explosive grenade

A grenade is a small, portable bomb used at short range, typically filled with an explosive, chemical, or gas. The name likely comes from the French word for pomegranate due to the shape of early versions.1

Grenades were first used around the 15th century and became so important that specialized soldiers called grenadiers were trained to throw them. After a period of disuse due to improved firearms, they reappeared during the Russo-Japanese War and became standard infantry equipment during World War I due to their effectiveness in trench warfare.1

Explosive grenades, often weighing under two pounds, contain high explosives like TNT. They feature a fuse that detonates the explosive on impact or after a short time delay, designed to prevent enemies from throwing them back. Fragmentation grenades are a common type, with their casing designed to break into lethal fragments upon explosion. Other types include chemical and gas grenades, used for smoke, incendiary, or riot control purposes. Grenades can also be launched from rifles or specialized launchers, and some are designed as antitank weapons.12