Description
The RPG-40 Antitank Stick Hand Grenade can be recognized by its large diameter (3.8 inches), crimped, sheet-metal head painted olive drab, or green, with a paper label pasted on the side. The handle has a safety lever locked in place by a safety cotter pin which is equipped with a fabric tab for pulling the pin out of the handle. There is no cast iron, fragmentation jacket furnished, this grenade being a demolition grenade which depends upon a heavy explosive charge for effect against armored vehicles with an armor thickness of from 20mm to 25mm (0.79 to 0.98 inch), bunkers, pillboxes, and similar targets. It is only thrown from cover.
Functioning
To prepare the grenade for throwing, the handle is grasped to hold the safety lever firmly against the handle until the grenade is thrown. The detonator-assembly retaining arm is then pivoted on its axis, thus exposing the detonator pocket in the center of the grenade head. Then a detonator assembly is inserted with the smaller (primer) end first, and the retaining arm pivoted back and locked under the catch provided. This prevents the detonator assembly from falling out. Before the grenade is thrown, the fabric tab on the safety cotter pin is pulled to remove the pin from the grenade. The grenade is then thrown, and since it has an all-way impact fuze, it will detonate on striking the target.
As the grenade leaves the hand, the safety lever flies out, thus pulling out a needle that locks the striker assembly in place. The striker assembly sets forward, and safety balls, which hitherto have held the striker immobile, drop out and allow the striker free play. At the same time, a safety bar attached to the safety lever is withdrawn and allows a weight to bear against the rear of the striker assembly. On impact, the weight sets forward under inertia and drives the striker against the primer, thus detonating the bursting charge.
Hazardous Components
Filler - TNT, 1.68 lb (0.76 kg)
See Also
Nothing else to see.
Source(s)
Intelligence Bulletin (June 1946)
