RGD-5 - manual fragmentation grenade in the service of the Soviet Army. Technical characteristics of grenade RGD-5

Russia for the whole history of its existence has repeatedly changed its political status, entering the empire, kingdom, union, etc. If we trace the path of the country's development from ancient times to our days, it can be found that scientists and masters who live at different times, Glorified the country not only in art and all sorts of sciences, but also in military affairs. A huge number of discoveries, made by engineers and developers, allowed to win more than one battle. If you slightly exaggerate, then we can say that gunpowder was invented in China, but it was in Russia that we learned how to apply it correctly. The whole world is armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, Makarov pistols, T-34 tanks, Dragunov sniper rifles, hand-operated remote action grenades (abbreviated RGD-5), etc. All these and many other military achievements were developed and implemented in use On the territory of Russia. And only after successfully passed tests, other countries also had the opportunity to acquire a firearm.

This article deals with hand grenade RGD-5: characteristics, device, application, development, etc.

Progress does not stand still

After the victory in the Second World War, the weapons complex of the USSR faced the question of changing weapons. In order to move forward, it was necessary to reconsider the priority directions of the industry development and change the long-used combat units. So, instead of grenade RG-42 it was necessary to create a more perfect analogue, which would cover some of the shortcomings of the available options. Thus, in 1950, the development of a more powerful and effective unit began. In 1954, the RGD-5 grenade came into service with the Soviet Union's military forces, the device and characteristics of which were several times higher than the parameters of the available analogs.

This combat unit with its appearance was remotely similar to several European models: the French OF, released in production in 1915, the Polish Z-23 and the German M-39. RGD-5 is a grenade, for the most part intended for conducting offensive combat. However, it can also be used to defeat and stun the enemy's manpower and defensive actions (in trenches, in the forest, in settlements, etc.).

Components: housing

The grenade device RGD-5 is a combination of three main elements:

• Housing;
• Charge;
• Fuse.

Let's consider each of them separately.

RGD-5 hand grenade has a body, which, with the help of the charge placed inside it, splits into the maximum possible number of fragments during its rupture. The shell of the combat unit consists of:

• top part;
• Lower half.

The upper part of the body is a combination of three elements: a cap, its liner and a tube. The latter is designed to connect a grenade and a fuse itself. Also, thanks to the tube, the charge is sealed with a bursting force. With the help of the cuff, it is attached to the hood. For more careful storage, the grenade tube is equipped with a plastic stopper, which also prevents dirt from getting inside. In the conditions of combat, this plug is replaced by a fuse.

In the lower part of the body there is a pallet and its insert.

The outer shell of the grenade RGD-5 is also marked, which is applied with a special black paint. The inscription includes the following information:

• Short name of the fighting unit;
• Batch number;
• Encrypted year of equipment;
• The symbolic designation of the explosive inside the grenade;
• Factory, or rather his number, where the gun was made.

The second constituent element

RGD-5 is a grenade, where the explosive charge mechanism consists entirely of an explosive material called TNT. This substance is intended for splitting the body of the combat unit into small parts (fragments). The bursting charge itself has a weight of 110 g, and 315 g weighs RGD-5. The technical characteristics of the grenade are such that, when the unit is brought into combat condition, the fragments are scattered over an area from 28 to 32 square meters. In this case, the radius of the attacking particles reaches twenty meters.

The third constituent element

Now consider the device fuse. Initially, the RGD-5 grenade was equipped with a drive system similar to the one in the RG-42 and F-1 combat units. The fuse is equipped with a powder retarder, the burning time of which is 3.2-4.2 seconds.

The body of this part of the grenade is made of metal. Inside it there is a trigger mechanism. It consists of a safety lever, checks with a ring, a detonator and a drummer with a fighting spring. The direction of movement of the latter is controlled by means of a special washer, also fixed in the body. The detonator is equipped with primers (inflammable and detonating) and a powder retardant located between them. On the body of the fuse, a threaded bushing is screwed. With its help, the fuse is connected to a grenade.

