Grenade weapon

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A grenade weapon is a firearm that fires grenades at a greater distance, with higher precision and cadence than would be possible with the hand of a soldier (see hand grenades ). In contrast to guns , which also fire grenades but are considered artillery weapons, grenade weapons are used by infantry or motorized units and are accordingly compact, light and mostly (dismantled) designed to be portable.

terminology

The term grenade weapon includes a large number of firearms that fire grenades in some way . Furthermore, either the manufacturers of such weapons or the respective weapons offices have often come up with a new name for a slightly differently designed grenade weapon in order to differentiate it from existing grenade weapons and to make the firing method recognizable in the name. Furthermore, the meanings of terms changed over time, e.g. B. Mortar and Mine.

In the German-speaking area, there are names relating to firearms that fire grenades:

  • Grenade weapon
  • Grenade launcher
  • Mortar
  • mortar
  • Charge thrower
  • Grenade pistol
  • Grenade rifle
  • Rifle grenade
  • Rifle grenade device
  • Rifle grenade launcher
  • Grenade cannon
  • Grenade machine launcher
  • Grenade machine gun
  • Machine grenade launcher
  • various suggestive names, such as B. 'Combat or assault pistol', 'Shooting cup', 'Assault rifle'

The term grenade weapon as a generic term unites all such weapons. In the following, the unusual designation grenade cannon is not considered.

history

Since the Second World War, a mine has only been understood as a hidden charge with self-release. In the period around the First World War and earlier, it was understood to include grenades that were fired in some way and explode with the effect of a mine . For this reason, the first 'muzzle-loading deep-fire guns of the infantry' were also referred to as mine throwers ; in Switzerland to this day. In Germany from 1914 so-called “grenade launchers” were developed and introduced (models 14, 15 and 16; also known as “priest launchers” or “priests”) that fired fragmentation grenades. In contrast to the English constructions, however, these are so-called pin throwers, i.e. H. the grenade is not fired from a tube, but placed on the handle of the thrower with its hollow shaft.

With the beginning of the introduction of "Grenade Launchers" (English for grenade launchers) with caliber bullets in the middle of the 20th century (e.g. M203 ), this term was literally translated into German and used for this type of weapon. However, in German-speaking countries a 'muzzle-loading deep-fire gun of the infantry' was called a grenade launcher. Although both are grenade weapons, they are completely different types. The term grenade launcher is therefore used twice.

In the past, only large-caliber deep - fire guns were described as mortars , those of the infantry with grenade launchers (the official definition of a grenade launcher still describes a muzzle-loading high-speed artillery piece for infantry). With the double assignment of the term grenade launcher, the term mortar was extended to the 'muzzle-loading high-angle firearms of the infantry' in the German area for better delimitation, and the hand-held grenade weapons were described with grenade launchers. As a result, a 'grenade launcher' means different grenade weapons in different epochs.

All other terms mentioned above emerged in history to delimit the function or structure of the weapon from existing weapon systems.

differentiation

A subdivision of the grenade weapons can be based on the following aspects:

  • Size:
- portable handgun
- non-portable grenade weapon
From a handgun , grenades are either placed on the muzzle of the handgun as an over-caliber projectile and fired through a special ammunition in the handgun, or they are inserted as a caliber projectile into a special launch tube, which is either mounted as an add-on weapon under the handgun or functions as a stand-alone handgun . In contrast, non-portable grenade weapons generally operate as an independent weapon, which is usually carried in parts by several soldiers and then assembled on site.
  • Firing sequence:
-Single shot
-semi-automatic
-Automatic weapon
Grenades are always fired in a single shot from a handgun, because on the one hand the recoil when firing is quite enormous and on the other hand no soldier can hold a large magazine full of grenades together with such an automatic weapon in his hand and especially on the target. However, there are independent, semi-automatic handguns, which are principally revolvers with a greatly enlarged caliber . Manual reloading is no longer necessary, at least until the bullet barrel is empty. The non-portable grenade weapons, on the other hand, can be automatic weapons, as they are usually attached to a tripod. However, the cadence of such a weapon is far lower than with machine guns , which is due in large part to the very large for automatic weapons caliber.
  • Charging type:
-Front loader
-Back loader
Most grenade weapons breech-loading , that is, the shell is pushed from behind in the tube and the closure closed. Exceptions are the over-caliber bullets, which are placed on handguns and can therefore be referred to as muzzle-loaders , as well as the charge launchers and mortars , which are also loaded via the muzzle .
  • Bullet type:
-Over caliber bullet
-Caliber bullet
Oversized bullets are launched onto a launch tube, e.g. B. a normal handgun inserted and ignited via an external pulse, usually a special cartridge of the handgun. The advantage is that the caliber of the overkali grenade can be significantly larger than that of the launch tube. However, the flight path is relatively imprecise due to the lack of guidance of the projectile through a tube. Caliber bullets are placed in the launch tube in the same way as a normal cartridge and must therefore have the same caliber as the barrel. This implies either small caliber or short launch tubes to still be used in small arms. In the case of non-portable grenade weapons, caliber projectiles are also mostly fired, with the barrel being considerably longer and, above all, thicker than in the case of portable weapons.
-Twist (intrinsic rotation)
-Wings (aerodynamic tail units)
Caliber bullets are usually stabilized with a twist . An exception are most of the infantry muzzle-loading deep- fire guns , which are provided with a smooth barrel. Oversized bullets, on the other hand, are usually wing stabilized, since the guidance through a tube and thus the possibility of giving the bullet a twist is very small.
  • Trajectory:
- flat ballistic
- steep ballistic
Depending on the firing angle , there is a different ballistic trajectory. A body that is accelerated at a low firing angle flies a flat parabola, while one at a steep angle flies a higher one (see Steep Fire Gun or Flat Fire Gun ). The firing angle, the only variable that can be influenced by the shooter in addition to the side aiming, is determined by the fixed muzzle velocity of the grenade when firing and the distance to the target (see ballistics ). Hand-held grenade weapons always have a lower muzzle velocity than the non-portable ones and thus a steeper ballistic trajectory. This is because a shooter could not handle the recoil of a large-caliber shell fired at high muzzle velocity. If the grenade weapon is fixed on the ground, this impulse is conducted into the ground.

