This incendiary grenade consists of tinned-plate body filled with approximately 600 grammes of an

incendiary mixture. The top portion is made from Bakelite and contains a .22 rimfire cap mounted
over a short length of safety fuze. The fuze time was approximately 5 seconds. The original marking
were as for incendiary which was red body colour, as can be seen on the photograph this was not
always adhered to.

Action.

Remove the safety cap and place the bomb

in the desired position. Strike the cap with
something hard. The explosion of the
rimfire cap ignites the safety fuze, which
burns through to the primed cotton cambric
disc, which in turn ignites the igniter
composition and thence the incendiary
composition.
Following the battle between the forces of Japan and Russia at Port Arthur observers were quick to
submit reports to their various headquarters on the efficacy of the hand grenade in trench warfare. Just
prior to this the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal had been directed to develop a hand grenade
for this purpose.

Examples of the Japanese grenade were passed to the Arsenal where it was studied and some of its
good points incorporated into the grenade eventually designed and accepted. It was officially adopted
on the 6th of July 1908.

ACTION
Prior to firing cap is rotated so that the word remove is aligned with the red stripe in the grenade body. The cap is
removed and the detonator is inserted. The cap is replaced and rotated so that the word travel is aligned with the red
stripe.
To throw the grenade, the cap is rotated so that the word fire is aligned with the red stripe. Unravel the streamer and
place in the palm of the hand grasp the cane handle in the same hand and remove the safety pin with the other hand.
Throw the grenade taking care that the grenade doesn’t strike the rear wall of the trench or any other solid object. If
the grenade lands in the correct manner the striker needle will impinge on the detonator functioning the grenade.
 Grenade hand No 1 Mk II.
Grenade hand No 1 Mk III

Drill version No. 1

Mk 1

DETONATOR
This grenade was used only because of the severe shortage of grenades in 1915. It is a copy of the
“Hale” grenade that was rejected by the War Department. It was originally made by the Cotton
Powder Company for use in the Mexican 7 and 8mm rifles. It was sometimes referred to as the
“Mexican pattern”.

It was filled with 96.3 grammes of Tonite. The detonator provided was a special one of 52.38mm
long.

Introduced in February 1915 and declared obsolete in 1920.

It could be found with a single braid streamer or a rope handle. These items were used by the Royal
Flying Corps when applying the grenades in a bombing setting.
Mk No. Filling Handle Streamer Ring
1 Cane 406mm Single 914mm One piece cast iron
2 4 oz 2 drm Cane or wood 216mm Four 508mm One piece cast iron
3 3 oz. Ditto Mk 2 Ditto Mk 2 May be two piece
Photo courtesy of the Australian Logistics Training Centre.
Much experimentation took place during 1916 when the new style of trench warfare demanded
different weapons and tactics than those hitherto used. The early grenades developed either by the
troops themselves or base workshops and the factory versions just beginning to appear were
unsatisfactory in many respects. Not the least being many, many duds and, in some cases they were
dangerous to the users.

There was also much argument about the different approaches to getting a grenade to function. The
two schools of thought were the percussion and the time. Both methods were viewed by the troops
with suspicion as being unsafe and unreliable.

Woolwich Arsenal put in its two shillings worth and came up with this grenade
ACTION
Remove the cap prior to throwing and insert an igniter set. Taking care that the tape was retained
in place the safety pin was removed. Throwing the grenade caused the weight and tape to unwind
taking the safety bolt with it. This action allowed the needle pellet and cap pellet freedom of
movement on impact. Depending on the angle of impact either the needle pellet drove the firing
pin onto the percussion cap or the cap pellet drove the percussion cap onto the firing pin. The flash
from the percussion cap was picked up by the fuze instantaneous and passed into the detonator
thence into the main filling.
 This was the last in a series of grenades called “Emergency” grenades and these were provided while
stocks of the “Mills” bomb were in very short supply. Many millions were issued to the Russians and
other allies. It was introduced in May 1915 and production stopped in September 1916.

