Stielhandgranate

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Template:Italic title Template:Distinguish Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox weapon Template:Lang is the German term for "stick hand grenade" and generally refers to a prominent series of World War I and World War II–era German stick grenade designs. The first models were introduced by the Imperial German Army during World War I and the final design was introduced during World War II by the German Wehrmacht.

History

Germany entered World War I with a single grenade type: a heavy Template:Convert ball-shaped fragmentation grenade (Kugelhandgranate) for use only by pioneers in attacking fortifications.

However, this was too heavy for regular battlefield use by untrained troops and not suitable for mass production. This left Germany without a standard-issue grenade and improvised designs similar to those of the British were used until a proper grenade could be supplied.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In 1915, industries of the German Empire designed and began production of the original Stielhandgranate, the "Model 1915" (M15).

The Weimar Republic revived the Stielhandgranate, and created a new version in 1924, the "Model 1924" (M24). The Model 1924 was rather ineffective by itself at damaging or disabling an enemy armored vehicle or destroying fortifications. It also lacked the shrapnel effect of most other grenades of the time.

To overcome these faults, various German industries during World War II produced a number of variants that widened the utility and capability of the M24.

Design

The Stielhandgranate can be distinguished by their long wooden handles, pull cord arming and cylindrical warheads.

Aside from its unusual appearance, the Stielhandgranate used a friction igniter system. This had been used in other German grenades, but was uncommon internationally.

The Model 15 used a priming system, unlike the percussion cap pin used in most grenades of the period. The easily recognizable "potato masher" shape is a result of a number of different styles and choices of the design.

The grenade mounted a charge head within a sheet-steel cylinder atop a long hollow wooden handle. Internally, the explosive – initially ammonal but later approximately Template:Convert of trinitrotoluene filling<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – was connected to a detonator, and a pull cord ran from the detonator down the length of the hollow handle, emerging from the base.

Effectiveness

During World War I, the Stielhandgranate, under the name M1915 (Model 1915), competed technologically with the British standard-issue Mills bomb series. The first Mills bomb– the grenade Template:Abbr 5 Mk. 1 – was introduced the same year as the German Model 1915, but due to manufacturing delays it was not widely distributed into general service until 1916. Thus, there was a small period of time where German troops had large supplies of new Model 1915 grenades, while their British opponents only had a small number.

The British War Office reported average thrown distance of a Mills bomb as Template:Convert when standing, Template:Convert when crouched and Template:Convert lying prone.<ref>"WO 291/472 Performance and handling of HE grenades"</ref> One issue that hand grenades of the time had was unpredictable rolling after landing.

The Stielhandgranate did not suffer nearly as much. Instead of rolling straight down a hill or across rough terrain, it would instead roll from side to side. However, the larger size and the irregular overall shape meant that fewer grenades could be carried. It also took longer to prime the grenade than Allied counterparts such as the Mills bomb.

The Stielhandgranate was extremely effective and reliable in clearing enclosed areas, such as buildings, fortifications, and the fighting compartments of enemy tanks, although performance in wide open areas was less satisfactory. The blast effect went only a limited distance before dying out, while pieces from an equivalent fragmentation grenade could fly hundreds of metres (it was not unrealistic to expect that metal shrapnel could create friendly fire casualties, especially in open areas).

Operation

The Stielhandgranate primarily relied on a concussion blast effect, its thin metal container creating little fragmentation compared with many grenades of the time, such as the Mills bomb and the French F1 grenade, the later World War II American Mk 2 grenade, and the Russian (later Soviet) F1 grenade.

Early models

To use the Model 15, a soldier would pull the string downwards, dragging a rough steel rod through the igniter within the fuse. The rod's abrasive contact would cause sparks and a flame to light, setting the fuse burning.

This fuse took approximately four and a half seconds to reach the detonator before exploding.

Later models

The Model 24 Stielhandgranate was stored in specially designed crates during transport, which could carry up to 15 individual grenades.

