GRENADE

Grenade are useful weapons in both offensive and defensive.

And Particularly effective in close combat and are capable of inflicting

casualty without requiring perfect aiming or disclosing your position.

Grenade have a history as long as the history of warfare itself.

The earliest use of grenades is attributed to the Ancient Chinese many

centuries before their recorded use by the Western Civilization.

HISTORY

The word GRENADE is derived from the Latin word “GRANATUS“. The term
was first applied to grenades by the Spanish during the 16 th century.

The Spanish called their grenade “GRANADA” meaning “pomegranate“

because of the resemblance of the early Spanish grenade to that fruit.

Published reports concerning the tactical use of grenade were first written in
Western Europe during the crusade.

The grenades mention in such report were made of glass globes, jars, kegs
and pot.

They were used primarily for incendiary effects rather than the fragmentation
effects of most modern Hand grenades.

By 1913, the German had developed the famed “POTATO MASHER”

featuring the first reliable
mechanical time delay fuze.

This grenade gave the

Germans an early advantage
in the trench warfare of 1914
and 1915.

Stick Grenade (Potato Masher)

Stick Grenade (Potato Masher)

Specification:
Weight - - - - - - - 595 g
Length - - - - - - - 365 mm
Diameter - - - - - 70 mm
 On the 25 different types of the grenades developed by the Allies in WWI,
only the British No 5 Grenade commonly referred to as “MILLS BOMB “could
approach then effectiveness' of the German grenade.

Then the US studied

both the German “POTATO MASHER” and the British “MILLS BOMB and countered
by developing their own MK I fragmentation hand grenade commonly referred to
as the “PINEAPPLE”.

By WWII, the grenade inventory had expanded to include smoke grenades to

produce casualties, and gas grenades for both casualty and riot control effects.

The grenades being used today in combat in southeast Asia are in many
aspects representative samples of the entire history of the development of grenades.
V-40 Mini Grenade

Is a golf ball size designed by Dutch Engineer in the

Netherland. The weapon was in the service with the US
and Canadian militaries from the 1960 until mid-1980’s.
Commonly referred to by Soldiers as the “MINI FRAG
GRENADE “the V40 grenade was distinguished by its
compact size.

DEADLY EXPLOSION

The V40 mini grenade was considered lethal up to a radius of five (5)
meters and still dangerous up to 300 meters from its points of impact.

Fragmentation Hand Grenade:

1. Can be ROUND, OVAL or CYLINDRICAL
2. Hand Grenade can be up to size of a clench fist.
3. Rifle Grenades may be TUBE with FINS attached.

Ammunition Color Code – is marked and painted to identify it types and filler.

Note: Never trust the color code as sole identifier of the ordnance and following color
code for US ordnance item only.

U.S. PRIMARY USED COLORS

GRENADE – is a small offensive or defensive ordnance item originally designed to

be thrown by hand, but now also designed to be projected from rifle, special
launchers and dispensing munitions.

It is a missile consisting of a container fitted with a priming and bursting

charges and filled with HE, Gas, Incendiary chemical depending the object of its use.
 It is designed to be thrown by an individual soldier or policemen with a
maximum range of 40 meters and 160 meters by means of rifle projection.

CHARACTERISTICS:

a) All hand grenades share three common characteristics.

1. Relatively short range in comparison to other infantry weapons. The range

depends on the throwing capability of individual soldier or policeman.
2. Small effective casualty radius (distance from the grenade’s detonation
point) in which a minimum of 50% of exposed personnel will become
casualties.
3. Incorporate a delay element to permit safe throwing.

Classification of Grenades:

1. As to Method of Projection:

a. Hand Grenades – Projection is by hand throwing.

b. Rifle Grenades – Projection thru rifle using special grenade cartridge.
c. Special – Fired from special launchers designed especially for the task.

1. Fragmentation - Ctg 40mm for M203 & M79.

2. HEAT – RPG - Russian

d. Dispensed - Ejected from a projectile or other dispensers.

Ex. 105 mm and 155 mm

2. According to Use:

a. Service – It is intended for use in tactical situation and may be loaded with
explosive, chemical and illuminating charge.
Ex:
1) Fragmentation 3) Chemical
2) Offensive 4) Illuminating

b. Practice – It is intended for use in providing realistic training for the troops. (It
has small amount of spotting charge.)

c. Training – It is used for training personnel/troops in handling care, throwing

and arming a grenade.

3. According to Filler:
a. High Explosive d. Inert
b. Chemical e. Spotting Charge
c. Illuminating

FIVE (5) GENERAL TYPES OF HAND GRENADES AND THEIR USES.

