A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after a short time. The Soviet F-1 Hand grenade, nicknamed the limonka (lemon grenade is an anti-personnel fragmentation or 'defensive' grenade The RGD-5 hand grenade is a post World War II Russian anti-personnel Fragmentation grenade. The M67 grenade is a fragmentation Hand grenade used by the US armed forces and Canadian forces - where it is referred to as the C13 An anti-personnel Weapon is one primarily used to injure or kill people. The word "grenade" is derived from the French "grenade" (meaning pomegranate, the fruit originally called in French "Pomme-grenade" or "grenade-apple," in reference to the general size of early grenades and because its shrapnel pellets reminded soldiers of the seeds of this fruit). The pomegranate ( Punica granatum) is a Fruit -bearing Deciduous Shrub or small Tree growing to between five and eight metres tall Shrapnel is the term originally applied to an anti-personnel artillery shell which carried a large number of individual bullets to the target and then ejected them forwards relying Grenadiers were originally soldiers who specialized in throwing grenades. A grenadier (derived from the word Grenade) was originally a specialized soldier first established as a distinct role in the mid to late 17th century for the throwing of grenades A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces.
Not all grenades are thrown by hand. Several types are fired from rifles or purpose-designed grenade launchers. A grenade launcher is a Weapon that launches a Grenade with more accuracy higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand For example, tear gas grenades used in riot control are fired from riot guns, and the M203 grenade launcher can be fitted to several types of assault rifles. A lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (from lacrima meaning "a tear " in Latin) (commonly referred to as tear gas) is a Riot control refers to the measures used by police military or other forces to control, disperse and arrest civilians that are involved in a Riot, demonstration A riot gun refers to a type of Firearm that is used to fire Less than lethal Ammunition for the purpose of suppressing Riots Riot guns may be M203 is a single shot 40 mm Grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 Assault rifle or the M4 Carbine used by the Military An assault rifle is a Selective fire Rifle or Carbine (not to be confused with a semi-automatic only replica firing Ammunition with muzzle
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History
The first grenade was partly invented in China during the Song Dynasty (960—1279 AD), known as Zhen Tian Lei when Chinese soldiers packed gunpowder into ceramic and/or metal containers. Sidolówka (pron seedoloovka) was an unofficial yet common name of the R wz Lviv ( Ukrainian: Львів, L’viv, Lwów Lemberg Львов L'vov; see also other names) is a major city in western World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Zhen Tian Lei ( is an early type of Hand grenade developed in 10th century China Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes In 1044, a military book Wujing Zongyao ("Compilation of Military Classics") described various gunpowder recipes in which one can find the prototype of the modern hand grenade. The Wujing Zongyao ( was a Chinese military compendium written in 1044 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty. [2]
At the same time the Greeks of the Byzantine empire made hand grenades with Greek fire in the 10th to 12th centuries. Greek fire was a burning-liquid weapon used by the Byzantine Empire.
The first cast iron bomb-shells and grenades seen in China did not appear in Europe until 1467. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. [3] Within a couple centuries of this, the Chinese had discovered the explosive potential of packing hollowed cannonball shells with gunpowder. Written later by Jiao Yu in the mid 14th century book of the Huolongjing ("Fire Drake Manual"), this manuscript recorded an earlier Song-era cast iron cannon known as the 'flying-cloud thunderclap eruptor' (fei yun pi-li pao). Jiao Yu ( Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 焦玉 Wade-Giles: Chiao Yü, Hanyu Pinyin: Jiāo Yù) was a Chinese The Huolongjing ( Wade-Giles: Huo Lung Ching; Traditional Chinese: 火龍經 rendered by its translator into English as The manuscript stated that (Wade-Giles spelling):
The shells (phao) are made of cast iron, as large as a bowl and shaped like a ball. Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin Inside they contain half a pound of 'magic' gunpowder (shen huo). They are sent flying towards the enemy camp from an eruptor (mu phao); 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. . . [4]
This text of the Huolongjing was also important for the understanding of the Chinese hand grenade in the 14th century, as it provided much more detailed descriptions and even printed illustrations of the grenade bombs used. [5]
In 1643 it is possible that 'Grenados' were 'thrown amongst the Welsh' at Holt Bridge during the English Civil War. Holt is a town in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales. Located on the western bank of the River Dee, it has a ruined stone Castle, built
The use of the word 'grenade' in the English language apparently originated in the Glorious Revolution (1688), where cricket ball-sized iron spheres packed with gunpowder and fitted with slow-burning wicks were first used against the Jacobites in the battles of Killiecrankie and Glen Shiel. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, was the overthrow of King James II of England (VII of Scotland in 1688 by a union Jacobitism was (and to a limited extent remains the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland The Battle of Killiecrankie ( Scottish Gaelic -) was fought between highland Scottish clans supporting James II and VII and government troops (mostly lowland The Battle of Glen Shiel ( Scottish Gaelic:) was a battle in Glen Shiel, in the West Highlands of Scotland on 10 June 1719 [6]
These grenades were not very effective (probably because a direct hit would be necessary for the grenade to have effect) and, as a result, they saw little use.