It wouldn’t look out of place in the siege of Vicksburg in 1863 being a cast iron oval body and fitted
with a match composition igniter. It did have a more modern interior in that it had internal
fragmentation grooves. Not that the grooving acted as it was supposed to, especially with a cast iron
body.
It was filled with 113 grams of Ammonal, fitted with a piece of safety fuze and a No. 8 detonator and
provided with copper wires to secure the igniter. The delay provided was 5 seconds.

It never seemed to have been marked in any way just painted black.

ACTION.
Remove the tear-off tape and draw
the friction surface over a striker.
The flash produced ignites the safety
fuze which explodes the detonator
and thence the main filling.
As mentioned elsewhere the new trench warfare made demands on the old methods of warfare that
couldn’t be met by the equipment and tactics of the old army. Much improvisation was applied by the
troops themselves to overcome the deficiencies. The series of grenades running from No.6 to number
16 were rush jobs that were official versions of grenade developed in the trenches.

This grenade is a simple tin cylinder filled with explosive and provided with a friction igniter. It was
introduced in May 1915 and was called the “Light friction pattern” grenade. It was a blast grenade
only possessing very little fragmentation. It was declared obsolete in July 1920 although it had long
been out of service by then.

It was filled with either Amatol 80/20 or Trotyl. When the grenade was filled Trotyl a CE primer was
added to ensure complete detonation.

ACTION
Prior to throwing the wooden plug was removed and the igniter
set was inserted and given a twist in either direction to lock it
into place. Using the string handle pull the friction bar out of
the grenade. This action ignites the safety fuze the flash from
which explodes the detonator thence the main filling.
This grenade is similar to the No.6 with the difference that this has a fragmentation element added.
The method of operation and function is exactly the same as the No. 6.
Introduced in May 1915 this grenade is known by several names:
“The hairbrush grenade”
“The box grenade”
“The Lobtiniere grenade” This was for Australian service.

It was declared obsolete in July 1920.

The body of this grenade was made from tin except the front and back plates which were steel plates
scored so as to provide uniform fragmentation according to the thinking of the day. It was operated by
a simple spring loaded firing pin being released to strike a percussion cap. Later models had a more
sophisticated arrangement whereby a lever was rotated which cocked the spring and further rotation
released the striker, as shown below.
ACTION.
Withdrawal of the release pin allows the striker spring to
drive the striker onto the percussion cap. The flash from this
ignites the safety fuze and thence the detonator. The
explosion of this detonates the main filling.
This grenade was introduced in June 1917 and one could be forgiven for believing it to be something
from the American civil war. It was a simple safety fuze type grenade using a match composition to
ignite the piece of fuze. It also had a cast iron body. It was filled with .12 kg of Ammonal or Blastine.
When filled Ammonal it was marked with a pink band. The grenade was used in the West Spring gun
or it could be hand thrown
Introduced in June 1917 this grenade was known as the “Trench Warfare Department Percussion
pattern grenade”

It was filled with 70 grammes of either Ammonal, Amatol or Bellite.

It was fitted with a rather rudimentary impact fuze.

It was marked in the following manner:

Red band = Bellite filling

Green band = Amatol
Pink band = Ammonal
ACTION
Prior to throwing remove the safety pin.
Throw the grenade trying to give it as high
an angle as possible. On impact with the
ground the striker is driven inward to shear
the copper wire and hit the .380 cap. The
flash from this explodes the detonator and
then the main filling.
These grenades were troop inspired semi-official grenades that became official versions in 1915. They
were known as the “Light Pitcher” and the “Heavy Pitcher” grenades and were designed as a
fragmentation types. In line with the thinking of the day the exterior of the body was patterned to
break up into regular fragments. Proof testing soon showed that the body did nothing of the sort. They
were filled with Ammonal.