1) Fragmentation - These grenades are used to produce casualties by high velocity
of fragments of grenade case. Effective casualty radius is 15 meters and the
fragments are projected further to 185 meters which is still dangerous.

2) Offensive – It is designed to produce casualty during close combat while

minimizing danger to friendly personnel. It is also used for blast effect.

3) Illuminating – Used to provide illumination of terrain and targets during night

operations. It provides 55,000 candle power for 25 seconds and it illuminates an
area of 200 meters in diameter.

4) Chemical – are used for incendiary, screening, signaling and riot control
purposes.

a. Burning – These grenades are usually fitted with igniting fuses which function
with a 1.2 to 2 sec delay.

CHEMICAL FILLERS
1. CN-DM Teargas – (CN), Vomiting agent (DM) smokeless powder,
burns 20 to 60 secs.
2. CN-Teargas – Burns 20 – 60 secs.
3. CS – Eye, Nose and throat irritant, burns 15 to 35 secs.
4. HC – White smoke, burns 150 secs.
5. Colored smoke – Green, Red, Violet, Yellow burns 50 to 90 secs.
6. TH3 – Incendiary Thermite burns 40 secs at +4,300 F.

b. Bursting – These grenades are fuzed with delay fuzes which contain HE
detonators. The detonators ruptured the grenade body and disperse the filler.

Two (2) types of filler

 1. CN – teargas used in special purpose.
2. WP – white phosphorous burns 60 secs
a) CN – instance for teargas
b) DM – instance for irritant
c) CS – combination of both

5) Practice/Training – Use for training personnel in use, care and handling & use
for service rifle grenade.

Three (3) main parts of Grenades and their uses.

1. Body – This contains the filler and, in

some grenades provides fragmentation.
a. Plastic case= PRB 423
b. Sheet Steel (thin wall) =M61, M67 &
M26
c. Cast iron = MK2
d. Rolled Steel = WP
2. Filler – The filler is the chemical or
explosives substance in the grenade
body which give the grenade its
characteristics and determine its use.
a. Comp B
b. TNT Cast / Flakes
c. Smoke WP
d. Inert

3. Fuze Assy – This is the heart of the hand grenade to function by means of a
chain reaction of pyrotechnics, mechanical or electrical actions by detonating
the filler.
Parts of Fuze Assy
a. Safety pin d. Striker spring
b. Safety lever e. Percussion Primer
c. Striker f. Detonator

FIVE (5) Type of Fuzes

1. Striker Release – When the safety pin is pulled and the safety lever is released
the striker will hit the primer as the spring functions.
2. Reverse Action (Striker Release) The safety lever is in reverse position.
3. Pull Friction – By pulling out the cord, ignition produced inside the fuze.
4. All-Way Acting – Any part of the grenade will serve as fuze upon impact.
5. Impact Electric (Striker Release) – Will produce electric impulse upon impact.
Hand grenades

Are designed for projection to a target by means of throwing. They assist the
individual soldier or policeman in the accomplishment of six mission and uses of
Hand Grenades.

1. Produce casualties 4. Signaling

2. Screening 5. Illumination
3. Incendiary effects 6. Riot Control

FUNCTIONING OF FRAGMENTATION HAND GRENADE

1. When the safety pin is
withdrawn, the safety lever
is free to release from the
grenade body.
2. When safety lever is
released, the striker rotates
on its axis to strike the
percussion primer.
3. When the percussion
primer is struck, it emits an
intense flash of heat which
ignites the delay element.
4. The delay element burns 4 to 5 seconds then sets off the detonator or igniter.
5. Detonator or igniter sets off the bursters or the main charge, rupturing the body
and projecting high velocity fragments.
TERMINOLOGY
1. Inert/Dummy – no explosives.
2. Training/Practice /Blank – contain internal or removable explosives.
3. Live – contains the high explosive.
4. Un-fuzed – contains the explosives but no fuzing system.
5. Fuze – contains explosives and fuze necessary.
6. Unarmed – the fusing system has not been subjected to the necessary
arming condition and subsequently cannot function the ordnance.

Fuze Conditions
1. Armed
2. Un-armed
3. DUD/Misfired
4. Hang fired
5. Booby trap

MK2 Grenade fuzes

Grenade fuzes M204A1 and M204A2

are pyrotechnic delay-detonating fuzes.
They differ only in body construction.
The body contains a primer and a
pyrotechnic delay column. Assembled to
the body are a striker, striker spring,
safety lever, safety pin with pull ring, and
detonator assembly. The split end of the
safety pin has an angular spread or
diamond crimp.