However, trench warfare favored the grenade. Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static In a letter to his sister, Colonel Hugh Robert Hibbert, described an improvised grenade employed during the Crimea War (1854-1856):
- We have a new invention to annoy our friends in their pits. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought 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 neighbours 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. [7]
In World War I (1914-1918) both sides only had small pre-war stocks of grenades. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All As an interim measure, the troops often improvised their own, such as the Jam Tin Grenade. The Double Cylinder No 8 and No 9 Hand grenades were early designs used by the British Army in World War I. These were replaced when manufactured versions such as the Mills bomb, the first modern fragmentation grenade, became available to British front-line troops. Mills bomb is the popular name for a series of prominent British Hand grenades Overview William Mills - a Golf club The Mills bomb was developed at the Mills Munitions Factory in Birmingham, England and was described as the first 'safe grenade'. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um 75,000,000 grenades were made during World War I. It was an explosive-filled steel canister with a triggering pin and a distinctive deeply notched surface. This segmentation was thought to aid fragmentation and therefore increase the grenade's deadliness. Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an Artillery shell, Bomb, Grenade, etc is shattered by the detonating Later research showed that the segmentation did not improve fragmentation in any way at all. Improved-fragmentation designs would later be made with the notches on the inside, but at the time, this would have been too expensive to produce. The external segmentation of the original Mills bomb was retained, since it did provide a positive grip surface. This basic "pin-and-pineapple" design is still used in some modern grenades. On the other hand, the U. S. M67 fragmentation grenade has a smooth exterior. The M67 grenade is a fragmentation Hand grenade used by the US armed forces and Canadian forces - where it is referred to as the C13 which is much more suitable for being rolled into a room or being thrown in a flat arc like a baseball.
To propel grenades farther, the rifle grenade was devised. A rifle grenade is a form of Grenade that utilizes a Rifle as a launch mechanism to increase the effective range of the grenade This made use of a modified rifle with a blank cartridge to propel the grenade. These rifles would often be permanently fixed in wooden support frames and would not be used for firing bullets. Use was also made of catapults, both manufactured and improvised, although these were eventually replaced in the trenches by small mortars. A catapult is any one of a number of non-handheld mechanical devices used to throw a Projectile a great distance without the aid of an explosive substance—particularly various A mortar is a muzzle-loading Indirect fire weapon that fires shells at low velocities short ranges and high-arcing ballistic trajectories
Parallel to the Mills bomb and its similar counterparts, the Germans issued the Stielhandgranate, or stick grenade, which featured an explosive charge encased in a metal can and mounted on a wooden shaft for throwing. The Model 24 Stielhandgranate (English "stick hand grenade" was the standard Hand grenade of the German Army from the end of World War This simple design continued to evolve throughout the First and Second World Wars, with the Model 24 grenade (popularly known as the "potato masher") becoming one of the most easily recognized of all small arms, and synonymous with the German soldier. The Model 24 Stielhandgranate (English "stick hand grenade" was the standard Hand grenade of the German Army from the end of World War
The Molotov cocktail is an improvised grenade prepared from a glass bottle filled with alcohol (ethanol) or gasoline (petrol) ignited by a burning strip of cloth when the thrown bottle bursts against its target. The Molotov cocktail, also known as the booze bomb, alcohol bomb or Molotov bomb, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon The Molotov cocktail received its name during the 1939 Winter War, but had been in use earlier in the decade. The Winter War (Talvisota Советско-финляндская война - official Зимняя война - unofficial Vinterkriget began when the The name originated from Finnish troops during the Winter War. It was named after former Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov whom they deemed responsible for the war, and a humorous reference to the Soviet bombs known as "Molotov bread baskets" in Finland. Molotov redirects here For other uses see Molotov (disambiguation. Black comedy, also known as black humor or dark comedy, is a sub-genre of Comedy and Satire where topics and events that are usually regarded
Design
Grenades come in different sizes and shapes, for different purposes. Most are designed to explode, projecting shrapnel, i. Shrapnel is the term originally applied to an anti-personnel artillery shell which carried a large number of individual bullets to the target and then ejected them forwards relying e. , sharp pieces of the casing, serrated wire, or an incendiary material. Some, like smoke grenades, merely burn, releasing colored smoke for masking, marking, or signaling. All grenades have two things in common: first, they are hollow so they can be filled with the explosive or chemical filler; and second, they contain a hole into which a fuse can be screwed or inserted. An explosive material is a material that either is chemically or otherwise Energetically unstable or produces a sudden expansion of the material usually accompanied In an Explosive, Pyrotechnic device or military Munition, a fuse (or fuze) is the part of the device that initiates function
A grenade is essentially a small bomb, and works very much like a simple firecracker. A bomb is any of a range of devices that typically rely on the Exothermic Chemical reaction of an Explosive material to produce an extremely A firecracker (also known as a cracker, noise maker, banger or bunger) is a small Explosive device primarily designed to produce A firecracker is made up of a paper body filled with flash powder and fitted with a small fuse. Flash powder is a Pyrotechnic composition, a mixture of Oxidizer and metallic Fuel which burns quickly and if confined will produce a loud report In an Explosive, Pyrotechnic device or military Munition, a fuse (or fuze) is the part of the device that initiates function Once lit, the fuse burns down to the powder and blows the paper body apart. In modern hand grenades, the fuse is lit by an internal device rather than an external flame.
