Why were German grenades on a stick?

The stick design also minimized the risk of the grenade rolling downhill back towards the thrower when used in hilly terrain or in urban areas. However, the additional length of the handle meant that fewer could be carried. The grenades were extremely useful for clearing out entrenched infantry positions.

What is a potato masher grenade?

The Stielhandgranate (German for “stick hand grenade”) was a German hand grenade distinguished by its wooden handle. Its distinctive appearance led to it being called a “stick grenade”, or “potato masher” in British Army slang, and it remains one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century.

Why were German grenades called potato mashers?

The Stielhandgranate was the quintessential hand grenade of the German Army in both World War 1 and World War 2. While generally referred to as a “stick grenade”, the type was also given the nickname of “Potato Masher” by the Allies due to its shape rather resembling the kitchen utensil.

When was the German stick grenade made?

Arguably the most recognized German infantry weapon of the 20th Century. The German stick grenade design began in 1915, improving on the Pétards Raquettes concept which was a rudimentary early war improvised stick grenade.

What type of grenades were used in ww2?

The Mk II A-1 fragmentation hand grenade, or “pineapple.” American soldiers used many types of hand grenades during World War II, but the primary grenade used by American soldiers in World War II was the Mk-II A-1 defensive fragmentation grenade, sometimes referred to as a “pineapple” due to its shape.

How long would it take for a German stick grenade to explode?

The stick grenade, which was the standard hand grenade of German soldiers during World War I, was designed to detonate after either a 5.5 or 7 second delay, although some exploded on contact.

When did the US stop using pineapple grenades?

The Mk II/Mk 2 series fragmentation grenade was the standard American Army infantry hand grenade from 1918 until the 1960s.

Why do grenades look like pineapples?

Traditional hand grenades – like those used by the Allies in WWII look a bit like a pineapple because lines on the outer surface are grooves in an otherwise smooth cast iron body.

Can a Kevlar helmet stop a grenade?

No, but in the opinion of other infantry veterans, Dunham did the right thing. Anyone who covers a grenade with their kevlar is going to be severely wounded. But his helmet likely absorbed all of the grenade’s shrapnel and allowed his fellow Marines to come out relatively unscathed.

What kind of grenade did the Wehrmacht use?

Cross-section of the later Model 1924 Stielhandgranate (the standard-issue grenade of the Wehrmacht) with unique steel rod-based fusing mechanism. (Translated from Original) The Stielhandgranate (German for “stick hand grenade”) was a German hand grenade distinguished by its wooden handle.

What kind of grenades did the Stiel use?

They did use spherical grenades as well, nicknamed egg-grenades (M39 Elhandgranate), but those were for defensive use. The main advantages of the the Stielhandgranate were the distance that you could throw it at – for obvious reasons – and the fact that it would not roll back towards you if you were to throw it at your enemy, from a lower position.

What is the difference between grenade bundle and Stielhandgranate?

The grenade bundle would also be significantly heavier, and thus harder to throw. The Stielhandgranate was copied by Japan, China, and Vietnam, and was used in various conflicts worldwide, though foreign copies were often less reliable or less powerful than their German parent grenade.

How were rifle grenades used in WW1?

British development of rifle grenades early in the war was fragmentary. The rod was inserted down the barrel of the service rifle and launched with a special blank cartridge. Rifle grenades were designed to land head-first, but often failed to do so.