Grenade
A grenade is an
Grenades work by dispersing fragments (
Grenades are often spherical, cylindrical, ovoid or truncated ovoid in shape, and of a size that fits the hand of an average-sized adult. Some grenades are mounted at the end of a handle and known as "stick grenades". The stick design provides leverage for throwing longer distances, but at the cost of additional weight and length, and has been considered obsolete by western countries since the Second World War and Cold War periods. A friction igniter inside the handle or on the top of the grenade head was used to initiate the fuse.
Etymology
The word grenade is likely derived from the French word spelled exactly the same, meaning pomegranate,[2] as the bomb is reminiscent of the many-seeded fruit in size and shape. Its first use in English dates from the 1590s.[3]
History
Pre-gunpowder
Rudimentary incendiary grenades appeared in the
Gunpowder
In Song China (960–1279), weapons known as thunder crash bombs (震天雷) were created when soldiers packed gunpowder into ceramic or metal containers fitted with fuses. A 1044 military book, Wujing Zongyao (Compilation of Military Classics), described various gunpowder recipes in which one can find, according to Joseph Needham, the prototype of the modern hand grenade.[5]
The shells (pào) are made of cast iron, as large as a bowl and shaped like a ball. Inside they contain half a pound of 'divine fire' (shén huǒ, gunpowder). They are sent flying towards the enemy camp from an eruptor (mu pào), and when they get there a sound like a thunder-clap is heard, and flashes of light appear. If ten of these shells are fired successfully into the enemy camp, the whole place will be set ablaze...[8]
Grenade-like devices were also known in ancient India. In a 12th-century Persian historiography, the Mojmal al-Tawarikh,[9] a terracotta elephant filled with explosives set with a fuse was placed hidden in the van and exploded as the invading army approached near.[10]
The first
By the mid-17th century, infantry known as
Improvised grenades were increasingly used from the mid-19th century, the confines of trenches enhancing the effect of small explosive devices. In a letter to his sister, Colonel Hugh Robert Hibbert described an improvised grenade that was employed by British troops during the Crimean War (1854–1856):[15]
We have a new invention to annoy our friends in their pits. It consists in filling empty soda water bottles full of powder, old twisted nails and any other sharp or cutting thing we can find at the time, sticking a bit of tow-in for a fuse then lighting it and throwing it quickly into our neighbors' pit where it bursts, to their great annoyance. You may imagine their rage at seeing a soda water bottle come tumbling into a hole full of men with a little fuse burning away as proud as a real shell exploding and burying itself into soft parts of the flesh.
In March 1868 during the Paraguayan War, the Paraguayan troops used hand grenades in their attempt to board Brazilian ironclad warships with canoes.[16]
Hand grenades were used on naval engagements during the War of the Pacific.[17][18]
During the Siege of Mafeking in the Second Boer War, the defenders used fishing rods and a mechanical spring device to throw improvised grenades.[19]
Improvised hand grenades were used to great effect by the Russian defenders of Port Arthur (now Lüshun Port) during the Russo-Japanese War.[20]
Development of modern grenades
Around the turn of the 20th century, the ineffectiveness of the available types of hand grenades, coupled with their levels of danger to the user and difficulty of operation, meant that they were regarded as increasingly obsolete pieces of military equipment. In 1902, the British War Office announced that hand grenades were obsolete and had no place in modern warfare. But within two years, following the success of improvised grenades in the trench warfare conditions of the Russo-Japanese War, and reports from General Sir Aylmer Haldane, a British observer of the conflict, a reassessment was quickly made and the Board of Ordnance was instructed to develop a practical hand grenade.[21] Various models using a percussion fuze were built, but this type of fuze suffered from various practical problems, and they were not commissioned in large numbers.[20]
Marten Hale, known for patenting the Hales rifle grenade, developed a modern hand grenade in 1906 but was unsuccessful in persuading the British Army to adopt the weapon until 1913. Hale's chief competitor was Nils Waltersen Aasen, who invented his design in 1906 in Norway, receiving a patent for it in England. Aasen began his experiments with developing a grenade while serving as a sergeant in the Oscarsborg Fortress. Aasen formed the Aasenske Granatkompani in Denmark, which before the First World War produced and exported hand grenades in large numbers across Europe. He had success in marketing his weapon to the French and was appointed as a Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 1916 for the invention.[20]
The Royal Laboratory developed the
Early in World War I, combatant nations only had small grenades, similar to Hales' and Aasen's design. The Italian Besozzi grenade had a five-second fuze with a match-tip that was ignited by striking on a ring on the soldier's hand.[23]
During
In 2012,
En FMV-anställd ingenjör ligger bakom den största nyheten inom handgranatsområdet sedan första världskriget.[28]
Developed by Ian Kinley at
