Volume 2 Updates

Grenade, No. 36M HE Mk. I (for boobytrap use)

This was an Indian Army store (British Indian Army).  It was not used in the European theatre but was likely available to any of the Commonwealth Forces fighting in the Far East against the Japanese.

Basically it was a standard No. 36M Mk. I grenade fitted with a "Detonator, Instantaneous, No. 36 M Grenade, Mark I".  The grenade was supplied in a open ended container which was painted deep bronze green and was just large enough to contain the grenade and hold the striker lever in place.  The container had 4 holes drilled in the bottom, 2 x  3/32" diameter and 2 x 1/8" diameter.  A loop of strong string was attached through two of the holes.  The safety pin of the grenade has a red warning tag on it stating "This grenade MUST NOT be fired from a rifle or thrown by hand".

The detonator set appears much the same as a standard one and could be fitted with either of two detonators.  Either a "Detonator No. 6" or a "Detonator A.S.A/CE".  The cap chamber was attached to a piece of "Fuze Instantaneous Mk. 4" about 1 13/16 inches long.  The detonator was crimped onto the end of the fuze.  The detonator set was identified by being lacquered a bright red and having the top of the cap chamber knurled.  The knurling on the cap chamber served to identify it at night when the colour could not be seen.

Basically this was a manufactured version of the improvised type of boobytrap that simply put a grenade in a tin can of suitable size attached to a trip wire that would pull the grenade from the tin when tripped.  The problem with using a normal grenade in this manner is the fuze delay which gave the target a chance to get out of the way.  The instantaneous fuze in this one solved that little problem.

Grenade, Hand or Rifle, Smoke, RP, XL21E1

I don't know a lot about this one as it is an experimental grenade and was not adopted for service.  The body is rubber and is filled with Red Phosphorous.  The igniter mechanism appears to be the standard L25 type but may have modifications to it.  The shape of the base indicates it was designed for use with the L1A1 adapter so it could be launched from a rifle.  Likely designed to replace the No. 80 WP grenade.

Grenade, Assualt, Training, XL79E1

Grenade, Discharger, Anti Riot, Irritant L96A1

 This grenade is designed for firing from a 66mm vehicle mounted launcher in 4 grenade salvos to a range of 65 – 95 metres.  The rubber portion of the body contains 23 individual canisters filled with CS gas.  This provides a number of sources of gas rather than one so it cannot be thrown back.

 The grenade is 66mm in diameter, 185 mm long and weighs 568 grams.  It produces a cloud of CS gas in 8 seconds.

 Grenade, Discharger, Anti Riot, Practice L97A1

 This is the practice version of the L96A1 grenade.  As such it is virtually identical to the live version but is filled with Cinnamic Acid instead of CS.  It produces a cloud of white CA smoke to simulate the CS gas cloud produced by the L96A1

 Characteristics are as for the L96A1.

Grenade, Hand, Signal Smoke, Yellow, L100A1

 This is an addition to the L69A1 – L70A1 series of grenades.  It is likely that the British identified the need for new colours and simply ordered the already proven grenades in different colours and designating them in order. 

 Description and markings are as for the L69A1 grenade on page 122.

 Grenade, Hand, Signal Smoke, Purple, L101A1

 Also an addition to the L69A1 series of grenades produced by Haley and Weller.

 Description and markings are as for the L69A1 grenade on page 122.

Grenade, Hand, Anti Personnel, L109A1

 This grenade has been adopted by the British Ministry of Defence to replace the L2A2 as the service grenade.  It is the Swiss HG 85 with some minor changes.  In September 2000 a six year contract with Swiss Ammunition Enterprise Corporation was announced.  The British will purchase some 363000 grenades for combat and live training with the first deliveries scheduled for March 2001.

 The grenade, known as the "Enhanced Performance Grenade" during trials, is designed to defeat normal body armour.  It will defeat body armour with 20 layers of Kevlar and 1.6mm of titanium.  When the grenade explodes the body shatters into approximately 1800 fragments weighing 0.1 gram each.

 The grenade is spherical with a bushing on the top.  The body is steel with internal segmentation that will cause the body to splinter into approximately 1800 fragments.  The bushing welded to the top of the body is internally threaded to accept the DM 82 CH fuze mechanism.  The body contains a filling of 155 grams of RDX/TNT.  The outside of the body is of a rough texture to provide a good gripping surface.  A supplementary spring steel safety clip is clipped over the safety lever and bushing on top of the grenade preventing the safety lever from moving.

 The fuze contains a striker that is held in the cocked position by the safety lever and pin.  The top of the fuze is protected by a plastic cover that is also held on by the safety pin.  This fuze has the detonator physically separated from the booster char until the fuze is functioned.  It is held off by means of a spring held under tension by a soldered retaining ring.  In addition there is a flap valve that prevents the flash from the delay composition from hitting and firing the detonator in the safe position.

