Type 91 hand grenade
| Type 91 hand grenade | |
|---|---|
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| General Information | |
| Type: | Frag grenade |
| Country of origin: |
 Japan
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| Commissioning: | 1931 |
| Working time: | 1931 to 1945 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Combat weight: | 530 g (with thread) |
| Charge: | 65 g TNT |
| Length: | 196 mm (with thread) |
| Diameter: | 48 mm |
| Lists on the subject | |
The type 91 hand grenade ( Japanese 九 一 式 手 榴 弾 , Kyūichi-shiki teryūdan ) was a hand grenade that was used between 1931 and 1945 by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War. The designation Type 91 refers to the year of introduction within the Japanese calendar scheme in the year 2591 - in the Gregorian calendar the year 1931.
history
In 1931, the Army Technical Research Institute began developing the Type 91 hand grenade. It was almost identical to the type 10 hand grenade (introduced in 1920), but had a TNT charge that was 15 grams stronger . Like the Type 10, the Type 91 was supposed to fulfill several functions at the same time: thrown by hand and fired with grenade launcher or rifle grenade launcher. The multiple function was intended to simplify the troop's logistics , as one type of ammunition could supply several weapons at the same time. The type 91 hand grenade became the standard hand grenade of the army and navy . From 1937 onwards it was replaced by the Type 97 hand grenade in the army , but was still used for light grenade launchers until the end of the war in 1945. The Navy used the Type 91 as their standard hand grenade until the end of the war.
technology
The type 91 hand grenade had a cast iron casing with grooves running through it to increase the splinter effect. There were two ways to use the Type 91: Either she was thrown by hand or to the finish using the grenade launcher Type 10 , the grenade launcher type 89 or rifle grenade launcher Type 100 fired.
There were screw-on cylinders at both ends. The larger of the two cylinders contained the propellant to fire the grenade with a grenade launcher. The smaller cylinder contained the fuse-cord fire mechanism that detonated the grenade's detonator.
In order to use the grenade for manual use, the larger cylinder had to be unscrewed first. To ignite it, a U-shaped pin with a short cord had to be pulled out. Then the grenade had to be pushed with the small cylinder on a solid object in order to detonate the primer . Most of the time, the soldiers used their own steel helmets . The fire mechanism then ignited a fuse that detonated the grenade seven to nine seconds later. Later models had a shorter delay rate.
When the grenade was fired from a grenade launcher, a different fire mechanism was used. A propellant charge was housed in the lower cylinder. It was ignited when inserted into the grenade launcher and the grenade left the barrel. The recoil when leaving the barrel ignited the primer and the grenade was armed.
See also
literature
- Leland Ness: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937-1945: Volume 2: Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion & Company, 2014, ISBN 978-1-909982-75-8 .
- Will Fowler & Patrick Sweeney: The World Encyclopedia of Rifles and Machine Guns Hermes House, 2010, ISBN 978-1-84681-162-3 .
- Gordon L. Rottman: The Hand Grenade (Weapon) Osprey Publishing, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4728-0734-2 .
- David Miller: Fighting Men of World War II, Axis Forces . Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons of Axis Forces. 1st edition. Stackpole Books, 2007, ISBN 978-0-8117-0277-5 , Japan, pp. 288 .
Web links
- Imperial Japanese Grenade Launchers. tekidanki.com, accessed April 2, 2016 .
- Type 10 grenade. Akira Takizawa, accessed October 28, 2016 .
- Type 91 grenade. World War II Database, accessed October 28, 2016 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Type 91 Grenade. World War II Database, accessed October 28, 2016 .
- ↑ Type 10 Grenade. Akira Takizawa, accessed October 28, 2016 .
- ^ Fowler & Sweeney, p. 288.
- ^ Rottman, p. 33.
- ^ Ness, p. 59.