Adapting to the rapidly changing field of modern warfare, German soldiers would carry the M24 directly in front, allowing quick and easy access. However, in the later years of the war it was often advised to carry them in a different manner, as it was very likely any sort of explosion or heat could light the fuse from the grenade on the belt, resulting in unnecessary casualties.

As a safety precaution, units of the Wehrmacht were advised to only insert the actual fuse assemblies when about to go into combat. Later in the war, however, many soldiers of the Wehrmacht would always have their weapons ready, due to the fierceness seen in the Soviet Red Army in the east and the progressive advance of the Allies on the Western Front.

A reminder (Template:Langx).was stenciled on each explosive charge.

Alternative uses

Template:See also The M24 lacked effectiveness against hard targets such as tanks and buildings. A common solution was an improvised "bundle charge" (Template:Langx).<ref name="m24explo">Template:Cite web</ref>

The heads of a number of M24 grenades – their handles and fuses removed – would be strapped around a complete grenade, usually with simple rope, cloth, or metal wire, a solution initially invented during World War I using M15, M16 and M17 grenades.<ref name="m24explo" /> These "bundle charges" could be crafted with up to six additional heads around the complete grenade, the most common styles being the addition of four or six M24 heads.Template:Citation needed

As a result of this cost-effective and reliable solution, the standard infantryman of the Wehrmacht could quickly improvise a grenade with up to seven times the explosive power. However, the added weight made it more difficult to throw, and the increased size meant that it was not practical to carry with one hand and that far fewer could be carried.

These factors meant that infantry squads, if faced with an armored enemy, would have to close to a reduced range if they wanted to use the bundle charges.

During the early years of World War II, there was little in terms of truly effective German handheld weaponry designed to fight hard targets such as armored vehicles and structures, and even later in the war this style of bundle grenade remained useful to the common Heer infantryman.<ref name="m24explo" />

Another version of improvised weapon using M24 grenades was a type of bangalore torpedo (Template:Langx) made out of a number of M24 grenades – their handles and fuses removed and replaced with detonators – mounted to a long stick or plank behind one another with a complete grenade at one end to initiate the explosion.<ref name="m24explo" />

Variants

World War I models

Template:Main As World War I progressed, the Model 1915 Stielhandgranate was improved with various changes. These variants received designations such as the Model 1916 and the Model 1917.

Stielhandgranate 16

The pull cord which activated the M15 grenade's fuse protruded from the base and could get caught in debris or clutter on the battlefields of World War I, causing the fuse to be ignited, and the grenade to explode on the belt of an unaware infantryman. This resulted in the introduction of the Model 1916 (M16).

Functionally identical to the M15, the M16 changed the pull cord to improve safety. A small porcelain ball was placed at the base of the grenade, attached directly to the pull cord. This prevented the string from being exposed. The small bead was partially enveloped in the wooden handle, meaning that some force was needed to pluck it out. Operation was nearly identical, except that a soldier no longer needed to pull the string itself.

Stielhandgranate 17

Another development of the Stielhandgranate was implemented during the later stages of World War I, affecting the priming system. The base of the StielhandgranateTemplate:'s handle was slightly redesigned, and a metal cover cap was introduced. This cap concealed the porcelain bead and pull cord, allowing it to simply rest freely inside of the handle. The operator pulled the cap off and then pulled the cord as with the M16.

World War II models

Stielhandgranate 24

Template:Main While retaining the same explosive and fuse, the main distinction between the M24 and the original M15 is a slightly shorter charge head and the removal of a belt carry clip. At the same time the wooden handle was lengthened.

The intent of these design alterations was simply for mobility; German soldiers could easily (and often did) tuck the grenade in behind their uniform's belt, held tight and secure. Being slightly lighter, and smaller in thickness, this improved overall use.

The M24 (75.5 million produced) was, alongside the slightly more common Model 39 grenade (84.2 million produced), the standard hand grenade of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.<ref>Potato Masher what everyone gets wrong, Military History Visualized. YouTube</ref>

Stielhandgranate 24 Kalt

During numerous operations of the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Heer found that under freezing conditions the M24's fuse could fail to ignite.

In response, a variant with a cold-resistant explosive was developed and supplied to most units deployed on the eastern front (especially into present-day Russia).