Characteristics
Hand grenades share the following four characteristics:
- Their employment range is short;
- Their effective casualty radius is small;
- Their delay element permits safe throwing;
- Their hard shell, along with their previously mentioned delay element, enables the grenade to ricochet off hard surfaces, like walls, before detonating. A ricochet (ˈrɪkəʃeɪ RICK-uh-shay) is a rebound bounce or skip off a surface particularly in the case of a Projectile.
Hand grenades have the following main parts:
- The body contains the filler and, in some grenades, also provides the fragmentation;
- The filler is the chemical or explosive substance in the grenade, which determines the grenade's use and characteristics;
- The fuse assembly causes the grenade to function by igniting or detonating the filler. An explosive material is a material that either is chemically or otherwise Energetically unstable or produces a sudden expansion of the material usually accompanied Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of Exothermic chemical reactions between a Fuel and an Oxidant accompanied by the production of Detonation is a process of Supersonic Combustion in which a Shock wave is propagated forward due to energy release in a reaction zone behind it
Using grenades
A classic hand grenade has a safety handle or lever (sometimes called by the slang term, "spoon") and a removable safety pin that prevents the handle from being released. In transit, some grenade types also have a safety clip to further prevent the handle from coming off.
To use a grenade the soldier grips it firmly with his/her throwing hand, ensuring that the safety lever is firmly held in place with the thumb. Left-handed soldiers are advised to invert the grenade, ensuring that the thumb is still the digit holding the safety lever in place. The pull ring of the safety pin is then grasped with the index or middle finger of the non-throwing hand and the safety pin is removed using a pulling and twisting motion. The grenade is then thrown towards the target, an over-arm throw is recommended but may not be suitable for an actual combat situation. Soldiers are trained to throw grenades in standing, prone-to-standing, kneeling, prone-to-kneeling, and alternate prone positions and in under- or side-arm throws. If the grenade is thrown from a standing position the thrower must then immediately seek cover or lie prone if no cover is nearby.
Once the grenade is thrown the safety lever is released and the striker throws the safety lever away from the grenade body as it rotates to detonate the primer. The primer explodes and ignites the fuse (sometimes called the delay element), the fuse burns down and activates the detonator which explodes the main charge.
When using an antipersonnel grenade, the objective is to have the grenade explode so that the target is within its effective radius. For the M67 fragmentation grenade used by several NATO nations, the effective kill zone has a five meter radius, while the casualty-inducing radius is approximately fifteen meters. [8] Fragments can fly as far as 230 meters.
"Cooking off" is a term referring to intentionally holding onto an armed grenade after the pin has been pulled and the handle released, to decrease the amount of time to detonation after throwing. This technique is used to reduce the ability of the enemy to take cover or throw the grenade back. It is also used to allow the grenade to burst in the air over defensive positions. [9] This technique is inherently dangerous, since fuses may vary from grenade to grenade. Because of this the U. S. Marines (MCWP 3-35) describe cooking-off as the "least preferred technique", recommending a "hard throw, skip/bounce technique" to prevent an enemy returning a grenade.
A call is usually given upon deploying a grenade, to warn friendly forces. Some yells, such as "grenade" or "fire in the hole" are used when a grenade has been thrown in by an enemy; in any instance the purpose is to give notice to fellow soldiers to take cover. " Fire in the Hole " is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their 1998 album Van Halen III.
