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Gewehrsprenggranate, Explosive Rifle Grenade
 
The rifled cup launcher design was successful due its adapability. As increased explosive power became a necessity, oversized warheads were designed which extended beyond the muzzle.

The HE Rifle Grenade came first, diameter limited to 30mm, matching the caliber of the Schiessbechere. It has a steel fuze and body with a pre-rifled Bakelite driving band base.
It used the AZ5071 PD fuze with an internal set-back safety.
The intent here was to create a more accurate weapon than the spigot launched GG/P 40.

There are at least 5 versions of the Mod.30, including:
o Combination Rifle and Hand grenade, with / without a self destruct feature. (Shown at right)
o Rifle Only, no self destruct with removable bakelite driving band.
o Rifle Only, no self destruct, fixed driving band.
o Rifle Only, with fuze and base made of aluminum for more range (Weitschuss).


The first Gewehrsprenggranate version (Feb. 1942), is a configurable (hand or rifle) grenade with a self-destruct feature.

As a hand grenade, the base is unscrewed becoming a pull ball, attached to the time delay fuze (5-7 sec).

As a rifle grenade, there's a flash pellet in the Bakelite base initiated at launch via a small flame port in the bottom screw plug. When ignited, it forces flame into vents at the base of the fuze element starting the delay, which now acts as a self-destruct feature.

The grenade was later simplified by eliminating the self-destruct components, retaining the hand grenade feature. Unscrewing the base now exposes a smaller bakelite pull attached to the delay lanyard. (See sectioned example, above right)

Soon after, the hand grenade option was eliminated as well.

The main mechanical components of theAZ5071 PD fuze:
Bakelite striker / firing pin, creep spring, coiled clock spring, and inertia pellet (setback safety release ring).
The primer screwed into the bottom.
Shown at right is the safe (un-fired) condition. The shock of the launch would drive the inertia pellet down over the tabs. This would free the clock spring which then expands outward to the wall of the noze cone, this clears the path for the firing pin, which is driven into the primer upon impact.

 Note: Some have two spanner wrench indentations in the sides of the nose.


Left-to-Right:

o 1942 dated Combination Type
   (Flame port in base.)
o 1944 dated Rifle Only
   (No delay fuze or flame port.)
o 1944 dated Rifle Only
   (Fixed solid base.)
23.10.10
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