RGD-5
The RGD-5 (Ruchnaya Granata Distantsionnaya, English "Hand Grenade Remote") is a post–World War II Soviet anti-personnel fragmentation grenade, designed in the early 1950s. The RGD-5 was accepted into service with the Soviet Army in 1954. It was widely exported, and is still in service with many armies in the Middle East and the former Soviet bloc.
| RGD-5 | |
|---|---|
 RGD-5 hand grenade with UZRGM fuze fitted | |
| Type | Hand grenade |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1954–present |
| Wars | Vietnam War Six-Day War Northern Ireland Conflict Yom Kippur War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Invasion of Kuwait Kosovo War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War 2008 South Ossetia War 2011 Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 310 g (11 oz) |
| Length | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Diameter | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Effective firing range | 15–20 m (49–66 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Filling | Trinitrotoluene |
| Filling weight | 110 g (3.9 oz) |
Detonation mechanism | 3.2 to 4.2 seconds. pyrotechnic delay fuse |
| Blast yield | ~350 fragments |
Description
The grenade is egg-shaped without ribbing, except for a lateral ridge where the two halves of the grenade join. It weighs 310 grams (11 oz), is 117 millimetres (4.6 in) in length, and 58 millimetres (2.3 in) in diameter. The surface has a few small dimples with green or olive drab paint.
It contains a 110-gram (3.9 oz) charge of TNT with an internal fragmentation liner that produces around 350 fragments with a fatality radius of around 3 metres (9.8 ft)[1] and a wounding radius of 25 metres (82 ft).[2][3] Typically, the RGD-5 uses the 3.2 to 4.2 second delay UZRG, UZRGM, or UZRGM-2 fuze, a universal Russian type also used in the RG-41, RG-42, and F1 grenades or the more modern DVM-78 fuze. It is also possible to screw a MUV booby-trap firing device into the fuze well.[4]
The RGD-5 can be thrown about 35 to 45 metres (115 to 148 ft) by the average soldier and on throwing, the grenade makes a loud "crack" sound as its spoon falls out activating the fuze.
It is still manufactured in Russia with copies produced in Bulgaria, China (as the Type 59) and Georgia. Millions of RGD-5s and its clones have been manufactured over the years and although not as advanced as more modern grenades specifically designed to penetrate CRISAT standard body armour, the RGD-5 is an effective and inexpensive weapon. A single RGD-5 grenade costs around $5 US, making it affordable.
Variants
Rifle grenade
The AK-47 can mount a (rarely used) cup-type grenade-launcher that fires standard Soviet RGD-5 hand-grenades. The soup-can shaped launcher is screwed onto the AK-47's muzzle.[5] It is prepared for firing by inserting a standard RGD-5 hand-grenade into the launcher, removing the safety pin, and inserting a special blank cartridge into the rifle's chamber. With the butt-stock of the rifle on the ground it can be fired.
The maximum effective range is approximately 150 metres (492 ft).[6]
URG-N
The URG-N is a reusable training model of the RGD-5 with a modified fuze containing a tiny explosive charge which simulates the detonation of the grenade. The body of this grenade is painted black with white markings.
China
- Type-59 – Chinese built variant.
Bulgaria
Poland
- RGO-88 – Polish variant with А-IX-1 filling (95% RDX and 5% Phlegmatized explosive). 60 g (2.1 oz) of explosive mass.
Lithuania
- RPG-92 – Lithuanian copy manufactured by small arms factory "Vytis" between 1992–1996. Not an exact copy, this grenade uses a cylindrical shell instead of an egg shaped one.
Users
Former
Panama: Used by the Panama Defense Forces[7]
Usage in US president assassination attempt
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On 10 May 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian, a Georgian citizen and ethnic Armenian, waited for the United States President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to speak in Tbilisi's central Liberty Square. When Bush began speaking, Arutyunian threw an RGD-5 hand grenade wrapped in a red plaid handkerchief toward the podium where Bush stood as he addressed the crowd. The grenade landed 18.6 metres (61 ft) from the podium, near where Saakashvili, his wife Sandra E. Roelofs, Laura Bush, and other officials were seated.[8]
The grenade failed to detonate. Although original reports indicated that the grenade was not live, it was later revealed that it was.[9] After Arutyunian pulled the pin and threw the grenade, it hit a girl, cushioning its impact. The red handkerchief remained wrapped around the grenade, and it prevented the striker lever from releasing. A Georgian security officer quickly removed the grenade, and Arutyunian disappeared, but was later arrested.[8][10]
See also
References
- Hogg, Ian V. (1991). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1991-92. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0963-9.
- "Russian RDG-5 grenades in both blasts". nationmultimedia.com. The Nation.
- "Ручная наступательная граната РГД-5". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2006. |RGD-5 data (in Russian)
- "HAND GRENADE RGD- 5". universal-dsg.com. Hartford International Group.
- "RGD-5". Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- File:AK47Figure54.jpg – Wikisource. En.wikisource.org. Retrieved on 2011-09-27.
- Operator's Manual for AK-47 Assault Rifle. Department of the Army
- Rottman, Gordon (2010). Panama 1989-90. Elite. Vol. 37. Osprey Publishing. pp. 14, 15, 57, 62, 63. ISBN 9781855321564.
- "The Case of the Failed Hand Grenade Attack: Man Who Tried to Assassinate President Convicted Overseas". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 11 January 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- Terry Frieden (7 September 2005). "Alleged would-be Bush assassin indicted". CNN. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
- Nick Paton Walsh (19 May 2005). "FBI says hand grenade thrown at Bush was live". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