 When the safety clip is removed and the safety pin pulled. the protective plastic cover falls away.  When the grenade is thrown the striker, under pressure of the striker spring begins to rotate on its axis.  This causes the safety lever to be thrown off.  The striker continues to rotate until it hits the percussion cap.  The percussion cap fires and ignites the delay pellet.  The burning delay pellet produces enough heat after about 2 seconds to melt the solder holding the retaining ring.  This releases the spring which then reasserts itself and moves the detonator from the safe to armed position.  The delay pellet continues to burn and after a total of 3-4 seconds burns out and flashes, this bends the flap valve out of the way allowing the flash to reach the detonator.  The detonator fires, which initiates the booster charge which in turn initiates the main explosive filling.

 The grenade is painted deep bronze green with a yellow band around the top bushing.  Markings in yellow give the designation "GREN HAND HE L109A1", a manufacturers marking "SM" meaning "Swiss Munitions", and a lot number.  Markings on the safety lever give the designation and lot number of the fuze.

 Grenade, Hand, Drill, L110A1

 This is the drill version of the L109A1.  The body is solid aluminum with a textured plastic coating made in the same form as the live grenade.  The textured coating ensures a good gripping surface.  A hole drilled up from the bottom indicates an empty store as well as ensuring the drill grenade is of the same weight as a live grenade.   A bushing on top of the grenade has the fuze mechanism permanently attached.  A hole is drilled through the bushing

 The fuze mechanism has a blue plastic cover with a slot for the pull ring to clip into to prevent it being accidentally pulled.  The fuze mechanism, under the plastic cover is very similar in appearance to the American fuze mechanisms.  Internally there is an extension on the striker to allow it to be easily recocked during training.  In addition there is a leaf spring safety clip that clips around the safety lever and neck of the grenade preventing the lever from rotating even if the safety pin is pulled.

 The entire grenade is dark blue with the exception of the safety clip.  The markings are painted in white the body.  The markings are "GREN HAND INERT DRILL L110A1" and a manufacturers marking "SM" meaning Swiss Munitions.  The fuze mechanism is marked on the wide bottom portion of the lever "HG2 DM 82 CH"

Grenade, Hand, Practice, L111A1

 This is the practice version of the l109A1 grenade.  It is designed to simulate use of a live grenade in training and for use in throwing practice. 

 The body is made of steel and is covered in a textured plastic material.  The top portion is larger than the bushing on the live grenade.  The overall size and weight of the grenade are the same as the L109A1.  There is a large aperture in the bottom of the grenade to allow gases from the practice fuze detonation to escape. 

 The fuze mechanism consists of two parts, a reusable striker mechanism and an L162 practice fuze.  The striker mechanism has the safety lever attached by a plastic strap to prevent loss.  The practice fuze is fitted into the bottom of the striker mechanism then the entire assembly is screwed into the top of the grenade.

 The body of the grenade is light blue.  Embossed near the top is the word "PRACTICE".  The side of the body is stenciled with the designation "GREN HAND PRAC L11A1", a manufacturers mark "SM" meaning Swiss Munitions, and a lot number.  The striker assembly body is grey and the safety lever is orange.  The L162 practice fuze has a blue body with brown base and is fitted with a silver washer.

Canadian

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, C13

This is a Canadian assembled copy of the US M67 grenade.  The grenade is assembled in Canada by SNC.  The various components of the grenade are purchased from the manufacturer and are put together in a Canadian facility.  It is unknown if any modifications have been made but to all appearances it is identical to the US M67.

India

The No. 36 Mk. I is still being manufactured in India by Indian Ordnance Factories.  These are virtually identical to the older British manufactured grenades.  A training version "Grenade, Hand, Practice, No. 36 M1A" is also produced.  it is identical in appearance, with the exception of markings, to the live version but produces a flash, smoke, and sound signature on detonation.  The practice charge is a small gunpowder charge contained in the fuze.  It can be reasonably assumed that the practice grenades are reloadable.

India also produces the No. 36 as a rifle grenade.  The base plug is replaced with a tubular adapter designed to fit over a grenade launcher attached to the 1A1 rifle.  The safety lever is held in place by a rubber arming ring likely designed to release with the setback caused by launching.  The rifle grenade version is provided with a 7 second fuze.

Pakistan

Pakistan also still retains the No. 36M MK. 1 and produced it at Pakistan Ordnance Factory at Wah Cantt.  It is now out of production being replaced in service by a license produced Arges 84-P2A1 grenade.  It is virtually identical to other No. 36M Mk. I grenades.  It is painted black with a red band and some markings in white.  "POF" and the year of manufacture is cast into the body below the filler plug.  The one in the photograph is dated 1980.

Markings Section

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