Drones to help cars and armored vehicles. Fragmentation hand grenades and fuses used with them What was planned

The F-1 hand grenade ("lemonka") appeared in service with the Red Army in the 1920s. Having undergone a number of changes, F-1 grenades serve to this day.

Having inherited a wide variety of hand grenade samples from the Russian army, the Red Army in the 1920s began to select and develop samples for further production. The most suitable prototype for a defensive fragmentation hand grenade was the French F.1 model 1915.

FROM F-1 TO F-1

The French F.1, however, had an unreliable and not very comfortable fuse. The designer F.V. Koveshnikov managed to solve the problem of creating a new remote-action fuse. The fuse of his design was supplied with a shock igniter mechanism with a safety lever. Reduced from 5-7 to 3.5-4.5 seconds, the fuse deceleration time reduced the enemy’s chances of taking cover or throwing off a grenade. A cast-iron defensive grenade with a Koveshnikov fuse was put into service in 1928, and at first these were old French grenades - mass production and equipment of domestic corps was established only in the 1930s. In addition to the F-1 index, the grenade received the nickname "lemon". It apparently comes from the British Lemon grenade of the same 1915, with which the F.1 case also bears some resemblance. Like the F.1, the Lemon grenade (also known as the "English oval") was supplied to Russia during the First World War.

The F-1 grenade received index 57-G-721 from the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army. In 1939, engineer F. I. Khrameev modernized the grenade. With a change in the method of equipment, the body of the "lemon" lost the lower window, which was previously closed with a cast-iron cork.

MASS RELEASE

The production of hand grenades expanded dramatically during the Great Patriotic War with the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises both in the rear and in front-line cities. So, in Moscow, a number of factories made F-1 grenade cases, fuses for them were made by the Moscow Prosthetic Plant. Semashko, plant EMOS organization of the blind. Vladimir gramophone factory. The report of the First Secretary of the Moscow and the Moscow City Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, A.S. Shcherbakov, dated December 6, 1941, stated, in particular: “... Moscow occupies a special place in the production of hand grenades ... The brake plant and NATI did not complete the tasks for the F-1 grenade ... we can drastically increase the production of hand grenades, especially lemons. .. The work of equipment factories in November was limited by the lack of explosives. Therefore, along with increased imports, the production of explosives was organized at a number of Moscow chemical plants. The increase in production was also limited by the lack of fuses. This has given rise to a number of new proposals.

In particular, in the same 1941, the Moscow engineer Charushin (also referred to in the documents as "Chashnikov") proposed the design of a grating fuse using non-deficient materials. Charushin's fuse provided a slowdown of 3.8-4.6 s, the usual F-1 grenades equipped with surrogate explosives were used. In besieged Leningrad, surrogate explosives created on the spot, including ammonium nitrate, were used to equip the F-1. The enterprises of the besieged Sevastopol by November 1941, among other ammunition, produced 50 thousand F-1 grenades. In the rear Kirov and the region, the F-1 grenade was made by the Kirov Aggregate Plant, union workshop No. 608. The list goes on. In 1942, a universal fuse of the UZRG system of E. M. Viceni and A. A. Bednyakov, which was easier to manufacture and handle, was adopted.

F-1 was adapted for this fuse (UZRG was also used with offensive grenades RG-42 and RGD-5).

GRENADE DEVICE

The F-1 grenade consists of a body, an explosive charge and a fuse. The body with wall thickness up to 10 mm is made of cast iron with an external notch. The screwed hole for the fuse was closed with a plastic stopper during storage (wooden stoppers were also used during the war years). The fuse of the UZRG includes an impact mechanism with a safety lever and a pin with a ring and the fuse itself, including an igniter cap, a moderator and a detonator cap. The drummer is pre-cocked. The fuse is worn separately and screwed into the body opening before use. After removing the checks, the drummer is held by a lever pressed against the body with the palm of the thrower. When thrown, the lever is separated, the lowered drummer breaks the primer-igniter, which transmits a beam of fire to the retarder composition. The latter, after burnout, initiates a blasting cap, which causes the detonation of the bursting charge.

