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.
Variants

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.

Specifications:
RGD-5

Type 59

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
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