SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
H031276 TRAINING/PRACTICE STICK GRENADE.
(Übungshandgranate)BACKGROUND: The development and production of German army ordnance was under the supervision of the HwaA, Heereswaffenamt, (Army Ordnance Office), which was a subsection of the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and was responsible for testing, evaluation and eventual issue of all ordnance. The HwaA would issue all ordnance to a units Quartiermeister, (Supply HQ unit/Quartermaster), which contained the units Administration, Medical, Veterinarian, and Transport Officers and its main responsibility was the control of all supplies to the forward troops including all vehicle fuel, and lubricant requirements as well as animal feed and rations and ammunition and accessories. The high explosive, concussion, M24 stick grenade was a modification of the WWI German M1915 stick grenade and was to become the most common grenade used by Germany during WWII. Modifications of the M24 resulted in the longer M39 grenade in 1939 and the M43 grenade with a different fuze insertion configuration in 1943. The M24, M39 and M43 grenades were all armed with TNT with a four to five second time delay fuse and had an effective radius of approximately twelve to fourteen yards. The German army went to great lengths to ensure its personnel were provided with the best in-depth training that was available at the time. The training took many forms and in an attempt to replicate the most realistic combat conditions possible the German army used live fire training exercises and found a one percent training fatality rate as acceptable, reasoning it was better to remove inadequate personnel in training as opposed to having them risk other lives in actual battle. Although the Germans did use live fire training exercises, for economic reasons, they also utilized assorted "dummy", and training ordnance items including stick grenades to enhance throwing distance and accuracy. The official, army pattern, training, stick grenade utilized the standard M24 grenade handle but had a distinctive grenade head, of the proper weight, with a bright red painted finish and eight punched holes to make it instantly recognizable. Although the official army pattern training stick grenade is the most commonly encountered there were variety of different patterns manufactured and utilized by assorted political and paramilitary groups. Of Note: Interestingly qualifications for award of the Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge included a "sport" called, "Keulenwerfen", (Club Throwing), which utilized the training/practice grenades as the club.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The unofficial pattern training/practice stick grenade consists of a roughly, 30.5cm tall single piece, lathed, contoured, solid, natural soft wood handle with a roughly, 3.5cm high, 6cm diameter, steel sleeve that is attached with screws. The sleeve shows heavy usage and wear with numerous dents. The wooden handle has scratches, chips and insect holes.
GRADE *** PRICE $50.00 (Or Best Offer)
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