Since 1955, a modernized UZRGM fuse was installed with a low-gas, more stable retarding composition (instead of pressed black powder in the UZRG). Subsequently, the fuse was further upgraded and received the designation UZRGM-2.

When broken, the body produces 290-300 large heavy fragments with an initial velocity of about 730 m/s. The reduced area of ​​fragmentation is 75-82 mg. The large radius of the lethal action of the fragments determined the nature of the grenade as "defensive", thrown from behind cover. According to experts, however, only 38-40% of the mass of the F-1 hull goes to the formation of lethal fragments, the rest is simply sprayed.

VETERAN OF "POCKET ARTILLERY"

In the troops, the F-1 grenade, in addition to the "lemon", was also given the nicknames "Fenyusha" and "Fenka". Thanks to the mass production of the F-1, they made up a significant proportion of the fragmentation hand grenades of the Red Army. The scale of the expenditure of grenades can be judged by the following figures: in the battles in Stalingrad from July 12 to November 19 \ 942, the Soviet troops, filed by the Main Artillery Directorate, spent about 2.3 million hand grenades, during the Battle of Kursk from July 5 to On August 23, 1943 - almost 4 million, during the Berlin operation from April 16 to May 9, 1945 - about 3 million. Not a single type of battle could do without hand grenades. Grenades were carried not only by shooters and machine gunners, but also by machine gunners, snipers, tankers, artillerymen, drivers, signalmen, sappers, and pilots. The crews of combat vehicles were taught to throw grenades through the upper hatches to hit the enemy in dead space. Grenades were also used as fragmentation mines.

Quite simple in production, "limonka" was produced in large quantities and remained mass for many years not only in the USSR, but also in a number of other countries.

There are many weapons in the world that are truly legendary in themselves. This includes the lemon grenade, better known under the index F-1. Many believe that it appeared relatively recently, while this is far from the case: this type was already in service with the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War. So when did the "lemon" appear and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Main characteristics

This grenade belongs to the class of hand-held defensive weapons. Simply put, it is intended to defeat the enemy’s manpower with fragments as a result of its use by the soldier manually, without the use of any throwing aids. In a word, a classic grenade, the principle of operation of which has not changed since the time of the glorious scorer Pyotr Alekseevich. Deceleration time - from 3.2 to 4.2 seconds, quite "blurred".

What is the defensive variety? This term means that during the explosion a sufficiently large number of massive fragments are formed, flying to a distance significantly exceeding that for a throw. After throwing such a grenade, a soldier must jump into a fairly reliable shelter without fail. Otherwise, there is a high probability of his being hit by his own weapon. That's what grenade is called "lemon".

External differences

A characteristic feature is the ribbed body, cast from a special grade of cast iron. It is subdivided into exactly 32 segments. Theoretically, this should mean that the same 32 fragments are formed during detonation, but in practice this does not always work out. Together with the fuse of the lemon grenade, it weighs as much as 0.6 kg. TNT plays the role. Weight - 60 grams. The fuse is characterized by its versatility, as it can be used simultaneously with the RGD-5. Its index is UZRGM.

It should be remembered that combat grenades are painted strictly green, which can vary from khaki to dark olive. The training version is black, in this case there are two white stripes on the surface of the "projectile". In addition, the training grenade "lemon" has a hole in the bottom. Important! The combat fuse has no indication color.

The training grenade is different in that it has a check and the entire lower part of the pressure lever is painted scarlet. Since it is possible to make a training “lemon” (grenade) from a combat one, by unscrewing the fuse and “frying” the body on a fire (explosives will simply burn out, without an explosion), this feature should not be forgotten when making an “ersatz”. Otherwise, in the exercises, someone can "catch" a heart attack.

Where did the "lemonka" come from in the Russian land?

Most likely, the Mils grenade during the First World War served as a prototype. At that time, it was the most advanced weapon in its class. This assumption is certainly not without a grain of truth, since they are surprisingly similar in form and design principle of the fragmentation jacket. However, there is another point of view.