During production, the metal charge head was marked with a letter K, signifying its status as the winter variant (Template:Langx).<ref name="m24">Template:Cite web</ref>

Nebelhandgranate 39

The Wehrmacht lacked a proper smoke grenade to allow infantry to cover advances or retreats, or for assaulting a position. A smoke version of the M24 (Template:Langx) was produced.<ref name="m24nb">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Nebelhandgranate 39 had a remodeled fuse mechanism and a smoke charge instead of explosive; the smoke emitted from small vents in the underside of the charge head.

To make it readily distinguishable from an M4, it had large markings on the head and a white band on the handle. Later, the handle was textured so that they could be told apart by touch.<ref name="m24nb" />

Übungs-Stielhandgranate 24

Like most of the forces that took part in World War II, the Wehrmacht produced inert (not able to explode) practice versions of the standard-issue grenade, designed to aid recruits on how to properly throw and operate the weapon during training.

An exercise version (Template:Langx) was introduced that was characterized by its bright-red warhead with big perforated holes going throughout.<ref name="m24ub">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Übungs-Stielhandgranate 24 could be outfitted with an exercise charge and a fuse with a pull cord that made a bang and puff of smoke to indicate explosion when used.<ref name="m24ub" /><ref name="hgr & rökfacklor 60">Template:Cite book</ref>

Stielhandgranate 43

Template:Main

File:Stielhandgranate 43 MHM noBG.png
Stielhandgranate 43 with a splitterring fragmentation sleeve

The Model 1924 grenade was technically "succeeded" by the Model 1943 (M43). This was a copy with a few expensive parts removed or replaced for easier production – and because of this, the original remained in service with Wehrmacht infantry right to the end of the war.

The only significant alterations in the M43's design was the inclusion of a self-contained detonator, meaning that the fuse and the explosive were directly linked. The M43 also utilized an entirely different fuse assembly, very similar to that of the Model 39 grenade, another German hand grenade of the time.

Not only was the stick no longer needed to be hollowed out for a pull cord as in the M24, minimizing the amount of woodworking required to manufacture each grenade, it also made the stick optional so it could replace the Model 39 as the thrower could choose in which configuration to use the grenade.

Whether it was intended to merge the production of two types into a single line, or if that was a beneficial side-effect is unknown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Foreign productions

Aside from Nazi Germany, the Stielhandgranate 24 was used globally during World War II. A number of nations either directly acquired or purchased stockpiles of the grenade, or created similar versions with very slight adjustments.

China

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Japan

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Sweden

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Users

The German Stielhandgranate-series has been used in many conflicts, including both world wars.

Official and unofficial users of all versions of the Stielhandgranate
User Type of service Self-manufactured Type of model in use
Model 1915 Model 1916 Model 1917 Model 1924 Model 1943
Official users
Template:Flag Full military service ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Template:Flag Full military service ✓ X X X ✓ X
Template:Flag Full military service ✓ X X X ✓ ✓
Template:Flag<ref name="amreg A42">Template:Cite book</ref> Full military service X X X X ✓<ref name="amreg A42"/> X
Template:Flag<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yildirim Army Group (Stormtroopers) X ✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Unofficial users
Template:Flag Leased/purchased X ✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Template:Flag<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Leased/purchased X X X X ✓ ✓
Template:Flag Template:Citation needed ? X ? ? ? ✓ ✓?
Template:Flag Leased/purchased X X X X ✓ X
Template:Flag Captured/scavenged X X X X ✓ ✓
Template:Flag Captured/scavenged X ✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Template:Flag Captured/scavenged X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Foreign designs
User Type of service Version
Chinese copies Type 98 Type 67
Template:Flag Captured/local design produced ✓ ✓ X
Template:Flagcountry Local design produced ✓ X X
Template:PRC Local design produced ✓ X ✓
Template:Flag Leased/purchased X X ✓

Cultural legacy

The distinctive appearance of the Stielhandgranate family has led to them being called "potato mashers" in British Army slang, and they remain one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century.<ref>Template:Citation.</ref>Template:Page needed

See also

References

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