STUDY OF A FEW OF THE PRINCIPAL
TYPES OF RIFLE AND HAND
GRENADES.
General. The undermentioned types of grenades, empty, are issued for instruction:—
(a) Grenade, 303-inch, short rifle, No. 3, Mark 1. (J. pattern.)
(b) Grenade, hand, No. 1, Mark 1.
(c) Grenade, hand, No. 5, Mark 1.
(d) Grenades, hand, Nos. 6 and 7, Mark 1.
These grenades were also known as (a) Hales Rifle Grenade; (b) R. L. impact or percussion grenade; (c) Mill’s pattern grenade; (d) R. L. grenades, friction, time.
Of these (a) is for firing from the point .303-inch short rifle. Its range is about 200 yards.
The remainder are intended to be thrown by hand.
Hand grenades can be of two classes, Heavy and Light. Heavy grenades weigh about 2 lbs. and light about 1 lb. It is considered that a man can throw a 2-lb. weight about 30 yards and a pound-weight about 50 yards. Heavy grenades project fragments of some weight a fair distance, while light grenades rely for effect principally on the blast of detonation.
The effective area of a light grenade is mainly local, 6 yards diameter, but when possible it should not be thrown less than 20 yards in the open, as stones, etc., thrown up by the explosion would be dangerous to the thrower.
The danger area of the heavy grenade is about 30 yards in diameter, and, therefore, it should not be thrown less than 25 yards in the open. With both grenades the thrower should cover the eyes at the moment of explosion and protect himself, as small fragments of metal may carry further than the distance mentioned.
The types of hand grenades (b), (c) and (d) differ fundamentally in the means by which ignition is effected; (b) explodes instantaneously on impact (by percussion), while (c) and (d) are fired by time fuse, which is lit in (c) by spring action releasing a trigger at the moment the grenade leaves the thrower’s hand, and in (d) by an independent action on the part of the thrower before throwing the grenade.
In the case of (b) it is necessary that the grenade fall head first. This is done by the backward pull in the air of the streamers attached to the handle. In using this grenade it is, therefore, necessary to see that the streamers are opened out and free—before throwing, and to throw the grenade well upwards.
In the case of (d) the total time of delay is slightly over 5 seconds, so that from 1½ to 2 seconds should be used in throwing. If thrown hastily it may arrive at the mark 3 seconds before exploding and allow it to be returned by the enemy.
When handling detonators for grenades, it should be remembered that the detonator by itself is capable of blowing the hand off, so it must be carefully handled, and if an igniter is accidentally fired it should be thrown a few yards clear of any one in the neighborhood. When the igniters and detonators are in the grenades reasonable care should be taken to avoid rough usage as violent treatment might fire the grenades, even in the safe position.
Grenade .303-inch, Short Rifle, No. 3, Mark 1 (J. pattern). Description: The grenade consists of a steel body filled with explosive. Down the centre of the explosive is a brass tube into the forward end of which the detonator is inserted. The rearward end of the body is closed by the base piece which carries the needle pellet, two retaining bolts, wind vane and releasing socket with safety pin. To the base piece is fixed a base plug carrying the spring clip and a 10-inch steel rod.
The action of the grenade is that, the safety pin having been removed, on firing the releasing socket sets back from under the wind vane, which is then revolved by the wind pressure as the grenade travels through the air. After a few turns of the vane the retaining bolts are no longer held in position by its inner surface.
On impact the needle pellet sets forward against the creep spring, on the detonator cap, firing the grenade.
The steel body is serrated so as to furnish numerous missiles.
Package of Grenades: The wooden box provided carries 20 grenades in protecting tins with screw-off lids, 20 detonators, rifle grenades in four tin boxes with lever lids, and 22 special blank cartridges in a tin box.
Preparation for Firing: The grenade is removed from its tin and the ebonite plug in its head is unscrewed by hand. The grenade is held nose down to make sure that the needle pellet is held by the retaining bolts.
If correct, the detonator is inserted and screwed home.
The rod is then gently lowered into the rifle, the clip sprung on the muzzle and a blank cartridge inserted in the chamber.
The safety pin is withdrawn just before firing.
If, after the safety pin has been removed, the grenade is not used, the safety pin may be replaced if the screwed ring has not unscrewed and uncovered the two retaining bolts, but if these are uncovered the grenade is in a dangerously sensitive condition, and if so found should be destroyed. Only the special detonators and cartridges provided should be used.
If by accident a grenade were fired with a bulleted round the rifle would probably burst and injure firer.
This grenade is very safe to handle, as it cannot be fired by knocking or dropping on the ground; it must travel through the air some distance before the retaining bolts fall out.
Pendulum Dial Sights. A pendulum dial sight graduated in yards, for direct aim or high elevation, is issued for use with the rifle grenades, and can be easily affixed to the leaf of the back-sight.
Should the sight not fit tightly on the leaf, the spring sides should be slightly pinched in.
Grenade, Hand, No. 1, Mark 1. Description: The grenade consists of a brass cylinder encircled by a narrow cast-iron ring serrated to break up into 16 fragments.
The cylinder is mounted on a wood block to which a cane handle, with streamer, is attached.