F. Leonidov believes that the French F-1 (!), Which was put into service in 1915, and ... the English Lemon grenade (one of the versions why the F-1 grenade is called "lemon") served as a direct model for assembly. But whether this is actually so, no one can prove.

In principle, this is not so important, because the design of the fuse is primordially domestic, and the high manufacturability of production is a tribute to the Soviet weapons tradition. Both English and French samples of the WWII times are much more difficult to manufacture and more expensive.

Various ignition options

At first, it was equipped with a fuse, the author of the design of which was F.V. Koveshnikov. According to the principle of operation, it was absolutely similar to the modern one, but it was somewhat more labor-intensive to manufacture. But its main drawback was that only the hand-held defensive grenade F-1 "lemon" "ate" it.

About correct use

Before use, the soldier must unbend the safety antennae, and then take the grenade in such a way that the hand completely fixes the clamping lever to the body. Just before the throw (!) you need to pull out the pin. You can keep the "lemon" in this position for an indefinitely long time, since when the lever is compressed, the primer is not initiated, and therefore the explosion will not occur.

As soon as the target is chosen, you should vigorously throw a grenade at it. The lever at this moment will turn, releasing the combat drummer, and fly off to the side. The striker initiates the primer (piercing it), and after three to four seconds an explosion will occur.

Do you remember how an episode was repeatedly shown in films when a desperate sailor (soldier, revolutionary, partisan, etc.) in the last, desperate jerk pulls out the pin with his teeth? If you decide to repeat this trick, make sure you have a good dentist in advance, as you will 100% have to change your front teeth. Even with a hand, if the fixing antennae are not unbent, such a feat can only be accomplished so what kind of teeth are there ... In a word, do not try to tear out the pin in this way!

Tales from the landfill, or Feedback on the use

All sorts of people get into our army. For some, the “lemon” (a training grenade, but this does not particularly affect the situation) causes such uncontrollable horror that at the firing line they begin to do a variety of “indecency”. Most often this is expressed in the fact that a person tightly squeezes it in his hands and does not hear any orders.

Others are able to throw a pin at the target or, swinging for a “heroic” throw, launch a grenade a meter and a half. It's not a firecracker - a grenade! "Lemon" in this case is indeed deadly not for the target, but for the fighter himself.

Oddly enough, but women in the army behave much more adequately when handling such a dangerous object. They are focused, efficient and diligent. Emotions at this moment do not visit them at all! But after the throw, they willingly share with their friends about the "experienced horror" and "shaking hamstrings."

Advantages of F-1

Why is it that this weapon, which actually appeared a hundred years ago, is still actively used not only in our army, but also in the Armed Forces of other states of the former USSR? The most important circumstances are simplicity, manufacturability and low cost of production. The process of the latter was extremely simple: the body was cast, molten TNT was placed in it, cooled ...

And the grenade was ready! Compare this with the release of the same RGS, when steel, plastic, and other materials are used. Limonki, on the other hand, could be produced by any enterprise that had at least some kind of foundry.

In addition, the weight of the grenade allows it to be used effectively in urban environments: being thrown with sufficient energy, it will easily fly through glass, branches, and other obstacles. In addition, the detonation does not depend in any way on the force with which the F-1 collides with the surface. It can fall on wood, stone, steel, swamp or river, but will still explode (usually).

In addition, the F-1 "lemon" grenade is quite powerful and lethal. What else do the military need? Oddly enough, a lot. These grenades also have disadvantages.

Cons of "lemon"

First, weight. As much as 0.6 kg! In combat conditions, this is a very significant mass. Secondly, the “blurred” action of the fuse: from 3.2 to 4.2 s. Moreover, in practice, samples are constantly encountered that can explode both after a shorter and after a longer time. In one of the parts of Transbaikalia, this circumstance almost led to tragedy when a grenade exploded eight seconds later!

The soldier at this time had already leaned out from behind the shelter, and only by a lucky chance he was not chopped into fragments. In addition, in combat conditions, the prolonged action of the fuse can lead to the fact that a particularly "nimble" enemy will simply throw out the "gift" that has flown to him.