The difference between the 13 and the 14 was that the 13 had a steel body and the 14 was cast iron.
The grenades were odd in that the thrower had to assemble the safety fuze and the detonator prior to
use, tools being provided for this in the boxes in which the grenades were supplied. Because of the
local assembly and no quality control many ignition failures occurred and more dangerously,
accidents occurred in the assembly procedures. Both grenades were declared obsolete very soon after
the war ended.
ACTION.
After having connected a detonator to the
safety fuze they were inserted into the
grenade. Giving the cap a twist allowed the
cap to be removed. This action allowed the
friction tape to unravel. Pulling the tape
withdrew a friction igniter through a friction
tube. The flash from this ignited the safety
fuze which in turn exploded the detonator
and thence the main filling.
This grenade is a three-fathers one, it was originally known as the Hales Naval grenade Mk I and
when the workup stage was finished it was designated Grenade .303 short rifle No.4 Mk 1 and when
used in the SMLE rifle it was known as the Grenade .303 long rifle No. 10 Mk I.

It was the idea of Lt. Clarke Hall RN to attack balloons and dirigibles his reasoning being that the
effects of an HE grenade on the fabric of either would be catastrophic to say the least. Not requiring
any fragmentation effect the grenade was provided with a brass body without any fragmentation
patterning. As can be imagined the resistance provided by the thin fabric of a balloon or dirigible
proved to be insufficient to operate the fuze mechanism of the early modes so modifications were
made to the grenade. A wind vane arming similar to the Hales “J” type was fitted and a ball race was
applied to the striker mechanism to speed up its action. These modifications proved successful and the
name changed to the Naval grenade Mk I. Some changes to the shape of the body improved the air
flow over the wind vane and it is about this time that the final name No. 4 came into being.

The arrival of Small Arms calibre incendiary and explosive projectiles fired from machine guns fitted
to the aircraft rendered the method of firing rifle grenades from unfixed weapons by the shoulder a
dubious business at best. The grenade was applied to the bombing concept by being launched from a
“Grenade dropping gear” attached to the aircraft and operated by the pilot. Special arrangements were
made to ensure that the wind vanes wouldn’t rotate until the grenade was launched. It was fitted with
a simple set of tail fins when used in this fashion.

It was introduced in February 1915 and declared obsolete in October 1918. It was filled with 196.6
grammes of Trotyl in two pellets. It differed from the No. 3 in not having a releasing socket so it
could only be fired from rifle fitted with a safety spike that prevented movement of the wind-vane
until it was fired.
ACTION.
Prior to firing the detonator is inserted, the
grenade placed in the rifle and the safety pin
removed. On firing the wind vane
commences to rotate this action clears the
retaining bolts which fall away. This action
permits the needle pellet to move forward on
impact. The needle pellet strikes the
percussion cap which explodes the detonator
and thence the main filling.
This grenade was introduced on 20th of May 1915 and was the first of a series of similar grenades
bearing different numbers. This number was declared obsolete on the 6th of May 1920. It stems from
an original Mills patent cylindrical pattern grenade. (qv)

The body of this grenade was segmented externally on the theory that this would aid in producing a
uniform fragmentation. Later controlled detonations showed clearly that the patterning did no such
thing. Most of the grenade body was reduced to very small pieces of cast iron and the base plug and
the striker housing. These were the two most lethal pieces in it. The orientation of the grenade when it
detonated played a great part in determining where the lethal bits went.

Cast iron body with brass base

plug and brass filling screw.

ACTION.
Remove the safety pin ensuring
that the striker lever is held
against the grenade. On
throwing the striker spring
asserts itself and pivots the
lever allowing the striker to hit
the igniter cap. The flash from
this ignites the safety fuze
which burns through to the
detonator. This explodes the
main charge. A rare drill igniter set
for a grenade.
The fuze blasting time was either No. 14 Bickford or No. 11 safety fuze both giving a burning time of
5 seconds plus or minus .4 of a second. The detonator could also be a No. 6 large that was filled with
15.4 grms of Fulminate of mercury. Later versions of this grenade were fitted with a gas plate for
launching from rifles in which case the igniter set was of 7 second timing to allow for the greater
ranging capability.

The grenade was marked with a red filling ring that was changed to green to indicate an Amatol
filling or pink to indicate either Ammonal or Bellite fillings. The weight of the filling was 60.2
grammes of either Ammonal, Bellite, Alumatol 2, Abelite, Cilferite or Amatol.

