View source for RG-42

{{Short description|Soviet hand grenade}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox weapon
 |name= RG-42 grenade
 |image= RG-42 grenade Navy.jpg
 |caption=
 |origin=Soviet Union
 |type= [[Hand grenade]]
 <!-- Type selection -->
 |is_ranged=
 |is_bladed=
 |is_explosive=yes
 |is_artillery=
 |is_vehicle=
 |is_missile=
 |is_UK=
 <!-- Service history -->
 |service= 
 |used_by=see ''[[#Users|Users]]''
 |wars= [[World War II]],<br>[[Continuation War]],{{sfn|Campbell|2020|page=16}}<br>[[Korean War]],<br>[[Vietnam War]],<br>[[Rhodesian Bush War]],<br>[[Soviet-Afghan War]],<br>[[Gulf War]],<br>[[Georgian Civil War]],<br>[[First Chechen War]],<br>[[Afghan Civil War (1992–1996)]],<br>[[Insurgency in the North Caucasus]],<br>[[Russo-Ukrainian War]]
 <!-- Production history -->
 |designer= S. G. Korshunov<ref name=autogenerated1>П. А. Гусак, А. М. Рогачев. Начальная военная подготовка (справочное пособие военрука). 2-е изд., доп. и перераб. Минск, 1975. стр.223–225</ref>
 |design_date= {{Circa|1942}}
 |manufacturer=
 |unit_cost=
 |production_date=1942–1954
 |number= 
 |variants=
 <!-- General specifications -->
 |weight= {{convert|420|g}}<ref name=autogenerated1 />
 |length=
 |part_length= 
 |width=
 |height= {{convert|121|mm}}
 |diameter= {{convert|54|mm}}
 |crew=
 <!-- Explosive specifications --> 
 |filling=[[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]]
 |filling_weight= {{convert|110-120|g}}
 |detonation=Time-fuze, 3.2–4.0 (3.2-4.2) seconds<ref name=autogenerated1 />
 |yield=
 }}

The [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] '''RG-42''' ('''Ручная Граната образца 42 года''' > ''Ruchnaya Granata obraztsa 42 goda'', "Hand Grenade pattern of [19]42 year") was a [[Hand Grenade#Fragmentation|fragmentation grenade]] designed by S. G. Korshunov.

While it was introduced as a stopgap measure to replace the complex and expensive [[RGD-33]] grenade, it remained in use with the Soviet Union, [[Warsaw Pact]] countries, and allied nations such as [[People's Republic of China]] after [[World War II]]. In Soviet service it was used until 1981 during the [[Soviet-Afghan war]].

==Design==

Unlike the RGD-33, the RG-42 was a simple design, being a little more than a steel sheet cylinder filled with explosives.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}} It required no [[casting]] and were produced in existing can factories. It also shared the UZRG fuse used on the [[F1 grenade (Russia)|F-1 grenade]].{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=31}}

It contained approximately {{convert|110-120|g|abbr=on}} of the high explosive ([[trinitrotoluene|TNT]]) in a cylindrical stamped-metal can.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}} According to Rottman, the fragmentation liner was a thin sheet of steel rolled into three layers with diamond shaped  grooves.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=31}}

The RG-42 was fitted with a UZRG or UZRGM fuze with a 3.2−4.2 second delay, same types used by the F-1 and [[RGD-5]] grenades.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}{{sfn|Yelshin|1981|page=31}}

The grenade could be thrown about {{convert|30-40|m|yd|abbr=on}} and has an effective fragmentation radius of approximately {{convert|25|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Russian General Staff|2002|page=41}} While the blast effect is dangerous over radius of at least {{convert|10|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}

The total weight of the grenade with the fuze was {{convert|420|g|abbr=on}}.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==History==

The RG-42 was originally introduced during [[World War II]] from 1942 onwards as an emergency measure to replace the [[RGD-33]] grenade,{{sfn|Campbell|2020|page=16}} a pre-war design which proved to be too complex to operate, too expensive and time-consuming to produce.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=30}} It remained in use with the USSR, [[Warsaw Pact]] countries, and Communist China in the post-war period.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=31}}

After World War II, it saw action with Communist forces in the [[Korean War]] alongside the Chinese-made Type 42;{{sfn|Bunker|2010|page=292}} and [[North Vietnam]]ese troops during the [[Vietnam War]].{{sfn|Rottman|2012|page=31}}