Thirdly, there is no option for a grenade that would be detonated immediately after contact with the target. These are the so-called mountain models. In Afghanistan, this has repeatedly led to tragedies when a thrown projectile bounced off a stone and flew back. All these shortcomings were absent in the RGN. But they were much more expensive and more difficult to manufacture, and their release fell on the period of the collapse of the USSR. So the same “efka” remained on guard.

The F1 "lemon" grenade, having many positive qualities, will in any case be in service with our army for many years to come.

The name "F-1" comes from the French fragmentation grenade  F-1 model 1915 weighing about 600 grams, which were supplied to Russia during the First World War. The origin of the slang name of the grenade - "lemon" has many versions - among them is the similarity of the shape of the grenade with the citrus of the same name, and the similarity of the F-1 grenade and the English Lemon system grenade - however, there is no consensus today.

Initially, F-1 grenades were equipped with a fuse  F. V. Koveshnikov. Later, instead of the fuse of the Koveshnikov system for supplying the F-1 grenade, the UZRG fuse (“unified fuse for hand grenades”) of Soviet designers E. M. Viceni and A. A. Bednyakov was adopted.

Story

In 1922, the artillery department of the Red Army undertook to restore order in their warehouses. According to the reports of the artillery committee, seventeen different types of grenades were in service with the Red Army at that time. There was no fragmentation defensive grenade of its own production in the USSR at that time. Therefore, the Mills grenade was temporarily put into service, the stocks of which were in large quantities in the warehouses (200,000 pieces as of September 1925). As a last resort, French F-1 grenades were allowed to be issued to the troops. The fact was that the French-style fuses were unreliable. Their cardboard cases did not provide tightness and the detonation composition dampened, which led to massive grenade failures, and even worse, to lumbago, which was fraught with an explosion in the hands.

In 1925, the Artillery Committee stated that the need for hand grenades of the Red Army was satisfied by only 0.5% (!). To remedy the situation, Artkom on June 25, 1925 decided:

• Artillery Directorate of the Red Army to carry out a comprehensive test of existing samples of hand grenades, now in service.
• It is necessary to make improvements to the 1914 model grenade in order to increase its damaging ability.
• Design a fragmentation grenade of the Mills type, but more advanced.
• In F-1 hand grenades, replace Swiss fuses with Koveshnikov fuses.

In September 1925, comparative tests of the main types of grenades available in warehouses were carried out. The main test criterion was the fragmentation of grenades. The conclusions reached by the commission were as follows:

... thus, the position of the issue of the types of hand grenades for supplying the Red Army currently seems to be as follows: a hand grenade of the 1914 model, equipped with melinite, significantly outperforms all other types of grenades in its action and is a typical example of an offensive grenade in the nature of its action; it is only necessary to reduce the number of individual far (over 20 steps) flying fragments as much as the state of the art of this business allows. This improvement is provided for by the attached "Requirements for new models of hand grenades." Mills and F-1 grenades, provided that they are supplied with more advanced fuses, are considered satisfactory as defensive grenades, while Mills grenades are somewhat stronger in action than F-1. In view of the limited stocks of these two types of grenades, it is necessary to develop a new type of defensive grenade that meets the new requirements ...

In 1926, F-1 grenades were tested from those in storage (at that time there were 1 million grenades of this system in warehouses) with a Koveshnikov fuse developed in 1920. According to the test results, the fuse design was finalized and after military tests in 1927, the F-1 grenade with the Koveshnikov fuse under the name F-1 hand grenade with a fuse of the F. V. Koveshnikov system in 1928 was adopted by the Red Army.

All the grenades available in the warehouses were equipped with Koveshnikov fuses by the beginning of the 1930s, and soon the USSR launched its own production of grenade cases.

In 1939, engineer F. I. Khrameev finalized the grenade - the body of the lemon became somewhat simpler, lost the lower window.

There is another version of the appearance of the F-1 grenade. In 1999, retired colonel Fedor Iosifovich Khrameev said in an interview with Kommersant Vlast magazine that in 1939 he designed the F-1 grenade.