The total weight was .7 kg

The body was normally varnished and showed a different fragmentation pattern to later grenades.

With this model the striker head was grooved all round.
Introduced in June 1917 and declared obsolete in December 1922 this grenade was also known as the
“Opera hat” due to the shape of the striker head.

It had a cast iron body filled with 56.9 grammes of either Ammonal or Amatol 80/20

It was launched with a 381 mm steel rod, copper plated with a copper gas check.

The igniter set was fitted with .22 rimfire cap and 44.4mm of safety fuze with a No. 7 detonator.
This grenade was a development of the No. 20 Mk2 modified so as to simplify production and
economise in materials. It was introduced in June 1917 and declared obsolete in July 1920.

The grenade was marked with coloured band to indicate the type of filling thus:

Green = Amatol filling

Pink = Alumatol or Ammonal filling.

Mk I = Had a serrated steel body.

Mk II = Had a plain cast iron body
Action.

Remove the ebonite plug and place a detonator in the recess above the
creep spring and replace the plug. Place the grenade rod in the muzzle of
the rifle and remove the safety pin. On firing the releasing socket sets
back freeing the retaining bolts that fly clear. This frees the needle pellet
to move forward on impact driving the striker needle into the detonator,
the detonation of this passes into the main filling.
These two grenades were introduced together in January 1917 for signaling purposes. The No. 31 was
for daylight and the No. 32 was for night time use.
ACTION.
Prior to firing the grenade is inserted into the rifle muzzle and the safety pin and
protective cap are removed. On firing the grenade is propelled from the rifle and, at the
same time the striker sets back shearing the shear wire and hitting the percussion cap.
The flash from this ignites the piece of safety fuze which burns through to the felt wad
and the quickmatch. The explosion of these two items ignites the smoke candle or the
stars and, at the same time propels the candle or stars and parachute out of the body of
the grenade
This grenade was introduced in May 1918 and apparently never declared obsolete. It was a modified
No. 24 in that the base piece was shorter thus the safety pin passes through the releasing socket
instead of beneath it.

It was filled with .04 kg of either Ammonal, Alumatol or Amatol the filling being indicated by the
usual method of applying coloured bands thus:

Green band = Amatol filling

Pink band = Ammonal or Alumatol

The detonator was a modified .303 cartridge case crimped into a holder.

The Mk II version of this grenade specially waterproofed for use in Mesopotamia. Why wasn’t it
called a No. 35M?
Action.

Remove the ebonite plug and place a detonator in the recess above the
creep spring and replace the plug. Place the grenade rod in the muzzle of
the rifle and remove the safety pin. On firing the releasing socket sets
back freeing the retaining bolts that fly clear. This frees the needle pellet
to move forward on impact driving the striker needle into the detonator,
the detonation of this passes into the main filling.
This grenade was developed to overcome the problem associated with percussion grenades and the
soft mud of the Western front battlefields. The initial design of early rifle grenade fuze mechanisms
relied on the inertia of a pellet to drive a striker into a detonator. This grenade reversed that procedure
in that it had a domed striker that drove a striker into a detonator by impact.

The detonator used to achieve this result was the Detonator No. 39 Mk I. This item was a number 8
large, Mk I detonator inserted into a capped .303 service case. The detonator was secured by glue in
the case. The base of the cartridge was painted red.

The grenade was filled with 42 grammes of either Ammonal, Alumatol, Amatol 83/17, Trotyl or
Baratol 20/80.
The grenade was marked with coloured bands to indicate the filling thus:

The standard red ring to indicate an active filling

A green band = Amatol, Trotyl or Baratol
A pink band = Ammonal or Alumatol

Shown above are the ranging rod and the ring, ranging .303 rifle grenade. The
rubber ring was slid onto the rod and moved to the range desired as marked on
the ranging rod. The rod was then placed in the barrel and the rubber ring rested
on the muzzle of the rifle, its position determined the depth to which the rod
intruded into the barrel. This in turn determined the range, more depth, more
range, less depth less range.
The different overall lengths shown above were because the grenade was provided
with two rod lengths to permit variation of range. The rod lengths were 294.4mm
and 381mm.
This was the first British rifle grenade and it had a somewhat difficult birth. A Mr. Hale developed a
wind-vane armed rifle grenade known as the “J” pattern but the Chief Superintendent of Ordnance
Factories considered Hale and his ideas to be crazy and downright dangerous. At the same time
Germany and Mexico were either buying or studying the Hale J pattern and this convinced the
Government to have a closer look at the idea of a rifle grenade. It is interesting to note that when the
war started the British Government requisitioned grenades destined for the Brazilian Government and
put them to use. They were originally designed for use in 7mm weapons but the provision of a spring
clip allowed them to be used in the SMLE.

This grenade was made of steel with a segmented body common to the day. It was wind-vane armed
with a releasing socket. This action is exactly the same as the British No. 3. A little suspicious
wouldn’t you think?

This brings us to the No. 3 grenade as designed by Woolwich Arsenal which was introduced into
service with the sub-title “J pattern” and it too was wind-vane armed. Might have been a little copying
here one would think. It was introduced in February 1915
 ACTION.
Prior to firing the detonator holder was removed and the grenade
upended to ensure that the needle pellet is held by its retaining
bolts. The detonator is then inserted and the grenade mounted on
the rifle muzzle. The safety pin is removed and the grenade fired,
this action causes the releasing socket to set back thus freeing the
wind vane to commence rotating. This movement allows the
retaining bolts to fall away freeing the needle pellet to move
forward on impact. The needle strikes the percussion cap and the
flash from this exploded the detonator and thence the main
filling.
This grenade was never introduced into service but got to the stage of troop trials around 1916/17.

It had a serrated steel body that was filled with 56.9 grammes of Ammonal.

It was also known as the “Sangster” grenade.

ACTION.
After inserting the grenade into the rifle barrel the safety pin is removed
then the grenade is fired. The vanes begin to rotate thus screwing down the
striker, this action shears the shear wire. Only the creep spring now keeps
the striker from the percussion cap. On impact the striker is driven onto the
percussion cap the flash from which explodes the detonator then the main
filling.
Introduced in September 1918 this rodded grenade was based on the No. 32 Mk II and differs only in
that it carries a RED-GREEN-RED, or WHITE-RED-WHITE coloured star sequence and the
parachute was protected by a felt cushion.
ACTION.
Prior to firing the safety pin and the cap are removed. The grenade is then fired from the rifle
and this action causes the striker to set back hitting the percussion cap the flash from this is
passed to the quickmatch and this ignites the star composition. At the same time the grenade
is propelled from the rifle
Introduced in January 1919 and retained in service until August 1956. These grenades are similar but
differ in that one is designed to be used as a day signal, No. 42 and the other as a night signal, No. 43.
They were designed for use in the grenade discharger fitted to the .303 rifle.

They had a cylindrical cardboard body containing a small parachute and a smoke candle in the No. 42
and three coloured stars joined by asbestos cord in the No. 43.

The colour markings were as follows:

No. 42 had a drab buff colour with a wavy line indicating the smoke colour
No. 43 had three coloured discs in the colours and the sequence of the stars when they appeared. The
body was a drab colour, a sort of varnished cardboard look.

The candles were issued in the No. 42 in the following colours:

Red
Blue
Yellow
Purple.
The red candle burned for 20 seconds and all the other colours for 10 seconds.
ACTION.
No action is required prior to firing. Insert the grenade into the discharger cup and, using a
Ballistite cartridge fire the rifle at about 700. The flash from the propellant ignites the two pieces
of safety fuze. These burn for about ½ a second. The flash from the fuze is passed to a layer of
quickmatch lining the inside of the smoke candle and also to the gunpowder which ejects the
candle and the parachute from the body of the grenade. The actions for the No. 43 are essentially
the same.
This grenade has the distinction of being the first
application of the Hollow charge principle to a military
munitions item. It was introduced in November 1940 in
the darkest days of WWII when we were losing
everywhere and even though it was efficient it must have
taken a brave man to front up to a German tank with it.
The supposedly effective range was 50 to 75 yards but it
would have been a very lucky shot to score a killing hit
at that range so closer would have been better but more
frightening for the operator. The theoretical penetration
was 50mm of armour at 0O and 40mm at 30O. The
grenade was launched from a specially strengthened rifle
called an “EY” rifle and it could also be fired from a
“Northover Projector”.

