HAND GRENADES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 16, 26 February 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

HAND GRENADES.

THEIR UTILITY IN WARFARE

In their most recent dispatehes Sir John French and "Eye-Witness" both testify to the effective use of rifle and hand grenades iii tronch warfare. These weapons hav.e always proved very deadly in fighting at close quarters. Tliey were much used in mediaeval times, but It was only in the recent Russo-Japanese War that the 'excellent results achieved by their use led to their general adoption by modern nations. Those who had tlie ielea that the Britidi Army wa s deficient in its equipment must now feel confident that it- has the most destructive form of hand grenade that science has devised. THE GRENADE DESCRIBED. The particular style of "bomb" supplied to British troops has a cylindrical body, about 6 inches long and 26 inches in diameter. To this there is attached a handle 1 foot i inches in length. Tho handle is of cane, and is roughened at the end in order to give a good hold. Steadiness in flight is obtained by fixing a " tail" of loose material to the handle. The bursting charge of the grenade consists of the high explosive lyddite, which is fired by a cap and detonator at tho head of the rocket-shaped body. To guard against the possibility of the charge being accidentally fired a safety pin attachment prevents the detonator be : ng fired. This allows of the weapon being carried about with perfect safety until the securing pin is withdrawn and tho cap turned to the position "fire." Tho grenade is fitted with a hook by which it can lie carried from a soldier's belt, hanelle downwards, and with the "tail" wrapped around the cane. HOW IT IS THROWN. In throwing the grenade the "tail" is unwound, the cap is turned to the "fire" position, and. lastly, the safety pin is pulled out. Then, holding the cane handle by its roughened end, the soldier throws' the grenade, taking extreme care thalt the loosely-han.ging " tail" does not catch in his equipment. As the body of the weapon is so built that on exploding it flies into fragments. its effect when used against troops is terrific. The lyddite charge on bursting scatters p'eces of the shell far and wide with tremendous force. Against buildings and even earthworks the grenade has proved very effective, while for clearing trenches at close range there is no more formidable weapon 0 It can only be used at close range, as it can hardly be thrown to a greater distance than a hundred yards. AS USED IN RIFLES. But there is a further development of the grenade which can be used with advantage at more than twice that distance. This is the rifle grenade, alluded to in one of Sir John French's latest dispatches. Previous to the war the British War Office had carried out very extensive experiments with this typo of weapon which is manufactured on a principle) similar to that of the hand grenade. The essential difference in the two forms is that 011 the rifle grenade a perfectly smooth rod takes the place oi tho cane hanurt. This rod fits into the bore of tlie British rifle and a special cartridge gives the missile its send-off. Some f>"crecv surrounds the experiments referred to." but it is said that a range of from 200 to 300 yards was attained, although with no great accuracy as to direction. The rifle grenade now being used by British troops is probably a development of this type.