In 1942-43 Koveshnikov's fuse was replaced with a standard unified UZRG fuse; after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the fuse was improved, the reliability of operation was increased, and it received the designation UZRGM.

Design

(training sample)

(training sample)

The F-1 grenade has the following performance characteristics:

The F-1 grenade belongs to the hand-held anti-personnel fragmentation defensive grenades of remote action. Its design turned out to be so successful that it has existed until now without fundamental changes. The design of the fuse was somewhat changed and refined in order to increase the reliability of operation.

Like most anti-personnel grenades, the F-1 consists of 3 main parts.

• fuse. The grenade has a universal fuse UZRGM (or UZRG), also suitable for grenades RG-42, RGD-5. The fuse of the UZRGM differs from the UZRG by changes in the shape of the trigger guard and the design of the firing pin, which made it possible to reduce the failure rate of the weapon.
• Explosive. Explosive charge - 60 g of TNT. Possibly equipped with trinitrophenol. Such grenades have an increased lethality, but the shelf life in warehouses is strictly limited; after the expiration of the grenade, it poses a significant danger. The explosive checker is isolated from the body metal with varnish, paraffin or paper. There are known cases of equipping grenades with pyroxylin mixtures.
• metal shell. Externally, the grenade has an oval ribbed body made of steel cast iron, the profile resembles the letter "Zh". The body is a complex casting, it pours into the ground, and chill casting is also possible (hence the shape). Initially, the ribbing was created for the formation of fragments of a certain size and mass during the explosion, and the ribbing also performs an ergonomic function, contributing to a better hold of the grenade in the hand. Subsequently, some researchers expressed doubts about the effectiveness of such a system for the formation of fragments (cast iron is crushed into small fragments, regardless of the shape of the body). Cutting the body makes it easier to tie the grenade to the peg. The total weight of a grenade with a fuse is 600 g.

Marking and storage

The combat grenade is painted green (from khaki to dark green). The training and imitation grenade is painted black with two white (vertical and horizontal) stripes. In addition, it has a hole at the bottom. The combat fuse has no coloring. At the training and simulation fuse, the pin ring and the lower part of the pressure lever are painted scarlet.

F-1 grenades are packed in wooden boxes of 20 pieces. UZRGM fuses are stored in the same box separately in two hermetically sealed metal cans (10 pieces per can). Box weight - 20 kg. The box is completed with a can opener designed to open cans with fuses. Grenades are equipped with fuses immediately before the battle; when transferred from the combat position, the fuse is removed from the grenade and stored separately.

The purpose of packing fuses in a sealed container is to ensure maximum safety during the entire storage period, to prevent corrosion and oxidation of the components of the detonating mixture.

Combat use

Tactical features of combat use

In open areas, the effective range of defeating the enemy during the explosion of a grenade directly by the high-explosive action of the ammunition is 3-5 meters. The radius of continuous destruction of manpower by fragments is 7 meters. The chances of being hit by grenade fragments remain at a distance of up to 200 meters, but this statement is true only for large grenade fragments. As a rule, these are elements of the fuse, less often - fragments of the bottom of the grenade; the main part of the cast-iron body (more than 60%) during the explosion is sprayed into small non-hazardous fragments. The larger the fragment, the higher its potential range of destruction. The initial speed of grenade fragments is 700-720 meters per second; the mass of fragments is on average 1-2 grams, although there are both larger and smaller ones.

Features of the damaging factors of grenades naturally determine the areas of application in modern conflicts. Grenades have the greatest effect in rooms and confined spaces. This is due to the following factors. Firstly, in a relatively small room, up to 30 meters in size, the entire space is located in the area of ​​destruction of fragments, and fragments can also ricochet from walls, ceiling and floor, which again increases the chances of hitting the enemy, even if he is in cover. Secondly, the high-explosive action of a grenade in a closed room is multiplied many times, causing shell shock, barotrauma, disorienting the enemy, which allows, taking advantage of the moment, to enter the room and use other weapons to destroy it.

The F-1 grenade is more effective compared to offensive grenades when assaulting confined spaces and premises, due to its higher mass it gives more fragments and has a more pronounced high-explosive effect, all this makes it more likely to disable the enemy.