It was filled with 5.5 oz of, Lyddite, Pentolite, RDX/BWX or PE. The original model was provided
with small stabilizing vanes on the body that were later dispensed with and the gas check was secured
by a Bakelite screw that fractured on firing allowing the gas check plate to fall away. This was later
changed to a brass screw thus ensuring the gas check plate remained attached to the grenade
throughout its flight. The original hollow charge liner was hemispherical in shape but this was later
changed to a cylindro-conoidal shape as experimentation soon showed this to be a more efficient
shape.

The simple fuze

mechanism and the
hollow charge
layout are clearly
seen in this
photograph. Photo
courtesy of the
Imperial War
Museum, London
The fuze mechanism was simple being just a graze action element secured by a shear wire and, prior
to firing a safety pin that was removed. On firing the setback forces sheared the wire freeing the graze
element. On impact the graze element overcame the creep spring and drove the firing pin into the
detonator. The detonator in turn initiated a CE stemming which in turn detonated a CE pellet thence
the main filling.
It weighed .89kg and was 168mm long with a diameter of 63.2mm.

These grenades were manufactured up until 1945 with the Mk 5 pattern being made in the USA.

An “R” after the lot No. indicates a Mk 4 tail attached to a Mk 3 body.

Mk. No Description
1 Fins on body, bakelite screw holding gas check and domed charge liner.
2 No fins on body, mazak body and brass screw holding gas check.
3 Larger CE pellet and cylindro-conoidal charge liner.
4 Mazak gas check
5 Steel gas check.
6 USA manufacture to Mk 5 pattern
No. 68 Mk I with the additional fins. No. 68 Mk II without additional fins

An original Drill grenade for the No. 68, a bit of a rare

beastie today. Photo courtesy of the Imperial War
Museum, London.
The later pattern hollow charge liner.

Colour bands indicating type of filling.

Filled with Lyddite

Filled with Pentolite

Filled with RDX/BWX in a ratio of 91% to 9%

Filled with Plastic Explosive

Filled with CE/TNT in a ratio of 30% to 70%

This grenade was based on the US M9A1 anti-tank version.

It was introduced in April 1945 and declared obsolete in September 1946. It had a very short life due
to a decision by the General Staff to discontinue rifle launched grenades.

It was filled with 120.4 grammes of RDX/TNT initiated by a No. 430 or 431 percussion fuze. The
grenade required no operations prior to firing. The grenade came complete with fuze and detonator
the action of firing it armed the fuze.
ACTION.

No action is required prior to firing. On firing the propellant gasses drive the
grenade from the end of the rifle and at the same time drive the diaphragm
inwards thus driving the arming spindle forward. This action allows the locking
ball to move into the groove on the spindle. This action frees the striker to move
when the grenade strikes its target. During flight the creep spring keeps the striker
away from the detonator. On impact the striker flies forward hitting the detonator.
The explosion from this is passed through to the main filling.
Introduced in June 1947 and declared obsolete in July 1949 so it was a fairly short-lived grenade. The
coming inventory of rockets and anti-tank missiles rendered rifle grenades obsolescent.

It was similar to the No. 80 WP grenade in that it was a shortened version with an adaptor in place of
the striker mechanism. The adaptor was fitted with a No. 431 fuze.

The grenade came complete and required no preparation prior to firing.

It was filled with 262.2 grammes of White Phosphorous.

