somewhere that they used it in Elephants and Ferdinands because they wern’t installed with hull machineguns so that they could “hose” each other down when the Russians tried to get on top to throw grenades in.

#45

Thats awsome… for me but not hte German.

#46

oh yes the vampir