The RG-42 was still used by Soviet troops alongside the F-1 and RGD-5 as late as 1981,{{sfn|Yelshin|1981|page=31}} during the early stages of the [[Soviet-Afghan war]].{{sfn|Russian General Staff|2002|pages=40−41}} In the mountains of Afghanistan, the 3.2−4.2 second delay fuze not only gave the [[Afghan mujahideen|mujahideen]] enough time to search for cover, but it also posed the danger of the grenade rolling back to friendly positions after it was thrown.{{sfn|Russian General Staff|2002|page=42}} As result the RG-42 was replaced by the [[RGN hand grenade|RGN]] and [[RGO hand grenade|RGO]] hand grenades,{{sfn|Russian General Staff|2002|pages=40−41}} which were introduced mid-1980s.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=31}}

In the 1990s, it was still used by Iraqi forces during the [[Gulf War]];{{sfn|Jacobson|1991|page=34}} During the [[Georgian Civil War]] several paramilitary groups purchased ex-Soviet surplus grenades from Russian officers;<ref name="SAS 1998 4" /> In 1992, prior to the [[First Chechen War]], it was estimated that Chechen forces loyal to separatist leader [[Dzhokhar Dudayev]] captured 80,000 RG-42s from ex-Soviet stocks;{{sfn|German|2003|pages=57−58}} In 1994, several Afghan militias including the [[Taliban]] possessed some grenades alongside other Soviet small arms left behind following the collapse of the [[Mohammad Najibullah|Najibullah regime]].{{sfn|Matinuddin|2000|page=49−51}}

Despite the RG-42 age, it was "still likely to be found almost anywhere, especially in Africa and the Balkans" in the 2010s, according to ''[[Janes Information Services|Jane's]]'';{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}} In 2011, Azerbaijan security forces seized at least three grenades from  [[Caucasus Emirate]] insurgents;{{sfn|Hahn|2014|pages=228−229}} In 2019, during the [[war in Donbas]], Ukrainian forces seized at least one grenade from the [[Russian separatist forces in Donbas|pro-Russian insurgents]].{{sfn|CAR|2021|page=102}}

==Foreign copies==
Although the RG-42 is considered obsolete, China still produced copies (as the Type 42 grenade) until the late 2000s, while Poland and Romania produced the RG-42 as late as 2010.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}

According to US intelligence, Czechoslovakia and North Korea have also produced and used locally made copies of the RG-42.{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=69}}<ref name="NK" />

==Users==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

* {{flag|Afghanistan|1992}} − Captured by the [[Afghan mujahideen]]{{sfn|Matinuddin|2000|page=49−51}}
* {{BUL}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=48}}
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Caucasian Emirate.svg}} [[Caucasus Emirate]]{{sfn|Hahn|2014|page=229}}
* {{flag|Chechen Republic of Ichkeria}}{{sfn|German|2003|page=58}}
* {{CHN}} − Produced locally as the Type 42{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}
* {{CZS}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=69}}
* {{DDR}}<ref>Taschenkalender der Nationalen Volksarmee. Verlag des Ministeriums für Nationale Verteidigung, 1957</ref>{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=95}}
* {{flag|Georgia|1990}} − Used during civil conflicts in 1990s<ref name="SAS 1998 4">{{cite book|author=Small Arms Survey|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185639/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP06-Georgia.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 January 2011|title=Politics From The Barrel of a Gun|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=1998|page=40|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}</ref>
* {{flag|Iraq|1991}}{{sfn|Jacobson|1991|page=34}}<ref>{{cite book | author1-last=[[Marine Corps Intelligence Activity]] | title=Iraq Country Handbook |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | date=1998 |url=https://www.sabrizain.org/iraq/Marines.pdf |page=A-18 |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050528131010/http://www.sabrizain.org/iraq/Marines.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2005}}</ref>
* {{PRK}} − Were used at least until 1997<ref name="NK">RG-42 Fragmentation Hand Grenade // North Korea Country Handbook MCIA-2630-NK-016-97. U.S. Department of Defense, May 1997. page A-94</ref>
* {{flag|Poland}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=139}} − Were used at least until 2019<ref>"''W końcowej fazie poligonowego szkolenia zintegrowanego terytorialsi wykonywali rzut bojowym granatem zaczepnym RG-42.''"<br/>Bogusław Politowski. [http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/home/articleshow/28931?t=Terytorialsi-na-poligonie-w-Wedrzynie Terytorialsi na poligonie w Wędrzynie] // "Polska Zbrojna" (August 5, 2019)</ref>
* {{ROM}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}
* {{flag|Soviet Union}}<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* {{flag|Ukraine}} − Several were kept in storage as late as 2017.<ref>[http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/241-2006-%D0%BF/page Розпорядження Кабінету міністрів України від 1 березня 2006 р. No. 241 «Про затвердження переліку військового майна військ Цивільної оборони, яке може бути відчужено»]</ref><ref>[http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/450-2011-%D1%80 Розпорядження Кабінету міністрів України від 25 травня 2011 р. No. 450-р «Деякі питання відчуження майна Оперативно-рятувальної служби цивільного захисту Міністерства надзвичайних ситуацій»]</ref><ref>[http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/547-2017-%D1%80 Розпорядження Кабінету міністрів України від 18 серпня 2017 р. No. 547-р «Про затвердження переліку боєприпасів, що підлягають утилізації у 2017–2021 роках»]</ref> Seen in use as late as April 2024, according to the Russian MoD<ref>[https://z.mil.ru/spec_mil_oper/news/more.htm?id=12507730@egNews Военнослужащий армейского корпуса группировки войск «Восток» уничтожил 27 украинских боевиков в ходе захвата и удержания опорного пункта ВСУ в районе Новомихайловки] / official website of the Russian Ministry of Defense (April 5, 2024)<br/>[https://tvzvezda.ru/news/202445528-LbGX0.html Рядовой Максимов отбил четыре штурма и уничтожил 27 боевиков] / телеканал "[[Zvezda (TV channel)|Звезда]]" от 5 апреля 2024</ref>
* {{VIE}}{{sfn|Rottman|2012|page=31}}