Explosive grenades
Fragmentation
Fragmentation grenades are common in armies. They are weapons that are designed to disperse fragments on detonation, aimed to damage targets within the lethal and injury radii. The body is generally made of a hard synthetic material or steel, which will provide some fragmentation as shards and splinters, though in modern grenades a pre-formed fragmentation matrix is often used. The pre-formed fragmentation may be spherical, cuboid, wire or notched wire. Most explosive grenades are designed to detonate either after a time delay or on impact.[1]
Modern fragmentation grenades, such as the United States M67 grenade, have a wounding radius of 15 m (49 ft) – half that of older style grenades, which can still be encountered – and can be thrown about 40 m (130 ft). Fragments may travel more than 200 m (660 ft).[32]
High explosive
These grenades are usually classed as offensive weapons because the effective casualty radius is much less than the distance it can be thrown, and its explosive power works better within more confined spaces such as fortifications or buildings, where entrenched defenders often occupy. The concussion effect, rather than any expelled fragments, is the effective killer. In the case of the US Mk3A2, the casualty radius is published as 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in open areas, but fragments and bits of fuze may be projected as far as 200 m (660 ft) from the detonation point.[33]
Concussion grenades have also been used as depth charges (underwater explosives) around boats and underwater targets; some like the US Mk 40 concussion grenade are designed for use against enemy divers and frogmen. Underwater explosions kill or otherwise incapacitate the target by creating a lethal shock wave underwater.[34]
The
Anti-tank
During the Great War, handgrenades were frequently used by troops, lacking other means to defend against enemy tanks threatening to over-run the position, to various success. The Interwar period saw some limited development of grenades specifically intended to defeat armour, but it was not until the outbreak of WWII serious efforts were made. While there were infantry anti-tank weapons available, they were either not ubiquitous enough, ineffective or both. Anti-tank grenades were a suitable stopgap to ensure a rudimentary capability for every squad to be used for self-defence. Once
Sting
Sting grenades, also known as stingball or sting ball grenades,[37] are stun grenades based on the design of the fragmentation grenade. Instead of using a metal casing to produce fragmentation, they are made from hard rubber and are filled with around 100 rubber or plastic balls. On detonation, these balls, and fragments from the rubber casing explode outward in all directions as reduced lethality projectiles, which may ricochet.[38] It is intended that people struck by the projectiles will receive a series of fast, painful stings, without serious injury. Some types have an additional payload of CS gas.[39]
Sting grenades do not reliably incapacitate people, so they can be dangerous to use against armed subjects.[40] However, they can sometimes cause serious physical injury, especially the rubber fragments from the casing.[38]: 88 People have lost eyes and hands to sting grenades.[41]
Sting grenades are sometimes called "stinger grenades", which is a
Chemical and gas
Chemical and gas grenades burn or release a gas, and do not explode.[1]
Practice
Practice or simulation grenades are similar in handling and function to other hand grenades, except that they only produce a loud popping noise and a puff of smoke on detonation. The grenade body can be reused.[42][43] Another type is the throwing practice grenade which is completely inert and often cast in one piece. It is used to give soldiers a feel for the weight and shape of real grenades and for practicing precision throwing. Examples of practice grenades include the K417 Biodegradable Practice Hand Grenade by CNOTech Korea.[44][45]
Design
Concerned with a number of serious incidents and accidents involving hand grenades, Ian Kinley at the Swedish
Use
When using an antipersonnel grenade, the objective is to have the grenade explode so that the target is within its effective radius. The M67 frag grenade has an advertised effective kill zone radius of 5 m (16 ft), while the casualty-inducing radius is approximately 15 m (49 ft).[47]
An alternative technique is to release the lever before throwing the grenade, which allows the fuze to burn partially and decrease the time to detonation after throwing; this is referred to as cooking. A shorter delay is useful to reduce the ability of the enemy to take cover, throw or kick the grenade away and can also be used to allow a fragmentation grenade to explode into the air over defensive positions.[48]
Cultural impact
Manufacturing
Modern manufacturers of hand grenades include:
- Agenzia Industrie della Difesa[49] (Italy)
- Diehl[50](Germany)
- Mecar[51] (Belgium)
- Rheinmetall[52] (formerly Arges, Austria)
- Ruag[53](Switzerland)
- Nammo[54] (Norway)
- Instalaza[55] (Spain)
- Solar Industries[56] (India)
- MKEK (Turkey)[citation needed]
See also
- Ketchum Grenade
- Pipe bomb
- Rocket-propelled grenade
- Satchel charge
- Technology of the Song Dynasty
- TM 31-210 Improvised Munitions Handbook
References
Inline citations
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archivedfrom the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 578.