Principle of operation

Let's see how the fuse operates. As it was said above, the drummer is connected to the fighting spring. It is fixed by the fork of the safety lever. He, in turn, is in a stable state thanks to a cotter pin. Rather, it is fixed by him. The cotter pin is a safety pin that passes through the holes located in the walls of the shell of the fuse itself and in the ears of the lever. The latter is connected to the lower base of the drummer. Above it is a washer. In it, with its one end, the fighting spring rests. The second part of it abuts against the body washer.
After some time, the composition of the fuse changed a little. Its moderating element was slightly modified: it was stabilized. Since that moment, the fuse of the grenade began to be called UZRGM-2. It also began to be used for the production of combat F-1s.

Defeat the target

To implement the RGD-5 grenade throw, it is first necessary to remove the safety pin. In this case, the lever is tightly pressed to the body of combat equipment and is held until the moment of the throw. The spring is then activated. She turns the safety lever, releasing the hammer. That, in turn, under the influence of the spring interacts with the primer-igniter. The spark of the flame passes from it to the retarder, and then, after complete burning out, to the charge of the detonator. This leads to the explosion of a grenade.

The final weight of the RGD-5 grenade is 315 g. This small mass allows soldiers to shoot units at a distance of 50 to 60 meters.

To throw a grenade you need to go through several stages:

• To begin with, take the projectile in your hand in such a way that the safety lever closely adjoins the body;
• Then it is necessary to open the "antennae" of the check;
• Pull it out of the fuse and throw RGD-5 in the intended goal.

Transportation and storage

In military units, grenades of this type are delivered in wooden boxes. In this case, they have separate metal boxes, each of which contains either housings, or handles, or fuses. These containers can only be opened with a special knife, which also comes with the kit.

On the lids and walls of wooden boxes a special composition is marked, proceeding from which you can find out the following information:

• How many grenades are inside the container;
• What is their total weight;
• The name of grenades, fuses and handles;
• Number of the factory where the equipment is made;
• Year of manufacture of combat units;
• Batch number;
• Sign of danger.

It is forbidden to unpack those boxes with grenades, which are not currently used. They should be stored in the boxes created by the manufacturer.

Where to wear it?

In conditions close to combat, each soldier has in his ammunition grenades RGD-5. In this case, the case itself is stored in a special bag. The fuses, each of which is wrapped in a paper or fabric wrapper, are located there, but separately from grenades. Earlier, the soldier had to carry a canvas bag with two pockets for fuses and a department for two combat units. Currently, the military prefer to wear grenades and accessories in pockets of vests.

In caterpillar or wheeled combat vehicles (infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery installations, tanks, armored personnel carriers), grenades and fuses are stacked separately in various bags.

Training option

For the excellent possession of RGD-5 and its throwing, precisely on purpose, men initially undergo special training. In schools, secondary and secondary special educational institutions, universities with military departments, military schools and, of course, the army, young people are trained to use the non-combat version of the grenade, which is called the "training and simulation grenade URG-N."

Like RGD-5, this prototype has exactly the same appearance, shape, mass. Grenade URG-N does not differ from the combat option, as well as the rules of circulation. The process of contact of the educational analogue with the surface during the throwing is accompanied by sound and visual effects: smoke, roar, etc. Methodist analog URG-H is used repeatedly. This grenade, as well as the combat "fellow", consists of a body and a fuse. The latter is a simulation of the present version. The casings of the URG-H and RGD-5 are almost identical. The only difference is in the training grenade at the bottom of a small hole, designed to enhance the sound effect. The housing of the URG-N is painted black and marked on it.

European modification

In the Soviet Union, the RGD-5 grenade, a photo of which can be seen in this article, was adopted in 1954. Then, after the collapse of the great power, many CIS countries retained this combat unit in their equipment. In addition, RGD-5 grenade is used in many foreign countries: China, India, Korea, etc.
It is noteworthy, but the production of this type of weapons was engaged in the territory of Bulgaria and Poland. Twenty years after the release of the first grenade, it was the scientists of these countries who suggested replacing the fuse with a grenade. As a result, RGD-5 received a new fuse called DVM-78, a large mass of 450 grams and a new name - RGO-78.