RGD-33

History

On the eve of World War II (1939-1945), the RGD-33 infantry grenade was chosen to replace the aging 1914-type grenade stockpile derived from World War I (1914-1918). The RGD-33 retains the "stick" design that was popular in the previous war, but adds a variety of modern features that make mass production and deployment of the new weapon more complex.

Design work on the RGD-33 began in 1933, but the series ceased production as early as 1942.

The basic design of this grenade is a cylindrical head and a more slender cylindrical body. The head contains the main charge, igniter and TNT filler around the center tube. The body acts as a handle, with one hand manipulating the slide of the safety pin and the latch of the other hand. The total weight reaches 500 grams and the overall length is 190 mm.

The TNT filler weighs 85 grams.

The effect of the grenade consists of a time fuze delay, once activated, the operator has 4 to 5 seconds before detonating. Like the previous Model 1914 grenade, the grenade can be equipped with a thin metal casing, making it an infantry fragmentation weapon, with a total weight of 750 grams.

Serial production of the RGD-33 allowed for a wide range of fire, which in turn saw the series receive substantial combat service during the Soviet Union's war with neighboring Finland ("Winter War" and subsequent "Continued War") WWII . It was also used by the communist army during the Korean War (1950-1953) and the subsequent Vietnam War (1955-1975).

Despite its appeal, this grenade was simply too complex and therefore too expensive to produce in wartime conditions - especially after the German invasion of the Soviet Union through Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 . Thus, its successor soon followed in 1942 with the RG-42 "Kanister" grenade. Stockpiles of RGD-33 grenades were captured by the advancing Germans and renamed "HG 337(r)".

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes