Comments by "" (@neutronalchemist3241) on "Modello 1928 Tromboncino Grenade Launcher" video.

  1. The SR2 bomb was filled with 32gr of TNT, into an iron case, and with an iron spiral around it to ensure fragmentation. The explosive filling was inferior to the later (from 1944) US MKII hand grenades, but superior to the earlier ones, so I wouldn't deem them as "ineffective". The bomb was designed to contain it's effects in a 50m range, and so the shooter was instructed to not shoot at closer distances (see "Istruzione provvisoria sull'uso della bomba S.R.2 con governale"). It was not the bomb, simply they decided to ditch the whole idea. It was replaced by the Brixia mortar, that, being able of direct ant indirect fire, and having a far higher ROF, was deemed to be a better solution.
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  2. The SR2 bomb was filled with 32gr of TNT, into an iron case, and with an iron spiral around it to ensure fragmentation. The explosive filling was inferior to the later (from 1944) US MKII hand grenades, but superior to the earlier ones, so I wouldn't deem them as "ineffective". The bomb was designed to contain it's effects in a 50m range, and so the shooter was instructed to not shoot at closer distances (see "Istruzione provvisoria sull'uso della bomba S.R.2 con governale"). It was not the bomb, simply they decided to ditch the whole idea. It was replaced by the Brixia mortar, that, being able of direct ant indirect fire, and having a far higher ROF, was deemed to be a better solution.
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  3. Now imagine to be on Omaha beach. Germans are shooting at you from small openings in concrete bunkers. You could have: 1) a MKII hand grenade. You have to get close enough to throw it into the bunker. 2) a knee mortar. You have to shoot and hope the bomb hit the right spot 3) a M91/28 grenade launcher, or a Brixia mortar. You can aim at the bunker openings from over 100 distance. What would you choose?
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  4. To switch the bolt of the rifle (the Carcano bolt is a single piece that came out simply pulling the trigger) takes actually less time than to charge a live round and a grenade in the launcher.
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  5. They replaced it with the Brixia mortar, that, being able of direct and indirect fire, and having a far higher ROF, was deemed to be a better solution.
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  6. It's the external part of a spring-loaded plate that holds the grenade in place.
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  7. google "bomba SR2" and you'll easily find the original instruction manual (in Italian).
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  8. This thing had never been intended for close quarter fights. The shooters were trained to not shoot at less than 50m for their own safety, and the three position of the grenade sights were intended for 130m, 190m and 230m. The grenades were roughly as powerful as hand grenades.
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  9. The SR2 bomb was filled with 32gr of TNT, into an iron case, and with an iron spiral around it to ensure fragmentation. The explosive filling was inferior to the later (from 1944) US MKII hand grenades, but superior to the earlier ones, so they were not really "flash bangs", they had been designed to be lethal. Italian grenades, in general, were designed to fragment in smaller pieces in respect to the "pineapple" designs. That way the lethal radius was smaller, but the pattern was more uniform (cast iron "pineapple" grenades tended to fragment in few pieces, so they hit at random, maybe killing someone distant from the bomb, and sparing someone close to it).
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  10. The SR2 bomb was filled with 32gr of TNT, into an iron case, and with an iron spiral around it to ensure fragmentation. The explosive filling was inferior to the later (from 1944) US MKII hand grenades, but superior to the earlier ones, so I wouldn't deem them as "ineffective". The bomb was designed to contain it's effects in a 50m range, and so the shooter was instructed to not shoot at closer distances (see "Istruzione provvisoria sull'uso della bomba S.R.2 con governale").
    1
  11. The SR2 bomb was filled with 32gr of TNT, into an iron case, and with an iron spiral around it to ensure fragmentation. The explosive filling was inferior to the later (from 1944) US MKII hand grenades, but superior to the earlier ones, so I wouldn't deem them as "ineffective". simply it was not the quality of the bomb. They discarded the whole idea.
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  12. It's the external part of a spring-loaded plate that holds the grenade in place.
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  13. It's not a gas regulator. It's the external part of a spring-loaded plate that holds the grenade in place.
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  14. "little trombone"
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  15. Imagine to be on the beaches of Normandy, with Germans that shoot at you from small openings in bunkers 100-200m distant. Or to be in urban warfare, with enemies that shoot at you from the windows of the buildings. What makes the difference, in a situation like that, is to be able to put the equivalent of an hand grenade into that openings from 100-200m distance. What really made the difference between the Tromboncino and other rifle grenades of the time, is that you could aim with it. The other rifle grenades required the soldier to fire them putting the the stock on the ground. They were not intended for direct fire. The Mortaio Brixia, other than being able of direct and indirect fire, and his grenades having double the TNT filling in respect to those of the Tromboncino, had a higher ROF, and was capable of adjustement shots. Thus it was ultimately preferred.
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