The brass cylinder or body of the grenade is filled with explosive, and has its upper end closed by the detonator holder, fixed by three screws. This holder carries two pins for securing the detonator. The body has fitted above the serrated ring two knobs and two indicating stops.
The firing needle is carried in the removable cap, which has two grooves formed on it in which slide the knobs on the body. The cap is centrally pierced for the safety pin.
On the outer surface of the cap are stamped the words “Remove,” “Travel” and “Fire.” When the knobs are in the groove “Remove,” as indicated by the stops, the cap can be removed and replaced; the central position, marked “Travel,” is to be adhered to normally; while in the position “Fire” the cap, after removal of the safety pin, is held in position by friction only, and can be pressed inwards to fire the grenade.
The action of the grenade is simply that the cap is forced in on impact, carrying the needle on to the detonator, the cap having been turned into the position “Fire” and the safety pin having been removed before the throwing.
Packing: The grenades are packed six in a wooden box. Cylinders containing 10 detonators, No. 1 Hand Grenade, Marks I. or II., are issued separately.
Preparation: The cap is removed, a detonator is inserted in the recess, the grooves in the detonator being placed opposite the pins on the body, and the detonator is then pressed home and turned to the left (its flange being under the heads of the two pins) until the spring on the detonator flange is released thus locking it in position.
The cap is then replaced and turned into the position “Travel.”
The safety pin must on no account be withdrawn during these operations.
The cap from one grenade will not invariably fit another grenade well, and steps should be taken to prevent caps and grenades being interchanged.
Throwing the Grenade: When it is required to use the grenades, all on the belt should be turned to “Fire,” and the whipcord beckets and leather strips should be removed from the safety pins.
When a grenade is taken from the belt, the streamer is unwound and allowed to hang free, and the safety pin is withdrawn immediately before throwing.
The grenade is grasped by the end of the handle and thrown in the required direction, care being taken that the streamer does not get entangled with the thrower.
To insure the grenade firing on impact, it should be thrown well upwards, at an angle of not less than 35 degrees.
Should the grenade not be used the cap should be turned back to “Travel” and the safety pin replaced and secured by passing the whipcord becket over the cap and threading the leather strip through the slot in the end of the safety pin.
Grenade, Hand, No. 5, Mark 1. Description: The body of the grenade is of cast-iron, serrated to provide numerous missiles on detonation. Into one end is screwed a centre piece, with separate recesses for the striker and detonator.
The striker is kept cocked against its spring by its head catching on the end of the striker lever when the latter lies against the body of the grenade, pivoted on its fulcrum pin.
The lever is retained in its position by the safety pin.
The detonator is a separate unit, consisting of cap, cap chamber, safety fuse, and detonator.
The action of the grenade is that, after the safety pin is withdrawn, on throwing the grenade the lever swings outward under the pull of the striker pin spring, thus releasing the striker, which fires the cap. The safety fuse burns less than five seconds and then fires the detonator.
Packing: The grenades are packed 12 in a wooden box, together with a cylinder containing 12 detonators and lengths of safety fuse attached.
Preparation and Use of the Grenade: Unscrew the base plug, insert the detonator, etc., into the recesses provided and replace the plug.
The grenade is then held in the throwing hand in such a manner that the striker lever is held securely against the body of the grenade by some part of the hand.
The safety pin is pulled out by the other hand just before the grenade is thrown.
If not thrown the safety pin should be replaced.
Grenades, Hand, Nos. 6 and 7, Mark 1. Description: The grenades consist of tin vessels filled with high explosives and are packed 40 in each packing case, with four haversacks.
The “HEAVY GRENADE,” weight about 1 lb. 13 oz., contains an outer layer of scrap iron. The igniter socket is closed by a wooden plug for transit, and covered by a papier mache cap.
The “LIGHT GRENADE” is entirely filled with explosive. Weight slightly over 1 lb.
The IGNITERS and DETONATORS, packed 10 in a tin and 40 in each packing case, consist of a friction igniter, a length of safety-fuse and a service detonator. The friction igniter consists of the holder to which is fixed a flange with two notches and two springs. It also has two horns, which form a grip for turning the igniter into the locked position. The friction bar is fixed to a button through which the firing loop passes.
The HAVERSACK is intended to be carried similarly to be ordinary service haversack, but the sling is shorter to cause the grenades to rest above the hip and as far as possible clear of other equipment.
The loose strings should be tied round the waist to prevent the pockets sagging and the grenades knocking against one another.
Preparation of Grenade: Remove papier mache cap and the wooden plug from the igniter socket. Tear the strip from the tin box containing the ten igniters, insert an igniter in the socket so that the notches in the flange pass over the brass studs on the grenade. Turn the igniter in either direction until it is locked by the springs on the flange and one of the studs which is then held between the two springs. If it is required to remove an igniter, one of the springs must be kept pressed down while the igniter is turned till the spring is clear of the stud. Replace the papier mache cap and place the grenade in a pocket of the haversack with the cap uppermost.
Firing the Grenade: Remove the papier mache cap.
Hold the grenade in the right (or throwing) hand so that the igniter is towards the wrist, the forefinger over the bottom of the grenade. Pass the forefinger of the other hand through the firing loop and, when ready to throw, pull with a sharp jerk. If a second’s time is taken and the grenade bowled or thrown it should explode soon after reaching the mark.
