What was the theorie of the german stick grenades?

[Jean-Loup]

I have always wondered why the germans made such a coastly grenade as the stick grenade, using up tones of wood and stuff. And what effect did this grenade have, since it produces almost no splinters compared to the US fragmentation grenade. What was the theorie behing the stick grenade?
JL

[Ralph A]

Blast and shock.

Not meant to have much fragmentary effect. They DID make iron sleeves to give them such, and they could also be bundled to make a pretty darn good demolition charge.

[Ralph A]

ha ha

Coincidentally, I won these toys at auction recently. The descriptions and the pictures at the bottom tell the story:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3174972858

[fireman]

The handle gave it greater range and accuracy. Also I think, not sure, it was designed to be an offensive weapon. Where the concussion of the blast did the work without the shrapnel hitting the thrower.

[MGN]

Interesting thread,
Are you talking about one of these>?
Michael

[Jean-Loup]

Have those grenades been together since te war?
So what king of wounds could the concussion cause?
JL

[WalterB]

Have those grenades been together since te war?
So what king of wounds could the concussion cause?
JL

Jean-Loup, concussion wounds range from temporary stunning, the destruction of your ear drums all the way to death. In many instances, a KIA of a concussion blast will show little, if any, physical trauma. Just ask any unfortunate Iraqi infantry man on the receving end of a B-52 carpet bombing attack

[mech91]

Jean-Loup, concussion wounds range from temporary stunning, the destruction of your ear drums all the way to death. In many instances, a KIA of a concussion blast will show little, if any, physical trauma. Just ask any unfortunate Iraqi infantry man on the receving end of a B-52 carpet bombing attack

The 500 lbs. & 750 lbs. bombs dropped by BUFF's created both a tremendous blast effect, and very large shrapnel as the skin of the bombs were very thick. The bombs dropped by fighters often had fuse extenders to enhence the shrapnel damage. Ex B-52D mechanic, Carswell AFB, TX