grenade
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What is a grenade?
A grenade is a small bomb containing explosives, chemicals, or gas, designed for short-range use. The term grenade likely comes from the French word for pomegranate because early grenades looked like the fruit. They were first used around the 15th century and were very effective when thrown into the ditch of a fortress during an assault. By the 17th century, some European armies had soldiers specifically trained as grenade throwers, called grenadiers.
Explosive grenades typically have a core of TNT or another high explosive inside an iron case. These grenades use a fuse to detonate the explosive on impact or after a short delay. Fragmentation grenades are a common type of explosive grenade with a case designed to break into small, fast-moving, lethal fragments when the core explodes. Chemical and gas grenades burn instead of explode and include smoke, incendiary, illuminating, chemical-warfare, and tear-gas grenades. Grenades can be launched from a rifle muzzle or shot from special launchers.
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What are grenades used for in the military?
Grenades are small bombs that can be explosive, chemical, or gas-based, used at short ranges to target personnel in fortified positions or for riot and crowd control. They became a standard part of a combat infantryman's equipment due to their effectiveness in attacking enemy positions during trench warfare.
Explosive hand grenades are used to attack personnel in foxholes, trenches, bunkers, pillboxes, or other fortified positions, as well as in street fighting. Chemical and gas grenades include smoke, incendiary, illuminating, chemical-warfare, and tear-gas grenades.
Grenades can be launched from rifles or special launchers to extend their range. Antitank grenades, often delivered via small rockets, can pierce tank armor. Historically, specially trained soldiers called grenadiers were selected for their strength and courage in hurling grenades.
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How does a typical hand grenade work?
A typical hand grenade is an explosive weapon designed for short-range use. It consists of an explosive core, such as TNT, encased in a jacket. Many grenades have a fuse that detonates the explosive after a short delay, often around four seconds, allowing the thrower to accurately throw it but not enough time for the enemy to throw it back. Fragmentation grenades have a body designed to break into small, fast-moving fragments upon explosion. These are used to attack personnel in fortified positions or in street fighting. Other types include chemical and gas grenades, like smoke or tear gas, which burn rather than explode.
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What are the main types of grenades?
Grenades are small bombs that can be explosive, chemical, or gas-based, and they are used at short ranges. The most common type used in wartime is the explosive grenade, which contains TNT encased in an iron jacket. When the fuse detonates the explosive, the iron jacket breaks into fast-moving, lethal fragments.
Another major class is chemical and gas grenades, which burn rather than explode. This class includes smoke, incendiary, illuminating, chemical-warfare, and tear-gas grenades. There are also rifle grenades and rocket-propelled antitank grenades. Stun grenades produce a blinding flash of light and a sudden, loud noise.
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How has grenade technology changed over time in military history?
Grenades, small explosive devices used at close range, have undergone significant evolution in military history. First used around the 15th century, grenades became so effective that specialized soldiers called grenadiers were trained in the 17th century to throw them.
After being virtually abandoned due to the increased range and accuracy of firearms, grenades returned to use in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05). Their effectiveness in trench warfare during World War I led to their becoming standard infantry equipment. During that war, armies developed attachments for standard service rifles to launch rifle grenades.
Modern grenades include explosive, chemical, and gas varieties. Explosive grenades, like fragmentation grenades, contain high explosives encased in iron. Chemical and gas grenades, such as smoke and tear gas grenades, burn rather than explode. Grenade launchers, such as the M79, can be attached to rifles to extend the range of grenades.
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grenade, small explosive, chemical, or gas bomb that is used at short range. The word grenade probably derived from the French word for pomegranate, because the bulbous shapes of early grenades resembled that fruit. Grenades came into use around the 15th century and were found to be particularly effective when exploded among enemy troops in the ditch of a fortress during an assault. They eventually became so important that specially selected soldiers in 17th-century European armies were trained as grenade throwers, or grenadiers (see grenadier). After about 1750, grenades were virtually abandoned because the range and accuracy of firearms had increased, lessening the opportunities for close combat. Grenades did not come back into use on an important scale until the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05). The grenade’s effectiveness in attacking enemy positions during the trench warfare of World War I led to its becoming a standard part of the combat infantryman’s equipment, which it has continued to be. More than 50,000,000 fragmentation grenades alone were manufactured by the United States for use in World War II.
The grenades most commonly used in wartime are explosive grenades, which usually consist of a core of TNT or some other high explosive encased in an iron jacket or container. Such grenades have a fuse that detonates the explosive either on impact or after a brief (usually four-second) time delay that is long enough for the grenade to be accurately thrown but is too brief for enemy soldiers to toss the grenade back once it has landed among them. A common type of explosive grenade is the fragmentation grenade, whose iron body, or case, is designed to break into small, lethal, fast-moving fragments once the TNT core explodes. Such grenades usually weigh no more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg). Explosive hand grenades are used for attacking the personnel in foxholes, trenches, bunkers, pillboxes, or other fortified positions and in street fighting.
Another major class is chemical and gas grenades, which usually burn rather than explode. This class comprises smoke, incendiary (fire-setting), illuminating, chemical-warfare, and tear-gas grenades. The latter are used by police for riot and crowd control. Several uses may be combined, as in a white phosphorous grenade that has smoke, incendiary, and antipersonnel effects.
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Grenades can be launched from the muzzle of a rifle either by the force of a cartridge or by the expanding gases of a blank cartridge. Such grenades usually have long, streamlined bodies, in contrast to the round shapes of hand grenades. There are also small-arm grenade rounds, shaped like bullets but of much greater diameter (usually 40 mm). These contain their own low-energy propellant charges and are shot from special large-bore launchers similar to shotguns or from launchers attached to infantry assault rifles. Another type of grenade is the antitank grenade, which contains a special shaped-charge explosive that can pierce even the heavy armour of a tank. Since these are usually delivered by small rockets launched from shoulder-held tubes, they are commonly referred to as rocket-propelled grenades.