ACTION.
On firing the propellant gasses
drive the grenade from the rifle
and at the same time they push on
the diaphragm. This action pushes
the arming spindle forward
allowing the locking ball to move
into a groove in the spindle. The
movement of the locking ball frees
the striker. The striker is held
away from the detonator only by
the creep spring. On impact the
striker flies forward onto the
detonator, the flash from which is
passed through the booster. The
explosion from this ruptures the
body and scatters the WP which
burns on contact with the air.
This grenade was introduced in September 1940 and was and still is used by naval forces throughout
the world.
It is similar in dimensions, functioning and operation to the No. 57 to 63 grenades.
It could be launched from either the Webley & Scott 21/2 inch signal pistol or the Float, signal,
submerged (Grenade) Mk N3/1

It would appear that the grenade signal is different in construction from the grenade used in the float
although the launching instructions indicate that the No. 65 can be used in both.

It has a paper lined tinned-plate body the top of which is embossed with a cross to indicate a red
signal and a triangle a green signal. The top was also stenciled “Load into discharger this way up”.
This grenade was also known as the “Spherical “R” type” and it was introduced in June 1917. It was
declared obsolete in July 1920.

It was a light mild steel body made in two hemispheres and filled with .23 kg of either Ammonal or
Amatol.

The igniter system consisted of a .22 rimfire cap a length of Bickford safety fuze No. 14 and a
detonator No. 8 large. The copper wires were for retaining the igniter set in the grenade.

ACTION.

Prior to insertion in the spring

gun the tin protective cap is
removed and the grenade placed
in the gun with the .22 rimfire cap
opposite the striker. On firing the
striker hits the cap as the grenade
is launched. The flash from the
cap ignites the Bickford fuze,
which burns for 6.5 seconds and
then initiates the detonator and
thence the main filling.
There were a huge range of grenades improvised by the troops in the trenches all over the various
battlefields to overcome the difficulties in attacking the enemy in their trenches. Neither side having
planned for the static trench warfare imposed on them by circumstances.

Some of them were reasonably well thought out weapons while others were positively dangerous to
the user. Some of them became official versions and many others were abandoned as soon as safer
grenades came along.

Shown below are some of these improvised devices.

This was a simple steel container filled with HE and functioned by a piece of safety
fuze and a detonator all attached to a simple wooden throwing handle.

This used a very pistol cartridge attached to a rifle grenade launching rod the idea being
that the act of firing it actuated the primer which in turn operated the signal cartridge as
normal.
Jam tin grenade from WWI. This as a simple tin filled with HE and sometimes packed
with metal fragments to improve the anti-personnel effects. It was functioned by a
short piece of safety fuze and a detonator. Considering the primitive conditions under
which it was manufactured and the lack of quality control it must have been a real risk
to use.
This grenade looks nothing like a grenade and was intended to be an anti-tank mine able to be thrown
like a grenade. It could also be connected together in chains to make ad-hoc demolition charges.
Introduced in June 1942 it shows a certain desperation in its conception.

The grenade was made from the body of a commercially available liquid polish tin of approximately 1
pint (600mls) capacity. Originally it was fitted with a screwed lid that was cemented in place after
filling. In later models this screwed lid was replaced by a press fitted version.

The No. 75 was filled with a variety of explosives:

NOBELS No. 704B In addition the body contained 4 exploders to give an added
BURROWITE boost to the explosives fillings as they are in effect commercial
66% BURROWITE & 33% 704B explosives used in a military setting. The exploders were:
MILITARY AMMONAL
POLAR DYNAMITE (25% NG)
OR
NOBELS 673

BURROWITE
50% AMMATOL
50% ALUMINIUM

AMMONAL
65% AMMONIUM NITRATE
15% TNT
17% ALUMINIUM
3% CHARCOAL

POLAR DYNAMITE
25% NG
75% DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
NOBELS 704B
15% TNT This looks very much like a
repaint job to represent a
67.5% AMMONIUM NITRATE Mk II.
16% ALUMINIUM POWDER
.5% CALCIUM STEARATE
1% PARAFFIN WAX
NOBELS 673
?

The use of commercial explosives to perform a military task is sending a boy to do a mans job. They
have neither the violence nor the brisance to adequately smash an armoured vehicle.