In the U.S. Military, when a grenade is dropped into an enclosed space like a tunnel, room, or trench, the person dropping the grenade should yell "fire in the hole" to warn that an explosion is about to occur. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States Other U. S. military procedures include calling "frag out" to indicate that a fragmentation grenade has been deployed.
Grenades are often used in the field to construct booby traps, using some action of the intended target (such as opening a door, or starting a car) to trigger the grenade. A booby trap is a device set up to be triggered by an unsuspecting victim These grenade-based booby traps are simple to construct in the field using readily available materials. The most basic technique involves wedging a grenade in a tight spot so the safety lever does not leave the grenade when the pin is pulled. A string is then tied from the head assembly to another stationary object. When a soldier steps on the string, the grenade is pulled out of the narrow passageway, the safety lever is released, and the grenade detonates.
Abandoned booby traps and discarded grenades contribute to the problem of unexploded ordnance. Unexploded ordnance (or UXO s/ UXB s sometimes acronymized as UO) are explosive Weapons ( Bombs Bullets shells The use of trip wire-triggered grenades (along with land mines in general) is banned under the Ottawa Treaty and may be treated as a war crime wherever it is ratified. A land mine is an Explosive device designed to be placed on or in the ground to explode when triggered by an operator or the Proximity of a vehicle person The Ottawa Treaty or the Mine Ban Treaty, formally the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use Stockpiling Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their
The People's Republic of China, the United States, and Russia have not signed the treaty despite international pressure, citing self-defense needs. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The United States is, however, a signatory of the 1996 Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices. The 1996 Protocol restricts use of mines to regions and situations where the mined areas are known, clearly marked, and access is controlled so as to minimize civilian casualties. In signing the 1996 Protocol, the United States made a reservation that 'mines' as defined in the treaty would not apply to booby trap-rigged hand grenades.
Grenades have also been made to release smoke, tear gas and other gases, as well as illumination. Smoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid Particulates and Gases ref> ''Smoke Production and Properties'' - SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering A lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (from lacrima meaning "a tear " in Latin) (commonly referred to as tear gas) is a Special forces often use stun grenades to disorient people during an entry into a room. In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance
Some grenade designs were made to be thrown longer distances. The German "potato-masher" grenade had a long wooden handle that extended its range by fifty percent. The Model 24 Stielhandgranate (English "stick hand grenade" was the standard Hand grenade of the German Army from the end of World War The "potato-masher" was fired by a friction igniter in the head, which was activated by a pull string threaded through the hollow handle. Immediately before throwing the grenade, the soldier pulled a small plastic ring attached to a string attached to the friction igniter. This started the time fuse which fired the detonator after a delay. The "potato-masher" is often incorrectly thought to have had an impact fuse. It did not, but the superficially similar British stick grenade design of 1908 did.
Types of hand grenades
Fragmentation grenades
The fragmentation grenade (commonly known as a "frag") is an anti-personnel weapon that is designed to disperse shrapnel upon exploding. An anti-personnel Weapon is one primarily used to injure or kill people. Shrapnel is the term originally applied to an anti-personnel artillery shell which carried a large number of individual bullets to the target and then ejected them forwards relying The body is made of hard plastic or steel. Flechettes, notched wire, ball bearings or the case itself provide the fragments. The French word fléchette means "little arrow" or Dart projectile of steel that is sharp and pointed with a vaned tail for stable flight When the word "grenade" is used without specification, and context does not suggest otherwise, it is generally assumed to refer to a fragmentation grenade.
These grenades were sometimes classed as defensive grenades because the effective casualty radius of some matched or exceeded the distance they could be thrown, thus necessitating them being thrown from behind cover. The Mills bomb or F1 grenade are examples of defensive grenades where the 30–45 m casualty radius [1] matched or exceeded the 30 m that a grenade could reasonably be thrown. Mills bomb is the popular name for a series of prominent British Hand grenades Overview William Mills - a Golf club The Soviet F-1 Hand grenade, nicknamed the limonka (lemon grenade is an anti-personnel fragmentation or 'defensive' grenade
Modern fragmentation grenades such as the United States M67 grenade have a wounding radius of 15 m (half that of older style grenades which may still be encountered) and can be thrown about 40 m. The M67 grenade is a fragmentation Hand grenade used by the US armed forces and Canadian forces - where it is referred to as the C13 Fragments may travel more than 200 m. [2]
Concussion grenades
The concussion grenade is an anti-personnel device that is designed to damage its target with explosive power alone. Compared to fragmentation grenades, the explosive filler is usually of a greater weight and volume. The case is far thinner and is designed to fragment as little as possible. The overpressure produced by this grenade when used in enclosed areas is greater than that produced by the fragmentation grenade. Overpressure can mean In Geology: the Pressure regime in a stratigraphic unit that exhibits higher-than- Hydrostatic pressure in Therefore, it is especially effective in enclosed areas.