FUNCTIONING OF FRAGMENTATION HAND GRENADE

MK2 Fragmentation Hand Grenade

Use:

The MK2 fragmentation hand grenade is used to supplement small arms fire against
the enemy in close combat. The grenade produces casualties by high velocity
projections of fragments.

Description:

The MK2 grenade is pineapple shaped with deep serrations of its body. These
serrations delineate fragmentation of the body when the grenade explodes. No
safety clip is authorized for use with this grenade. The grenade body is of cast iron
and contains a high-explosive filler.
Tabulated Data: Grenade (with fuze):

Use:

The M26A1 and M26 fragmentation hand grenade is

used to supplement small arms fire against the enemy in close
combat. The grenade produces casualties by high velocity
projection of fragments

M1A2 Grenade Projection Adapter M2A1 Grenade

Projection Adapter

THREE (3) TYPES OF RIFLE GRENADES

1. High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)
2. Chemical
3. Practice
Anti-Tank /Anti-Materiel: (HEAT)
- Used against armored targets. (armor
plates, reinforced concrete)
- use to defeat armor through
penetration by a concentrated super
heated gases (Jet).

a. Jet monroe effect

b. Shape charge effect

Jet
monroe
effect

Parts of a Rifle
Grenade
a) Grenade Body
b) Filler
c) Fuze Assembly
d) Stabilizer Tube
e) Fin Assembly
Identification
a. HE- Olive Drab w/ Single Yellow Band on Top Yellow Markings
b. WP- Old Light Gray w/ single Yellow Band and Markings
c. WP- New Light Green w/ Yellow Band and light Red markings
d. MK1 Illuminating Hand Grenade- White w/ Black Markings Old Unpainted
w/Black Markings
Chemical – Use primarily for
the production of smoke either for
screening, signaling, riot control
purposes or for incendiary
effects.

Practice – Use for training personnel in use, care and handling and use for service
rifle grenade.

IDENTIFICATION

Adopted items of materiel which have been typed, classified and component
items designated reportable are officially identified by logistical terms to facilitate
supply in the field.

1. Standard Nomenclature
2. Ammunition Lot Number
3. Model
4. Painting and Markings
5. Ammunition Data Card
6. Federal stock number, DODIC, etc

PRECAUTIONS
 If the fragmentation hand grenade is dropped after the safety pin has been
removed, pick it up and throw it away (PUTA).
 Grenade will not be thrown into dump, ditch, or similar area. If protective cover
is unavailable when the grenade is thrown into a safe area, personnel will
drop to the prone position with steel helmets facing the direction of the
grenade’s detonation point.
  This procedure minimizes the area of a man’s body that is exposed to blast
and fragmentation, and it allows the steel helmet to detect fragments.
 At least 5 minutes waiting period will be observed before HE loaded grenade
dud is approached. Dud grenades will be destroyed in place only by
authorized Explosive Ordnance Disposal Personnel.
 Chemical hand grenade, at least 30 minutes waiting time period will be
observed prior to approaching a chemical grenade. Dud grenades will be
removed or destroyed in place only by authorized Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Personnel.

Parts of M26 Grenade

M57 Fragmentation Hand Grenade with M217 Impact Detonating Fuse

M67 Fragmentation Hand Grenade

Tabulated Data: Grenade (with fuze):

1) Model ---------M67
2) Body ----------Steel Sphere
3) Filler --------- 6.5 oz of Comp B
4) Fuze --------- M213
5) Safety Clip - Yes
6) Capabilities – Can be thrown 40
meters by average soldier. The
effective casualty producing radius is 15 meters. Although the killing radius is
5 meters and casualty production radius of the grenade is 15 meters,
fragments can dispense as far away as 230 meters.

7) Color/Markings – OD body with single yellow band at the top nomenclature

and or lot number markings are in yellow.

Use:

PRB 423 – Is a Belgium anti-personnel fragmentation hand

grenade a traditional egg shape containing sixty (60) grams of
explosive, a notched steel wire which fragments into nine
hundred (900) splinters upon detonation and fifty (52) steel ball
bearing, which provide a killing zone of a nine (9) meters
around the point of detonation and (20) meters safety radius
and fitted with a four (4) seconds delay fuse.

Practice Hand Grenade Smoke Hand Grenade

M15 WP smoke hand grenade
Color/Markings: Gray
body with one yellow band
and yellow markings

Usage: Used for

signaling, Screening, and
incendiary purposes.

M18 Colored smoke grenade

Color/Markings: Olive drab

body with the top

Usage:Used as a ground-to-
ground smoke indicating the
smoke color or ground-to-air
signaling device, a target or
landing zone marking device.