The grenade was initiated by a system that could best be described as amateurish. It consisted of a
tinned plate framework soldered to the outside of the body, a pair of chemical igniters attached to a
pair of No. 27 detonators. The theory being that the contraption was to be thrown under the tracks of a
tank and the crushing action would break the chemical igniters causing the detonators to function.
This is where the difficulty comes in, placing a detonator system on the outside of an explosive device
is asking for the rate of failure to be somewhat high. Your exploder system should always be inside
the explosives. This makes for good detonation. In addition the idea of carrying around explosive
devices fitted with glass tubes of chemicals in a battle zone is not conducive to peace of mind.

Tinned plate tube

flattened at the end
and painted red at the
flattened end.
Cotton wool packing
Glass phial containing a
mixture of 93% H2SO4
and 7% KNO3
Lead washer.
Mixture of Potassium
Chlorate and charcoal
Rubber sleeve
No. 27 detonator
ASA composition.
Lead Azide
Lead Styphnate
Aluminium
Composition exploding
The system was
arranged thus: the
number 27
detonator was slid
into the hollow end
of the tube until it
butted up against
the lead washer,
then the rubber
sleeve was rolled
down holding the
detonator in place.
On being crushed
the two acids in the
tube reacted with
the potassium
chlorate and charcoal
causing a flame. The
flame causes the
detonator to explode and
this in turn explodes the
filling inside the tin can.
You can see that with all
those bits of metal in the
way there is a
reasonable chance for
the system to go awry.

The British soon woke up to the basic drawbacks of this style of igniter and modified it to some
extent. But they still retained the basic crush system although they used a detonating compound in lieu
of the chemical buck igniter style.

Clearly shown here is the method by which the

plate would crush the glass capsules held in place
in the detonator holders.
Approved
cement
Striker pin cemented in
place.

Glass phial containing "A" mixture.

37.5% Mercury fulminate
37.5% Potassium chlorate
25% Antimony sulphide

No. 27 detonator
cemented in place.

Cap is coloured pink when

the filling is BURROWITE or
MILITARY AMMONAL.

Shown here
is the way in
which the
detonator
holders were
angled to
put the two Cap is coloured white for
detonators drill versions.
closer
together.
This is a
replica

Mk III has no filling cap and

is sealed with a press fitted
plate.
 Shown here is the way
in which Mk I differed
from Mk II. MkI had
the detonator holders
running parallel to
each other and Mk II
had them angled to get
the detonators to boost
each other. Mk II also
had the groove running
lengthwise.

Red filling ring to indicate filled with

Victor powder or Nobels No. 673.

Red filling ring to indicate filled with

Victor powder or Nobels No. 673.
A sectionized Mk II showing a crude representation of where the boosters
were positioned.
Stencilling found on the body of the 75 grenade was as follows:

BUR = BURROWITE

A = MILITARY AMMONAL (THIS WAS ADDED TO THE NUMBER EG 75A)

= Filled with TNT.

& 4 EXP = INDICATES THAT THE GRENADE HAS FOUR EXPLODERS FITTED INSIDE.

1/3 BUR 2/3 704B = INDICATES THAT THE FILLING IS A BLEND OF THE TWO
EXPLOSIVES

Stamped into the body of the

case will be the Model
number, the mark number ,
the manufacturers code
letters and the date of
manufacture. This is not
strictly accurate as many
bodies were used from old
stock with Mk I stampings
and made into Mk IIs.

Mk II introduced June 1943 and had the igniter pockets set obliquely.
There was no Mk III
The Mk II was reinstated in March 1949 because there was no other anti-tank grenade available. It
was also applied to Naval service in November 1953.
Finally the veteran was declared obsolete in July 1955.
I don’t know much about this grenade except that it is filled with an irritant powder and is possibly
used as a training grenade. The body certainly looks as though it is designed to give no fragmentation.

The fuzing system appears to be a friction ignited match composition mated to a piece of safety fuze
and a small detonator or gunpowder bursting charge.

Any information that you might have concerning this grenade would be much appreciated