These grenades are usually classed as offensive weapons because the effective casualty radius is smaller than the distance it can be thrown.
The US MK3A2 concussion grenade is filled with TNT and has a body made of tarred cardboard. The MK3A2 offensive Hand grenade is a concussion grenade designed to produce casualties during close combat while minimizing danger to friendly personnel Trinitrotoluene ( TNT) is a Chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO23CH3
The term 'concussion' is often erroneously applied to stun grenades. This is not descriptive of the effects caused by the grenade. The term 'concussion' is used because the grenade relies on its explosive power to create casualties.
Percussion grenades
A percussion grenade detonates upon impact with the target. Classic examples of percussion grenades are the British Gammon bomb and No. 69 grenade. The Gammon bomb officially known as the No 82 grenade was a British Hand grenade used during World War II. The British No 69 was an offensive (as opposed to defensive grenade developed and used during World War II. Timed fuse grenades are generally preferred to hand-thrown percussion grenades because their fuzing mechanisms are safer and more robust than those used in percussion grenades. Some percussion grenades have a conventional pyrotechnic fuse fitted as a backup detonation device. The term "pyrotechnics" can also be used for Fireworks events
Smoke grenades
Smoke grenades are used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, and screening devices for unit movement. For the Transformers character see Smokescreen (Transformers A smoke screen is a release of Smoke in order to mask the movement The body is a sheet-steel cylinder with emission holes in the top and bottom. These allow the smoke to be released when the grenade is ignited. Two main types exist, colored smoke (for signaling) and screening smoke. In colored smoke grenades, the filler consists of 250 to 350 grams of colored smoke mixture (mostly potassium chlorate, lactose and a dye). Colored smoke is a kind of Smoke created by an aerosol of small particles of a suitable Pigment or Dye. Potassium chlorate is a compound containing Potassium, Chlorine and Oxygen, with the chemical formula KClO3 Screening smoke grenades usually contains HC (hexachloroethane/zinc) smoke mixture or TA (terephthalic acid) smoke mixture. Hexachloroethane, also known as perchloroethane (PCA C2[[chlorine Cl6]], is a colorless solid at room temperature which is used by the Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Terephthalic acid is one Isomer of the three Phthalic acids. It finds important use as a Commodity chemical, principally as a starting compound HC smoke is harmful to breathe, since it contains hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is the Solution of Hydrogen chloride ( H[[Chlorine Cl]] in water Whilst not intended as a primary effect, these grenades can generate enough heat to scald or burn unprotected skin and the spent casing should not be touched until it has cooled.
Riot control
Contrary to popular belief, gas-expelling grenades are rarely used to disperse large groups, because of the risk of causing generalized panic. Grenades are instead used to create barriers of tear gas in order to direct the movement of large groups of people, or to protect police officers on the verge of being overwhelmed. As an exception, tear gas may be used to disperse a mob surrounding a small centralized group.
Similarly, gas-expelling grenades are not often used to force criminals out of cover because of the risk of intoxicating people in enclosed areas, although SWAT teams will occasionally employ CS gas grenades to facilitate the arrest of an armed suspect, especially if there are no bystanders in the area. SWAT ( Special Weapons And Tactics) is an elite special operations tactical unit in American Police departments similar to the Taiwan Thunder Squad CS gas is the common name for 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile (chemical formula C10H5ClN2 This kind of deployment is most often used in an area where several suspects have a large amount of cover, since the functioning of other distraction grenades will be hindered.
Tear gas grenades are similar to smoke grenades in terms of shape and operation. In tear gas grenades the filler is generally 80 to 120 grams of CS gas combined with a pyrotechnic composition which burns to generate an aerosol of CS-laden smoke. For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation. CS gas is the common name for 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile (chemical formula C10H5ClN2 The term "pyrotechnics" can also be used for Fireworks events Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas This causes extreme irritation to the eyes and, if inhaled, to the nose and throat. (See also the Branch Davidian siege). The Branch Davidians are a Sect that originated from a schism in 1955 from the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, themselves former members of the Occasionally CR gas is used instead of CS. CR gas or dibenzoxazepine, chemically dibenz[14]oxazepine is an Incapacitating agent and a Lachrymatory agent.