Tactical features of sabotage use

Also, F-1 grenades are often used when setting tripwires, this is due to the number of fragments, which increases the chances of hitting the enemy, and a reliable fuse, which will not be damaged by a long stay in adverse conditions before the trap works. A combination of 2 F-1 grenades creates a stretch, which also has some anti-sapper properties - it explodes when the cable (wire) is cut.
In the special forces, the F-1 grenade fuses are “finalized”, before being installed, the detonating charge is cut off as a stretch and the retarder wick is removed. You can also equip the grenade with an instant mine fuse of the right size. Thus, they achieve an almost instantaneous explosion and deprive the enemy of 3-4 seconds to save.

Application in military conflicts

Is in service

F-1 in the cinema

In action films, you can often see grenades hanging from a safety check ring on a belt or vest. In reality, a sane person will not do this: during the battle, you have to move over rough terrain, where there is a high risk of catching something on a grenade and pulling a safety pin out of it. After that, the grenade quite naturally explodes, most likely destroying the fighter or at least unmasking him. During the battle, grenades are in a grenade pouch or unloading vest, and in their absence - in clothing pockets.

In feature films, you can often see the main character effectively pulling the grenade pin with his teeth. In reality, in most cases, such an action will lead to tooth loss. This is due to the fact that significant physical effort is required to remove the safety pin: this is done intentionally to prevent accidental grenade detonations.

Also in many films you can see how a grenade falling into a group of people scatters them in different directions, killing most of them. In practice, this is far from the case. When a grenade is detonated, a powerful blast wave is not formed: indeed, people who are within a radius of 2-3 meters from the detonation site receive barotrauma, shell shock, they often fall to the ground, but do not throw anyone away from the explosion site for ten meters. Fragments, on the other hand, only hit those directly close to the place of detonation. Possessing a small mass and low penetrating power, the vast majority of fragments are not capable of penetrating the human body through and through. This is the basis for the principle of saving comrades by covering the grenade with your body.

In some films and many illustrations, the F-1 grenade is black, which creates an opinion that the black color of the grenade is standard. In fact, black coloring means that the grenade is training or is a dummy, combat grenades are painted green.

Fighter training

When hit by fragments of a grenade, the share of chance is high: for example, in some cases, a grenade detonation in the immediate vicinity of a fighter can only stun him; however, there are cases when a single fragment of a grenade hit a soldier who was in shelter at a distance of 70-80 meters from the place where the grenade was detonated.

For recruits, throwing a grenade often presents a psychological problem: based on the perceptions received from the militants, they consider the grenade to be a weapon of monstrous destructive power and experience panic fear, which leads to stupid and absurd actions that can really endanger their lives. So, for example, they can throw a check instead of a grenade, and leave the grenade in the trench; drop an activated grenade at your feet and, being paralyzed with fear, stand waiting for the explosion, instead of running away and lying down. It is also important to observe safety precautions when throwing grenades in winter: when thrown, a grenade can catch on protruding parts of clothing and fly in a direction dangerous for a fighter, or even roll into a sleeve.

Project evaluation

In general, this sample of an anti-personnel grenade should be considered successful. The F-1 has passed the test of time, has a simple, reliable device, is technologically advanced and easy to manufacture, and effectively copes with the tasks assigned to this type of weapon. Naturally, the disadvantages of the project follow from its merits.

Advantages

Due to its simple and reliable design, the F-1 grenade has been in service for about 70 years without significant changes and will probably not be withdrawn from service for a long time. The advantages that ensure such a long service life are as follows:

disadvantages

The disadvantages of this grenade are due mainly to the obsolescence of its design, and not to design flaws. These include:

• Low efficiency of the formation of fragments during crushing of the hull. Most of the hull mass (up to 60%) forms too small indestructible fragments. At the same time, several too large fragments are often formed, increasing the dangerous distance and reducing the number of fragments of the optimal size. The corrugation of the hull, which is generally random in nature, cannot ensure the formation of fragments of a satisfactory shape and their optimal distribution over the mass (the very idea of ​​forming fragments of a predictable size due to the corrugation of the hull turned out to be not entirely correct).
• The remote igniter does not cause an explosion when it hits the target, but works after a while (this property any remote fuse, and not just UZRG).
• The grenade is relatively heavy, which slightly reduces the maximum range of the throw.

