RGD-33
Overview
RGD-33
Two RGD-33 hand grenades, including one with fragmentation jacket.
Source: www.mil.ru -
© GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
M.G. Dyakonov
RGD-33 | Ruchnaya Granata Djakonova 33
Russian for "hand grenade Dyakonov 1933"
57-L-712 (GRAU index)
Handgranate 337(r) (Beutewaffen index)
Nazi Germany
Description
Introduction
The RGD-33 is an pre-World War 2 era hand grenade of Soviet origin. It was adopted in 1933 to replace older types of hand grenades. The RGD-33 has become an iconic design associated with the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany in World War 2.
Design
The RGD-33 is a stick grenade with fragmentation effect. It is a dual purpose design that can be used as an offensive grenade and as a defensive grenade by attaching a pre-serrated fragmentation sleeve. The RGD-33 uses a time delay fuse activated by means of a metal thumb lever on the stick. The stick allows the RGD-33 to be thrown out to ranges of 30 to 40 meters.
Firepower
A unique feature is that the RGD-33 also relies on fragmentation effect in offensive mode. It produces about 2.000 small fragments that lose energy quickly. This results in a casualty radius of 5 to 10 meters. By adding the fragmentation jacket the grenade becomes significantly heavier. The sleeve produced about 400 additional large fragments that extend the casualty radius to 10 to 15 meters.
Users
The main user of the RGD-33 was the Soviet Union. Over 50 million of these grenades were acquired in the inter war era and early stages of World War 2. During the war production switched to types of grenades that were simpler to produce and of singular offensive or defensive purpose. Large quantities were captured by Nazi German forces and re-issued to their troops.
Details
Media
RGD-33
RGD-33 hand grenade on display in a museum without fragmentation sleeve.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
RGD-33
Line diagram showing design features of the RGD-33 hand grenade.
Source: US Army
Copyright: Public domain
RGD-33
Artist impression and cut away diagram of the RGD-33 hand grenade.
Source: www.militaryarms.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
RGD-33
Photo showing several RGD-33 hand grenades.
Source: www.militaryarms.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
RG-42
During World War 2 the RGD-33 was replaced by the RG-42 in the role of offensive hand grenade.