Incendiary grenades
Incendiary grenades produce intense heat by means of a chemical reaction. A chemical reaction is a process that always results in the interconversion of Chemical substances The substance or substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called The body is practically the same as that of a smoke grenade. The filler is 600 to 800 grams of thermate, which is an improved version of World War II-era thermite. Thermate is a variation of Thermite and is an Incendiary Pyrotechnic composition that can generate short bursts of exceedingly high temperatures focused World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Thermite is a Pyrotechnic composition of Aluminium powder and a metal oxide which produces an Aluminothermic reaction known as a The chemical reaction that produces the heat is called a "thermite reaction". In this reaction, powdered aluminium metal and iron oxide react to produce a stream of molten iron and aluminium oxide. WikipediaNaming Altogether there are sixteen known Iron Oxides and oxyhydroxides Melting is a process that results in the phase change of a substance from a Solid to a Liquid. This reaction produces a tremendous amount of heat, burning at 2200 °C (4000 °F). The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 This makes incendiary grenades useful for destroying weapons caches, artillery, and vehicles. Other advantages include its ability to function without an external oxygen source, allowing it to burn underwater. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Because they are not intended to be thrown, thermate incendiary grenades generally have a shorter delay fuse than other grenades e. In an Explosive, Pyrotechnic device or military Munition, a fuse (or fuze) is the part of the device that initiates function g. two seconds.
White phosphorus (also used in smoke grenades; see above) can also be used as an incendiary agent. This article is about the military applications of white phosphorus. It burns at a temperature of 2800 °C (5000 °F).
Thermite and white phosphorus cause some of the worst and most painful burn injuries because they burn so quickly and at such a high temperature. A burn is a type of Injury that may be caused by Heat, cold, Electricity, Chemicals, Light, Radiation, or In addition, white phosphorus is very poisonous: a dose of 50-100 milligrams is lethal to the average human. For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation.
A common improvised incendiary grenade is the Molotov Cocktail. The Molotov cocktail, also known as the booze bomb, alcohol bomb or Molotov bomb, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary
Stun grenades
Stun grenades, also called NFDDs (Noise and Flash Diversionary Devices), "flash & bang" grenades, or flashbangs, were originally designed for the British Special Air Service as an incapacitant. The Special Air Service ( SAS) is a Special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model and inspiration for the special An incapacitant is a substance or device that is used to incapacitate individuals temporarily Stun grenades are used to confuse, disorient, or distract a potential threat. A stun grenade can seriously degrade the combat effectiveness of affected personnel for up to a minute. The best known example is the M84 Stun Grenade, which produces a blinding (6-8 million Candela) flash and deafening (170-180 dB SPL) blast. The candela (kanˈdɛlə /-ˈdiːlə/ symbol cd) is the SI base unit of Luminous intensity; that is power emitted by a light source in a particular Sound' is Vibration transmitted through a Solid, Liquid, or Gas; particularly sound means those vibrations composed of Frequencies This grenade can be used to incapacitate people, generally without causing serious injury. Standing operating procedure for LAPD SWAT has officers deploy flashbangs close to the point of entry. The terms standard operating procedure and standing operating procedure, both abbreviated as SOP, are used in a variety of different contexts healthcare education SWAT ( Special Weapons And Tactics) is an elite special operations tactical unit in American Police departments similar to the Taiwan Thunder Squad This is because all attention will be directed towards the door once it has been breached, and deploying the flashbang close to this point heightens the chances that a suspect will be affected by the device.
The flash of light momentarily activates all photosensitive cells in the retina, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds until the eye restores the retina to its original, unstimulated state. Subjects affected by flashbangs describe seeing a single frame for the five seconds (as if their vision was "paused") until it fades and normal sight returns. This is because the sensory cells which have been activated continue sending the same information to the brain until they are restored to their resting state, and the brain translates this continuous information into the same image. The incredibly loud blast emitted by the grenade contributes to its incapacitative properties by disturbing the fluid in the semicircular canals of the ear. The ear is the sense organ that detects Sounds The Vertebrate ear shows a common biology from Fish to Humans with variations
Upon detonation, the fuse/grenade body assembly remains intact and produces no fragmentation. Detonation is a process of Supersonic Combustion in which a Shock wave is propagated forward due to energy release in a reaction zone behind it Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an Artillery shell, Bomb, Grenade, etc is shattered by the detonating The body is a steel hexagonal tube with holes along the sides which allow a blast of light and sound to be emitted. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Regular hexagon The internal Angles of a regular hexagon (one where all sides and all angles are equal are all 120 ° and the hexagon has 720 degrees This is done to prevent injury from shrapnel but it is still possible to receive a burn, and injuries resulting from the concussive properties of the detonation sometimes occur, the intense heat created by the flashbang can also ignite flammable materials such as fuel or certain fabrics. The fires that occurred during the Iranian Embassy Siege in London were caused by stun grenades. The Iranian Embassy Siege of 1980 was a Siege of the Iranian embassy in London after it had been taken over by Iranian Arab Separatists The filler consists of about 4. 5 grams of a pyrotechnic metal-oxidant mix of magnesium or aluminum and an oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate or potassium perchlorate. The term "pyrotechnics" can also be used for Fireworks events Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 WikipediaNaming Ammonium perchlorate (AP is a Chemical compound with the formula N[[Hydrogen H]]4 Cl[[Oxygen O]]4 Potassium perchlorate, a Perchlorate salt with the chemical formula K[[chlorine Cl]] O4, is a strong oxidizer.