- ^ "grenade (n.)". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-04-00621-8, p. 107
- ISBN 0-521-32727-X
- ISBN 978-0-87220-915-2.
First known illustration of a fire lance and a grenade
- ISBN 978-962-209-188-7. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Needham, Volume 5, 264.
- ^ Grenade at Encyclopædia Iranica
- ^ Oppert, Gustav Salomon; Vaiśaṃpāyana. Nītiprakāśikā; Śukra. Śukranīti; Weber, Albrecht (1880). On the weapons, army organisation, and political maxims of the ancient Hindus, with special reference to gunpowder and firearms. Oxford University. Madras, Higginbotham. p. 64.
We read: "that the Brahmans counselled Hal to have an elephant made of clay and to place it in the van of his army, and that when the army of the king of Kashmir drew nigh, the elephant exploded, and the flames destroyed a great portion of the invading force. Here we have not only the simple act of explosion, but something very much like a fuze, to enable the explosion to occur at a particular time."
- ^ Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 179.
- ISSN 1619-6074.
- ^ Cramb, Auslan (23 February 2004). "Battlefield gives up 1689 hand grenade". Scotland Correspondent. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11.
- ^ Headlam, Cecil (1933). America and West Indies: January 1719 (January 1719 ed.). London: British History Online. pp. 1–21. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "The National Archives, records of the UK government". Letters of Hibbert, Hugh Robert, 1828–1895, Colonel, ref. DHB/57 – date: 14 June 1855. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
- ISSN 2763-6267.
- OCLC 1318788961.
- ^ "Granadas de mano en combate naval". Revista de Marina. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ Standingwellback (2020-02-29). "IEDs in the Boer War". Standing Well Back. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4411-2381-7.
- ^ ISBN 0-7509-1818-7.
- ^ Hogg, Ian. Grenades and mortars. Ballantines Illustrated History of the Violent Century. Weapons book, no. 37.
- ^ "How the Modern Grenadier is Armed". Popular Science. January 1919. p. 14. Retrieved 2017-01-05 – via Google Books.
- ^ "WO185/23". National archives. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ FMV announcement
- ^ Officerstidningen nr 7, 2019, sid 8
- ^ Succé för svensk handgranat, Aftonbladet 2013-09-05, Jan Huss
- ^ FMV announcement
- ^ FMV announcement
- ^ Officerstidningen nr 7, 2019, sid 8
- ^ Succé för svensk handgranat, Aftonbladet 2013-09-05, Jan Huss
- ^ "M67 Fragmentation Hand Grenade". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Center for Army Lessons Learned - Thesaurus". Archived from the original on 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ Dockery 1997, p. 188.
- ^ "US Army builds 'ambidextrous' grenade". BBC News. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ Schogol, Jeff (October 20, 2009). "MRAPs modified to deflect RKG-3 anti-tank grenades". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office > Current Intermediate Force Capabilities> Stingball Grenade". jnlwp.defense.gov.
- ^ a b c Mesloh, Charlie (2012). "Stingball Grenade Evaluation". Academia.
- ^ "Limited Effects Weapons Study: Catalog of Currently Available Weapons and Devices" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. 25 October 1995. p. 53 (66). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-78096-400-3.
- ^ "French police weapons under scrutiny after gilets jaunes injuries". The Guardian. 2019-01-30.
- ^ "M69 practice hand grenade". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "CHAPTER 1: TYPES OF HAND GRENADES" (PDF). University of Massachusetts. 2005-06-07. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
- ^ Defense Media Agency (November 21, 2018). "K417 Biodegradable Practice Hand Grenade". YouTube.
- ISBN 978-1-4398-5058-9.
- ^ Officerstidningen, Säkrare tändfunktion till handgranater testas
- ^ United States Army Field Manual 3–23.30, Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals (2005 revision), page 1-6
- ^ United States Army Field Manual 3–23.30, Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals (2005 revision), pages 3–11 to 3–12
- ^ "Baiano". Ministry of Defence (Italy). Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS". Jane's. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Mecar hand grenades". Mecar. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Arges GmbH". Rheinmetall Defence. Archived from the original on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
- ^ "HG 85 Linie". RUAG. Archived from the original on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
- ^ "Hand grenades". Nammo AS. Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
- ^ "ALHAMBRA Hand Grenade". Instalaza. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- ^ "Economic Explosives Limited, a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd., Nagpur, has successfully established production of Multi Mode Hand Grenade as per TOT obtained from TBRL (DRDO)" (PDF).
General references
- Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Part 7. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd.
External links
- "Getting Good with the Grenade...It Pays!" – November 1944 Popular Science article with complete history, cutaway, and illustrations
- "How Grenades Work" – from HowStuffWorks