John Kettler Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 It's actually slung with the tail fins folded, not thrown like an oversized dart. This is what mid war German tank hunter teams used when they didn't have Panzerschrecks or Panzerfausts. Before that, it was geballte ladungen (grenade bundles) and Teller mines wedged under the turret. Note that the safing pin is still in place. http://www.ceris-normandie.com/archivesnormandie/PhotosHD/p000979.jpg Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vergeltungswaffe Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Looks like a case of "Go long!" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Although he has no rank insignia visible, five'll getcha ten that's an officer, and in Intelligence to boot! Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Bolt Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Originally posted by Michael Emrys: Although he has no rank insignia visible, five'll getcha ten that's an officer, and in Intelligence to boot! Michael Zoom in. There is some patch barley visible on his left arm. It could be chevrons. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenAsJade Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 I don't get it. You say "its slung with the tail fins folded" and yet he's clearly about to pitch it with the fins deployed like an oversize dart? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 6, 2006 Author Share Posted August 6, 2006 GreenAsJade, For how to properly throw one, please see pp. 207 and 208 of THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR II, Chris Bishop, Editor. See also p. 352 of Gander & Chamberlain's WEAPONS OF THE THIRD REICH. From TME-30-451 HANDBOOK ON GERMAN MILITARY FORCES (via LoneSentry.com) BEGIN EXCERPT l. HOLLOW-CHARGE ANTITANK HAND GRENADE (Panzerwurfmine 1 (L)). (1) General description. This is a recent type antitank grenade. It is of hollow-charge design and is thrown by hand at tanks from a distance of 20 to 30 yards. The grenade body is in the form of a metal cone with a hemispherical, thin, sheet-metal head. The cone contains an explosive charge, with a concave metal retaining plate at the forward end. An air space is formed between this plate and the sheet metal head of the grenade. The narrow end of the cone is located by setting screws around the circumference of a hollow wooden tailpiece containing picric rings and serving as a throwing handle. Around the outside of the tailpiece are four, cloth, triangular shaped fins. Along the outer end of each fin is a steel spring which retains the fins in the open position when the grenade is thrown. When the grenade is being carried, and up to the moment of throwing, these fins are wrapped around the tailpiece and retained in position by a cap. Located in the tail of the grenade is a striker mechanism fitted with a safety pin which has a cloth tab attached. The safety pin is retained in position by a metal clip attached to one of the fins. (2) Operation. The grenade is held for throwing by the tailpiece, and immediately before throwing the metal cap is removed from the end of the tailpiece. When the grenade is thrown the fins fly outward and the clip attached to one of them comes away from the striker mechanism and releases the safety pin. Upon impact the striker mechanism functions and initiates the bomb. END EXCERPT What the excerpt doesn't say is that it is an overhead throw, delivered with a kind of whipping motion. It is anything but a dart throw. Regards, John Kettler [ August 06, 2006, 06:03 AM: Message edited by: John Kettler ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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