==Western Sources==
* Brassey's Infantry Weapons of the World describes this grenade as having {{convert|118|g|oz|abbr=on}} of TNT, {{convert|20|m|yd}} fragmentation effect, and a {{convert|40|m|yd}} tossing range.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Owen |first=J.I.H |title=Brassey's Infantry Weapons of the World |publisher=Bonanza |year=1975 |isbn=0-517-242346 |location=New York, N.Y. |pages=222–223 |language=en}}</ref>
* According to ''Jane's'' the RG-42 have a height of {{convert|130|mm|in|abbr=on}} with fuse and {{convert|85|mm|in|abbr=on}} without, and a mass without fuse of {{convert|384|g|oz|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=753}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |author1-last=Bunker |author1-first=Robert J. |editor1-last=Tucker |editor1-first=Spencer C |editor2-last=Pierpaoli Jr |editor2-first=Paul G |editor3-last=Kim |editor3-first=Jinwung |editor4-last=Li |editor4-first=Xiaobing |editor5-last=Matray |editor5-first=James I. |title=The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History [3 volumes] |date=2010 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-85109-850-7 |chapter=Grenades |pages=292−293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzHYEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=David |title=Soviet Soldier vs Finnish Soldier: The Continuation War 1941–44 |date=2020 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-3828-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QTXpDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Department of the Army |first1=United States |title=Handbook on the Satellite Armies |date=1960 |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |location=Washington, DC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eoc-FktJHr0C|language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=German |first1=Tracey C. |title=Russia's Chechen War |date=2003 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-43250-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4VaBAgAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Hahn |first1=Gordon M. |title=The Caucasus Emirate Mujahedin: Global Jihadism in Russia's North Caucasus and Beyond |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-1495-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KXWuBAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Jacobson |first1=Michael R |editor1-last=Garland |editor1-first=Albert N. |title=Iraqi Infantry |journal=Infantry |date= January–February 1991 |volume=81 |issue=1 |pages=33−37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjTt-i8WCeIC |access-date=15 September 2024 |publisher=U.S. Army Infantry School |location=Fort Benning, GA |language=en}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Jones |editor1-first=Richard D |editor2-last=Ness |editor2-first=Leland S|title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 |date=2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Surrey |isbn=978-0-7106-2908-1 |edition=36th |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Matinuddin |first1=Kamal |title=The Taliban Phenomenon Afghanistan 1994-1997: With An Afterword Covering Major Events Since 1997 |date=2000 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-107-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTuyX-PWQo8C |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=The Hand Grenade |date=2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-0735-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3D-VCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75 |date=2012 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-84603-867-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iC21CwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Russian General Staff |editor1-last=Grau |editor1-first=Lester W |editor2-last=Gress |editor2-first=Michael A. |editor1-link=Lester W. Grau |title=The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost |date=2002 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |isbn=978-0-7006-1185-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cB51AAAAMAAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite report |title=Weapons of the War in Ukraine | date=2021 | publisher=[[Conflict Armament Research]]| location=London | url=https://www.conflictarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Weapons-of-the-war-in-Ukraine-low.pdf |ref={{SfnRef|CAR|2021}}}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Yelshin |first1=Colonel N. |editor1-last=Kuchin |editor1-first=Valentin |title=Hand Grenades |journal=Soviet Military Review |date=October 1981 |issue=10 |pages=30−31 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWnfAAAAMAAJ |access-date=15 September 2024 |publisher=Krasnaya Zveda Publishing House. |location=Moscow |language=en}}

==External links==
* [http://www.saunalahti.fi/~junkyard/grenades.html Finnish Junkyard]
 
{{WWIIUSSRInfWeapons}}

[[Category:Hand grenades of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Fragmentation grenades]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1942]]