Handgrenades

Handgrenades are basic weapons as the assault rifles and used by nearly all soldiers. In the finnish terrain close combat is very likely as was found out during world war 2. Three main types are used. The defensive shrapnelgrenade m/43, to the left on the picture, is a effective handgrenade with a lethality,- or wounding range that forces the soldier throwing it to take cover. The offensive "chock"-handgrenade m/41, to the right on the picture is a less effective handgrenade but on the other hand the soldier throwing it doesn´t have to take cover, this is highly usefull when assaulting, or when using indoors when the walls might be thin. Both the m/41 and m/43 handgrenade use a m/61 or m/83 fuze. Phosphorous handgrenades (in the middle of the picture) are also used.


- Picture © Finnish Defence Forces

Defensive handgrenade m/43
Weight: approx. 690 g

Offensive handgrenade m/41
Weight: approx. 280 g
Length: without fuse 81 mm