Sting grenades
Sting grenades are based on the design of the fragmentation grenade. Instead of using a metal casing to produce shrapnel, they are made using two spheres of hard rubber. Inside the smaller sphere is the explosive charge, primer, and detonator. The space between the two spheres is then filled with many small, hard rubber balls. Upon detonation, the subject is incapacitated by the blunt force of the projectiles. The advantage to using sting grenades comes from the fact that the subject is very often incapacitated, winded, or at the very least dislodged from cover.
Some types, such as the ALSG101CS from ALS Technologies, have an additional payload of chemical agents like CS gas.
The advantages compared to a flashbang are
- The "plug 'n shut" tactic, which is shutting one's eyes and plugging one's ears to avoid being affected by a flashbang. This does nothing to protect a person from a sting grenade.
- The subject does not need to be looking at the grenade for it to take its full effect.
- Sting grenades are much more likely to cause a subject to either fall or lower himself in pain, thus providing good sight lines to unaffected targets in the area.
This makes sting grenades ideal for containing small groups of rowdy prisoners, providing a shooting opportunity when a suspect is hiding behind cover, or in allowing SWAT teams to clear small rooms. SWAT ( Special Weapons And Tactics) is an elite special operations tactical unit in American Police departments similar to the Taiwan Thunder Squad
A disadvantage of using sting grenades is that they are not sure to incapacitate a subject, so it is dangerous to use if the subject is armed. This arises from the fact that sting grenades rely on the body's reaction to adverse stimuli (pain and blunt force trauma) rather than denial of sensory input. A person with sufficient mental focus can concentrate enough to ignore being hit by a sting grenade's payload, whereas a stun grenade will physically affect vision and sense of orientation. The effective range of a sting grenade is limited compared to a stun grenade. In addition, there is the risk of serious physical injury as the target is being pelted with actual objects capable of inflicting harm, and not just being deafened/blinded.
Impact stun grenades
A more recent development is the Blank Firing Grenade (BFIG or Blank Firing Impact Grenade). Preferred in many situations, especially training, for two main reasons; they are re-usable - and therefore more economical - because the charge is a standard ammunition blank, and they are subject to very few transport restrictions when unloaded. A blank is a type of cartridge for a Firearm that contains Gunpowder but no Bullet or shot. The BFIG contains a mechanism to fire a blank cartridge when dropped at any angle onto a hard surface from a height of a metre or more. Firing will occur in any combination of positions only on impact. [3]
Anti-tank grenades
The first anti-tank grenades were improvised devices usually made by putting a number of fragmentation grenades into a sandbag or by tying them together. Anti-tank refers to any method of combating military Armored fighting vehicles notably Tanks The most common anti-tank systems Due to their weight, these were normally thrown from very close range or directly placed in vulnerable spots onto an enemy vehicle.
Purpose-designed anti-tank grenades invariably use the shaped charge principle to penetrate the tank's armor. This means that the grenade has to hit the vehicle at an exact right angle for the effect to work properly. This is achieved by the grenade deploying a small drogue parachute or fabric streamers after being thrown. A drogue parachute is a Parachute designed to be deployed from a rapidly moving object
Britain put the first anti-tank grenade into the field during the Second World War with the rifle-fired No 68 AT Grenade. The Grenade Rifle No 68 /AT was a British Anti-tank Rifle grenade used during World War II. Also developed by the UK during the war, was the No 74 ST Grenade popularly known as a sticky bomb; the main charge was held in a sphere covered in adhesive. Popularly known as the sticky bomb, the No 74 ST Grenade was an unusual British Hand grenade issued in World War II. In anticipation of a German invasion, it was produced in substantial numbers. Inherently dangerous for the user, it was relegated to Home Guard use. The British Home Guard (initially "Local Defence Volunteers" or LDV, or in slang Look-Duck-Vanish, hence the name change was a defence
During World War II, when tanks overran entrenchments, anti-tank mines could be and were used by infantry as an improvised hand grenades by placing or throwing them in the path of a tank in the hope of disabling a track. An anti-tank mine, (abbreviated to "AT mine" is a type of Land mine designed to damage or destroy vehicles including Tanks and Armoured fighting
The most widely-distributed anti-tank grenades are the Russian designs of the 1950s and later, mainly the RKG-3. RKG-3 is the designation of Russian series of anti-tank hand grenades.
