Infantry weapons / Grenades / RGD-5
RGD-5
General Facts
- TYPE
Hand grenade - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
Type 59 (Chinese production) - DESIGNED
Early 1950's - DESIGNER
Soviet state arsenals - PRODUCTION
1954 - present - PRODUCERS
Bulgaria (RGD-5, RGN-86)
China (RGD-5)
East Germany (RGD-5)
Georgia (RGD-5)
Poland (RGD-5)
Russia (RGD-5, RGN-86)
USSR (RGD-5, RGN-86) - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Low production costs
Fragments do not pierce body armor
Introduction
The RGD-5 is a offensive hand grenade of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early 1950's to replace all World War 2 vintage offensive hand grenades in service. The name RGD-5 stands for Ruchnaya Granata Degtyareva, which is Russian for Degtyarev hand grenade. The RGD-5 has been produced under license by various nations.
Design
The RGD-5 has an ovoid body which consists of two parts that have been joined in the middle. An UZRGM time delayed fuze with spoon is fitted. Later developments include the RGO-78 with steel balls that result in more lethal fragments and the RGN-86 with an aluminum body that is better suited as an offensive grenade.
Firepower
The RGD-5 is filled with TNT and the steel body will turn into splinters. The lethal radius in 3 meters and fragments may reach out to 25 meters. The RGO-78 has a much larger lethal radius as it produces more lethal fragments that also retain their energy over a longer distance. The RGN-86 produces hardly any lethal fragments outside its 4.5 m lethal radius.
Users
The RGD-5 is one of the most common grenades in the world and was acquired in large quantities by Soviet forces, Warsaw Pact nations and nations receiving Soviet aid. Nowadays many RGD-5 grenades remain in active use. The RGO-78 and RGN-86 are not nearly as common but still in widespread use.
RGD-5
The RGD-5 is an offensive grenade with such a fragmentation radius that makes it also suitable for defensive purposes. A vast majority of the RGD-5 grenades is fitted with the UZRGM fuze.
RGD-5: Only a single version of the lethal RGD-5 exists although it can also be found with the more modern DVM-78 fuze.
Type 59: Chinese model with slightly heavier body resulting more lethal fragments which also reduce its offensive usefulness.
URG-N: Practice model of the RGD-5. Throwing dummies have also been produced.
| Type | Defensive hand grenade |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 57 mm |
| Length | 114 mm |
| Weight | 0.310 kg |
| Fuse | UZRGM, 3.2 to 4.2 second delay |
|---|---|
| Filling | 110 g TNT, prefragmented steel body |
| Effect | 3 m lethal radius, 20 - 25 m casualty radius |
| Velocity | Hand thrown |
| Range | Hand thrown, up to 40 m |
|---|---|
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Defensive hand grenade |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 58 mm |
| Length | 118 mm |
| Weight | 0.350 kg |
| Fuse | UZRGM copy, 3.5 to 4.5 second delay |
|---|---|
| Filling | 110 g TNT, prefragmented steel body |
| Effect | ? |
| Velocity | Hand thrown |
| Range | Hand thrown |
|---|---|
| Remarks | - |
RGO-78
The RGO-78 is a dedicated defensive version of the RGD-5. It contains less explosive and has a much thicker prefragmented steel body.
RGO-78: Only a single live version of the RGN-86 exists, although it can in theory be fitted with the older UZRGM fuze.
RGO-1M: Practice grenade with similar weight, size, flash and noise. Does not produce any harmful effects.
- Specifications:
- RGO-78
| Type | Defensive hand grenade |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 60 mm |
| Length | 97 mm |
| Weight | 0.450 kg |
| Fuse | DVM-78, 3.2 to 4 second delay |
|---|---|
| Filling | 85 g TNT, prefragmented steel body, 850 steel balls |
| Effect | 20 m casualty radius |
| Velocity | Hand thrown |
| Range | Hand thrown, 30 to 45 m |
|---|---|
| Remarks | - |
RGN-86
The RGN-86 can be considered a more modern version of the RGD-5. The RGN-86 is fitted with the more modern DVM-78 fuze and is better suited as an offensive grenade since it has a prefragmentated aluminum body. The aluminum shrapnel loses its lethality quickly resulting in limited injuries beyond the lethal range.
RGN-86: Only a single live version of the RGN-86 exists, although it can in theory be fitted with the older UZRGM fuze.
RGN-1M: Practice grenade with similar weight, size, flash and noise. Does not produce any harmful effects.
- Specifications:
- RGN-86
| Type | Offensive hand grenade |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 61 mm |
| Length | 96 mm |
| Weight | 0.265 kg |
| Fuse | DVM-78, 3.2 to 4 second delay |
|---|---|
| Filling | 57 g TNT, prefragmented aluminum body |
| Effect | 4.5 m lethal radius |
| Velocity | Hand thrown |
| Range | Hand thrown, 30 to 35 m |
|---|---|
| Remarks | - |