see also

Notes

1. The Global Intelligence Files - Re: SITREP - INSIGHT - LEBANON - update on black market prices
2. Vernidub I. I. Hand grenades - infantry "pocket" artillery// Ammunition of victory. Essays. - Moscow: TsNIINTIKPK, 1998. - S. 95. - 200 p.
3. Shooting instruction. Hand grenades. - M.: Military publishing house of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. 1965 - 65, p.15
4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION of the device and application of hand grenades of the 1915 model F.1.

It is very important for the infantry involved in the battle to have an effective means of dealing with the enemy. Such a tool is a grenade f 1. Its power, the radius of lethal action is amazing.

The prototype of this explosive device was created over a hundred years ago. The grenade is still in service with various armies, including the Russian one, thanks to the unique capabilities of this weapon.

The history of the creation of grenades

This simple, in its design, means of defense for an infantryman has traveled an interesting path. Its history begins in France.

It was here in 1915 that a grenade was created under the designation F1.

In our country, during the first war, I mean the World War, of course, it was improved.

They invented a new fuse of the Koveshnikov system.

But the main changes took place during the Soviet era.

1. In 1939, they invented, based on the French model, their own F-1 grenade. The developer of the explosive device, engineer Khremeev, left the same principle of operation. However, he simplified and made the case more perfect.
2. The next stage in the improvement of the F-1 refers to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. It was at this time that the designer E. M. Viceni created a simpler, more reliable and perfect fuse. At the same time, he was safer than before.
3. During the Second World War, namely in 1942, a “unified fuse for hand grenades” was also developed, which later became universal for several types of grenades.

After the war, the fuse was modernized and its modifications UZRGM 1, 2 are used in F-1, in RG-42, as well as RGD

Grenade device

F-1 fragmentation, anti-personnel grenade, designed to be thrown from cover. As can be seen from the photogravures, the appearance of the device has not changed significantly over the course of a century.

The body of the grenade is so perfect in its design that there was no need to change anything in it.

The device of a hand grenade is very simple:

• the explosive device consists of a metal body (steel cast iron), oval in shape with ribs, so that after it explodes, as many fragments as possible are formed;
• a fuse of the UZRGM type, in which, in comparison with the UZRG, the design of the striker has been changed, which makes it possible to minimize the failure of the weapon during use;
• an explosive mixture is TNT or trinitrophenol (dry picric acid), there are options when the explosive has a mixture composition. In this case, the basis, as a rule, is pyroxylin (nitrocellulose).

That is, a grenade contains only three main parts: body, fuse, explosive.

In this simplicity, the main advantage is reliability.

Specifications

The performance characteristics (TTX) of the F-1 are summarized in the table, and present the following picture:

The characteristics of the f1 grenade indicate that this explosive device is almost ideal for defensive operations. And also to use it in sabotage activities.

The radius of destruction allows you to inflict significant damage to enemy manpower.

The grenade is very effective when used in stretch marks, as a barrage measure if it is not possible.

How the ignition works

The combat properties of a grenade largely depend on its fuse, and it consists of:

• checks, which is a metal ring, a pin from a piece of wire that passes through a hole in the fuse;
• drummer, a metal rod, it is pointed at one end;
• springs that actuate the drummer;
• trigger lever in the form of a plate, its purpose is to block the drummer after the pin is removed;
• capsule;
• moderator;
• detonator.

The scheme of action of the fuse of a hand grenade looks like this:

• after the check is removed, the drummer is held with the trigger lever;
• releasing the lever, and this happens during throwing, the drummer is activated and pierces the primer with a sharp end;
• the moderator ignites, after a few seconds the detonator fires, an explosion occurs.

The projectile fires with a delay to give the throwing soldier time to take cover. The technical characteristics of the f1 grenade allow you to effectively hit the enemy.