Due to improvements in modern tank armor, anti-tank hand grenades are generally considered obsolete. However in recent conflict, namely the Iraq War, the RKG-3 anti-tank hand grenade has made a reappearance in the service of insurgents who utilize them primarily against US Humvees, which lack the heavier armor of tanks. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign This article refers to the Military HMMWV not the civilian Hummer sold by General Motors The M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled [10]
Grenades as ornamentation
Stylized pictures of early grenades, with a flame coming out, are used as ornaments on military uniforms, particularly in France (esp. Military uniforms comprises standardised Dress worn by members of the Armed forces of various nations This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. French Gendarmerie and the French Foreign Legion), and Italy (Carabinieri). See Gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries In France, the National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale is the national Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Carabinieri (Italian for Carabiniers are the national-level Gendarmerie of Italy who also perform Military police duties Fusilier regiments in the British and Commonwealth tradition (e. g. the Princess Louise Fusiliers, Canadan Army) wear a "flaming grenade" cap-badge, reflecting their historic use of grenades in the assault. The Princess Louise Fusiliers is a Primary Reserve Infantry Regiment of the Canadian Forces. The British Grenadier Guards took their name and cap badge of a burning grenade from repelling an attack of French Grenadiers at Waterloo. The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS is the most senior Regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, and as such is the most senior regiment of infantry In the Battle of Waterloo (Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo Belgium The flag of the Russian Ground Forces also bears a "flaming grenade" device. The Russian Ground Forces (Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации tr The branch insignia of the US Army Ordnance Corps also uses this symbol, the grenade being symbolic of explosive ordnance in general. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The United States Marine Corps also uses the grenade on their uniforms: the rank insignia for master gunnery sergeant has three chevrons pointing up, with four rockers on the bottom. In the middle of this is a bursting bomb, or grenade.
See also
- Nils Waltersen Aasen, the creator of the modern hand grenade
- Rocket propelled grenade
- Rifle grenade
- Grenade launcher
- Technology of Song Dynasty
- Jiao Yu
Notes
- ^ "The Genius of China", Robert Temple
- ^ Joseph Needham: Science and civilization in China: Vol. Nils Waltersen Aasen (born March 29, 1877 in Stadsbygd parish, Rissa, died December 1925 in Wisconsin, USA) was a RPG or rocket-propelled grenade, is a loose term describing hand-held shoulder-launched Anti-tank weapons capable of firing an unguided A rifle grenade is a form of Grenade that utilizes a Rifle as a launch mechanism to increase the effective range of the grenade A grenade launcher is a Weapon that launches a Grenade with more accuracy higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand The Song Dynasty (宋朝 960–1279 CE provided some of the most significant technological advances in Chinese history, many of which came from talented statesmen Jiao Yu ( Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 焦玉 Wade-Giles: Chiao Yü, Hanyu Pinyin: Jiāo Yù) was a Chinese 5; Part 6: Chemistry and chemical technology; Military technology: missiles and sieges, Cambridge University Press 1994, ISBN 0-521-32727-X
- ^ Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 179.
- ^ Needham, Volume 5, 264.
- ^ Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 179-180.
- ^ Cramb, Auslan (23 Feb 2004). "Battlefield gives up 1689 hand grenade". Scotland Correspondent.
- ^ The National Archives, records of the UK government. Letters of Hibbert, Hugh Robert, 1828-1895, Colonel, ref. DHB/57 - date: 14 Jun. 1855. Retrieved on 2006-08-09. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus
- ^ 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
- ^ New Russian made armour-piercing grenade causing US casualties in Iraq (English).
References
Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Part 7. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd.
External links
- RUAG - manufacturer of modern hand grenades
- Mecar - Belgian manufacturer of various grenade types
- Pakistan Ordnance Factories - licensed manufacturer of Arges grenades
- Film of exploding grenade - taken using ultra high-speed photographic technique (2/3 million frames per second)
- How Grenades Work - from HowStuffWorks
- Exploded view of a modern Arges 73 hand grenade
- 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group Article on authentic WW2 pineapple grenades
- Grenade infomation and facts
Dictionary
hand grenade
-noun
- (military) A small hand-held explosive device designed to be thrown at the enemy.
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