Stielhandgranate M24

Model : https://www.myminifactory.com/it/object/3d-print-model-24-stielhandgranate-grenade-2128

La Stielhandgranate 24 fu la granata da lancio standard del Reichswehr e della Wehrmacht dalla seconda metà della prima guerra mondiale fino al termine della seconda. Per la sua tipica forma iniziò a essere chiamata granata a manico o, dai soldati del British Army, potato masher (Italiano: schiacciapatate). È tutt’oggi una delle granate del XX secolo più facili da riconoscere.

Lo “schiacciapatate” era caratterizzato da un involucro di metallo in lega leggera di ferro o acciaio (testa) contenente l’esplosivo avvitato su un manico cavo di legno. All’interno di esso era sistemata una corda doppia con attaccata una “palla-guida” di porcellana. La parte inferiore era chiusa da un cappuccio metallico avvitabile in cui un dischetto metallico impediva il movimento della stessa.[1] Per aumentarne l’efficacia era possibile infilarvi un apposito manicotto a frammentazione (Splitterring, anello frammentato). L’innesco era dato da un acciarino a frizione presente nella testa che veniva azionato tirando un anello di plastica collegato alla corda. Questa era collegata alla miccia che accendeva il detonatore con un leggero ritardo, tarato in 4 secondi, per permettere al soldato di lanciarla.
Anche senza eccessivo addestramento era possibile effettuare lanci sui 25–30 m. La sua carica poteva essere composta di tritolo o di nitrato di ammonio non compresso.
Nel primo caso la bomba, colorata in grigio verde scuro, portava contrassegnata la lettera SK e K, nel secondo caso essa era contraddistinta dalle sigle D e O.

The Stielhandgranate (German for “stick hand grenade”) was a German hand grenade of unique design. It was the standard issue of the German Empire during World War I, and became the widespread issue of Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht during World War II. The very distinctive appearance led to it being called a “stick grenade”, or “potato masher” in British Army slang, and is today one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century.

The Weimar Republic revived the Stielhandgranate, and created a new version in 1924, the “Model 1924 Stielhandgranate” (M24). 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. Another change in the design was a lengthening of the wooden handle. 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 is well known as the standard hand grenade of the armed forces of the Wehrmacht during World War II. 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.
The Model 24 Stielhandgranate was stored in specially designed crates during transport, which could carry up to 15 individual grenades. 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. During production, a reminder was stenciled on each explosive charge: Vor Gebrauch Sprengkapsel einsetzen (“Before use insert detonator”).
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
Fonte: Wikipedia