Why Lemon?

Regarding the slang name of lemon, there are several versions of their origin:

• because of the external resemblance to a lemon;
• there is an opinion that not only the F-1 was taken as the basis of the domestic grenade, but also the English development of Edward Lemon, from here, by the name of the creator and the name.

In the military environment, there is another name "fenyushka", in France the name of a hand-held fragmentation grenade is "pineapple", in Poland it is "tortoise".

Lemon and features of its use

There are some features of the storage of this projectile. They consist in the fact that the fuse and the case with the explosive in a wooden box are stored separately. The fuse is screwed into the grenade before the battle.

In the operating instructions, the article on the storage of fuses says that they must be in special sealed boxes. This is so that they do not corrode.

How to distinguish a training grenade from a combat one? In this sense, labeling is of particular importance. Combat grenades are painted green and dark green. And the grenade model is painted black.

This is done in order to visually immediately distinguish a combat grenade from an imitation grenade. And the latter, of course, is used in order to avoid accidents during the training of soldiers.

But not only on this basis can they be distinguished. The layout of the training grenade f 1 has a ring from the checks, as well as the lower part, the very tip of the lever, which must be pressed after removing the checks, is painted red.

Fighters must carry grenades in a special pouch designed for two shells. Or in the unloading, and transport pockets are also allowed. But in no case do not cling the shells to the belt for the rings of the checks.

Preparing and throwing a grenade

The characteristics of the F-1 require a responsible attitude to the process of preparing and throwing a grenade. Moreover, these shells are defensive, which means they require sophisticated skills in handling them.

1. First of all, it is necessary to unbend the wire antennae that fix the pin so that it does not spontaneously fall out of the fuse.
2. At the same time, the trigger lever is held with the right hand. Now you can pull out the check. In this position, the grenade can be held for a long time and even, if necessary, insert the pin back.
3. Having chosen the moment, the grenade is thrown at the target. The trigger lever releases the striker, which activates the primer and an explosion occurs.

How long does it take for a grenade to explode?

The maximum time is 4 seconds.

The manpower of the enemy when using this type of explosive device suffers from being hit by shrapnel.

Real use in combat

In open areas, the high-explosive action (overpressure damage) of the F-1 is noticeable at a distance of 3-5 meters from the explosion site. The range of fragments (sure defeat) reaches 50, sometimes 70 meters.

The largest fragments can fly up to 200 meters from the epicenter of the explosion.

These features also dictate how the grenade can be used in combat:

• it is most effective in confined spaces, i.e., in rooms where the destructive power of fragments is maximum;
• indoors and the high-explosive action is amplified several times, which leads to shell shock, and also completely disorientates;
• F-1 is very useful in organizing sabotage as the main element of trip wires, as well as for undermining vehicles, warehouses, etc.

Sometimes stretch marks are placed using two or more grenades.

And if you remove the moderator, then you can achieve one important advantage, that is, an instantaneous explosion.

The same effect will be given by grenades equipped with a mine fuse that acts instantly.

Advantages and disadvantages

The F-1 grenade has been in service with many armies for more than a dozen years. In the short term, and even in the distant, it is unlikely to be discontinued.

The reason for this is its undeniable advantages.

• Ease of manufacture and low cost of the material from which the case is made.
• A simple and reliable fuse that operates remotely and reliably.
• High damaging effect, especially in confined spaces.

The disadvantages of this projectile include too small fragments formed during the explosion. They have low destructive power.

The disadvantage of her fuse is that the retarder gives the enemy a chance to save, albeit a small one. The F-1 is a rather heavy projectile; not everyone succeeds in throwing more than half a kilogram of cargo far and accurately.

Offensive RGD grenades are a kind of analogue of the F-1. But they are twice as light as it, but there is also twice as much explosive in them. The RGD grenade has a fuse of the same type as the F-1.

Due to the smaller number of fragments, but the greater explosive action, it is used in offensive operations.

Another type is . Their advantage over F-1 is also in less weight.

In addition, the radius of action of both the RGD and the RGN is of considerable importance - 15 - 20 meters.