Grenade weapon types / integration

The properties of the various grenade weapons can be described and classified using the subdivisions made above:

  • Grenade pistol : independent handgun, which fires single-shot caliber projectiles in a relatively steep trajectory, due to the low muzzle velocity; Breech loader; Twist stabilized; Grenade pistols belong to the group of grenade launchers; Pistol because of its compact dimensions; also called combat or assault pistol in Germany during World War II , with over-caliber projectiles (muzzle-loaders) being used here;
Examples: AG36 , HK69
  • Rifle grenade : not a weapon, but an oversized bullet; is fired from a normal rifle with a steep trajectory; Muzzle loader; the special attachment for the rifle was offz in Germany during World War II. Rifle grenade device as well as inoffz. Called shooting cup ; another name for this is rifle grenade launcher; Twist and wing stabilized
  • Grenade launcher : an independent handgun as well as a weapon attached to a handgun, which fires single or semi-automatic caliber bullets in a relatively flat trajectory; Breech loader; Twist stabilized; a grenade gun is an early form of a grenade launcher; earlier mortars were called grenade launchers
Examples: AG36 , M203
  • automatic grenade launchers : also called grenade machine launchers , grenade machine guns or machine grenade launchers ; non-portable automatic grenade weapon, which fires caliber projectiles in a flat trajectory with short bursts; Breech loader; Twist stabilized; belongs to the group of grenade launchers
Examples: HK GMW , Mk 19
  • Mortar : non-portable muzzle-loading grenade weapon; shoots grenades in single shot in steep fire; Smooth tube (wing stabilized); referred to as a mine thrower in Switzerland; officially referred to as a grenade launcher; earlier only large artillery artillery guns were referred to as mortars
Examples: M224 (mortar) , M252 , Brixia model 35
  • Charge launcher : non-portable muzzle-loading grenade weapon; wing stabilized; shoots over-caliber bullets in steep fire
Examples: 20 cm load launcher (also light load launcher)
  • Recoil -powered grenades : stand-alone grenade weapon that can be operated by one person and fires single-shot or oversized bullets; in English colloquially known as "Rocket Propelled Grenades" (RPG); Muzzle-loaders or breech-loaders, but some are also designed as single-use weapons; mostly wing stabilized
Examples: Panzerfaust , RPG , M72

commitment

Grenade weapons should enable the infantry to fight targets outside the range of the hand grenades and while protecting their own cover as much as possible. At the same time, the weapon should be hand-held or easily transportable so as not to restrict the movement of the infantry. Since grenade weapons, regardless of the type, have relatively slow muzzle velocities, the projectile effect is based purely on the explosive power of the grenade. This distinguishes z. B. the automatic grenade launchers significantly from the machine cannons . Due to the multiple steep fire trajectory, it is still possible to fight opponents behind cover.

Depending on the type of weapon and the intended use, different types of grenades can be fired (broken down by effect, see grenade ):

  • armor-piercing shells,
  • HE shells,
  • Fragmentation grenades,
  • Smoke / smoke grenades,
  • Incendiary grenades,
  • Warfare grenades,
  • Flash grenades.

Highest explosive (HE) grenades with a combined explosive and fragmentation effect against people are most widespread (see mine effect , shrapnel ).

literature

Ilya Shaydurov: Russian close combat equipment: types, technology . 1st edition. Motorbuch, ISBN 978-3-613-03974-2 .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Encyclopedia First World War . Paderborn 2014, ISBN 978-3-8252-8551-7 , pp. 722 f . (The inventor of these devices was a clergyman, the Hungarian seminary director “Vécer”, which is why they were also known as “priest throwers”).