M6A1, CN_DM Riot Control

Hand ABC- M7A3, Riot Control Hand

Grenade
Grenade
AN-M14 TH3 Incendiary GRENADE, HAND-RIFLE: SMOKE,
WP, M34

Tabulated Data:

M34 WP Smoke Hand Grenade

(Old and New Color Coding
and Markings)
ABC-M25A2 CS Riot
Control

Color/Markings:
Gray body with a red
band and markings.

Usage:
To control riots or
disable personnel
without serious injury

Grenade Performance Steps

Steps # 1
Identify grenades you have been issued by type, color, markings, and usage
to ensure they are appropriate for accomplishment of the specific tasks assigned to
you

Steps # 2
Inspect hand grenades for defects.

WARNING:
1. Never Make Unauthorized Modifications to Hand Grenades.
2. A Safety Clip Can Be Removed and Reattached To A Grenade If The
Safety Pin Is Still In Place.
3. Never Attempt To Reinsert A Safety Pin. Once The Safety Pin Has
Been Pulled, The Grenade Must Be Thrown.

Check for, and turn in grenades with, the following deficiencies:

 1) Missing safety clip and/or safety pin. (If the safety pin is mispositioned,
carefully push it into place. If bent, bend it back into position while holding the
safety lever down).
2) Cracked body.
3) Broken fuse lugs.
4) Bent or broken safety lever.
5) Cracked pull ring.
6) Loose fuse.

Use grenades against designated targets.

WARNING:
a. Chemical Smoke Hand Grenades have casualty-producing and
incendiary capabilities.
b. Therefore, ensure these grenades are not used near friendly personnel
for signaling or for laying down a smoke screen which friendly personnel
will have to move through.

THROWING POSITIONS

Throwing positions are dictated by particular situations. The Following

throwing positions are standard for throwing U.S. Army issue Grenades.

1. Standing
a. Assume a natural stance with weight balanced equally on both feet. Use the
proper grip and hold the grenade shoulder high.
b. Remove the safety clip and safety pin.
c. Throw the grenade, using the overhand method so that the grenade arcs,
landing on or near the target.
d. Seek cover immediately to avoid being hit by fragments. If no cover is
available, drop to the ground in the prone position with your helmet facing the
direction of the grenade detonation.

2. Kneeling
1. Assume a kneeling position. Use the proper grip and hold the grenade
shoulder high.
2. Remove the safety clip and safety pin.
3. Throw the grenade with a natural throwing motion, pushing off with your
trailing foot to give added force to your throw.
4. When the grenade is released, drop to the ground behind available cover. If
no cover is available, drop to the ground in the prone position with your
helmet facing the direction of the grenade detonation.

3. Prone
1. Lie on your back with your body perpendicular to the grenades intended line
of flight. Use the proper grip and hold the grenade at shoulder level.
2. Remove the safety clip and safety pin.
3. Cock your right leg (left leg for a left-handed thrower) with your foot braced
firmly against the ground. With your free hand, grasp any object capable of
giving you added leverage to increase throwing distance.
 Grip the grenade with the throwing hand.

1) Right-handed: Hold the grenade

upright in the palm of your hand. Place
your thumb over the safety lever with
the safety clip and pull ring-away from
the palm of the throwing hand so that it
can be easily removed.

2) Left-handed: Hold the grenade upside

down in the palm of your hand. Place your
thumb over the safety lever with the safety
clip and pull-ring away from the palm of the
throwing hand so that it can be easily
removed.

Destruction of Grenades

Grenades may be destroyed by either burning or detonation. Destruction by

detonation generally applies to high-explosive grenades, whereas destruction by
burning is applied generally to other types of grenades including chemical types.
Destruction by detonation

1. Destruction by detonation
Grenades are destroyed by either burning or detonation. When destroyed by
detonation, not more than 20 HE grenade should be placed in a destruction pit about
4 feet square and 4 feet deep. Each grenade should be placed in closed contact
against the other, and three or more ½ pound demolition blocks taped together are
placed on top of the pile. The demolition blocks should be fitted with detonating cord
lead is primed electrically or non-electrically and fired.

2. Destruction by burning.
To destroy grenades by burning, a pit approximately 2 ft square by 4 ft
deep fitted loosely with a steel plate or small mesh screen cover is used. Grenades
other than HE loaded or chemical, should be put in the fire one at a time. Another
grenade should not be put in until the previous grenade has exploded. Instead of
dropping grenade singly and covering the pit with the steel plate or small-mesh
screen cover each time, an inclined chute baffled at the open end may be used.

Always Remember
“Only Bomb Squad personnel are trained to handle bombs & IEDs,
And Only them are paid to die from explosion”.

“Explosives are magic until the Physics is understood”.