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No15 cricket ball grenade
- Thread starter Spitace41
- Start date
paul the grenade
Well-Known Member
Hi.
The No 15 is a fairly common grenade that turns up for sale every now and then. They were for catapult use but could be easlily hand thrown. The fuze used was the brock igniter which was notoriously unreliable and accounts of the battle of loos say they failed to light in the damp weather:tinysmile_cry_t4: and the grenades littered the bottom of the trenches where the soldiers had disgarded them. The oval No 16 was no better as it used the same fuze.
Paul.
The No 15 is a fairly common grenade that turns up for sale every now and then. They were for catapult use but could be easlily hand thrown. The fuze used was the brock igniter which was notoriously unreliable and accounts of the battle of loos say they failed to light in the damp weather:tinysmile_cry_t4: and the grenades littered the bottom of the trenches where the soldiers had disgarded them. The oval No 16 was no better as it used the same fuze.
Paul.
NOMENCLATURE: Grenade, Hand, No.15 (The Ball Pattern)
SERVICE: Land
TYPE: Hand, Catapult or Spring gun, Fragmentation, Time
FILLED WEIGHT: 1 lb 6 ozs
EXPLOSIVE CONTENT AND WT OF EXPLOSIVE: 4.5 ozs Ammonal or Blastine
PRINCIPAL DESIGN FEATURES: A plain spherical cast iron body fitted with a large closing plug to which is fitted the igniter holder. the igniter assembly is covered by a lead cup with tear‑off tape and comprises a Brock lighter with safety fuse (9 sec delay) and detonator No.08 for spring gun use, or for hand use. the igniter set is the same as for the No's. 8 or 9 grenades (5 sec delay)
MARK 1 Introduced June 1917... Obsolete July 1920
SERVICE: Land
TYPE: Hand, Catapult or Spring gun, Fragmentation, Time
FILLED WEIGHT: 1 lb 6 ozs
EXPLOSIVE CONTENT AND WT OF EXPLOSIVE: 4.5 ozs Ammonal or Blastine
PRINCIPAL DESIGN FEATURES: A plain spherical cast iron body fitted with a large closing plug to which is fitted the igniter holder. the igniter assembly is covered by a lead cup with tear‑off tape and comprises a Brock lighter with safety fuse (9 sec delay) and detonator No.08 for spring gun use, or for hand use. the igniter set is the same as for the No's. 8 or 9 grenades (5 sec delay)
MARK 1 Introduced June 1917... Obsolete July 1920
Attachments
paul the grenade
Well-Known Member
dano1917
RIP
#15 cricket ball
In Sept. 1915 the Loos offensive was launched. The No. 15 ball pattern or cricket ball was intended to play an important role in an attempt to breach German defenses. Not only was the offensive unsuccessful but the failure of the grenade nearly led to disaster. In the rain about 18 out of every 20 of the #15 failed. Originally designed to meet an urgent demand in the Dardanelles, where grenades were needed quickly. September production went over 200,000 a week. The #15 is 3 inches in diameter, internally segmented, with either a 5 or 9 second fuse, the latter intended for use with catapults and bomb throwers. Both used a Brock matchhead igniter, struck against an arm brassard to light. In the Dardanelles where the weather was dry the #15 was successful, leading to the thinking it would be ideal in France. But the weather was wet and and gave the "Loos Ball" its image as a failure. Replaced by the #16 oval pattern Which was considered to be an easier throwing grenade but suffered the same fate as the #15 as it used the same ignition system
In Sept. 1915 the Loos offensive was launched. The No. 15 ball pattern or cricket ball was intended to play an important role in an attempt to breach German defenses. Not only was the offensive unsuccessful but the failure of the grenade nearly led to disaster. In the rain about 18 out of every 20 of the #15 failed. Originally designed to meet an urgent demand in the Dardanelles, where grenades were needed quickly. September production went over 200,000 a week. The #15 is 3 inches in diameter, internally segmented, with either a 5 or 9 second fuse, the latter intended for use with catapults and bomb throwers. Both used a Brock matchhead igniter, struck against an arm brassard to light. In the Dardanelles where the weather was dry the #15 was successful, leading to the thinking it would be ideal in France. But the weather was wet and and gave the "Loos Ball" its image as a failure. Replaced by the #16 oval pattern Which was considered to be an easier throwing grenade but suffered the same fate as the #15 as it used the same ignition system
paul the grenade
Well-Known Member
As it happens im just finishing a sectioned No15 But im afraid to say it is smooth on the inside. No frags like the No16:tinysmile_angry2_t:
I'll post a pic when its painted.
Paul.
I'll post a pic when its painted.
Paul.
Freaky
Well-Known Member
Does that mean that the frags are just a fairytale? Like Dano I to have read that the no15 should be frag inside. Any one else witch have any experiment with this?
The knob on the top is that one a bolt or is it machined onto the lid?
Looking forward to see yours when it is finish Paul
Cheers
The knob on the top is that one a bolt or is it machined onto the lid?
Looking forward to see yours when it is finish Paul
Cheers
paul the grenade
Well-Known Member
Sorry to revive an old thread but I have a question...
I'm assuming the "FILLED WEIGHT: 1 lb 6 ozs" means that the weight of the explosive content is included - right?
Der_Feldgraue
Well-Known Member
Sure that they were marked with the two stripes too (red - pink)? I have only seen black ones.
The official drawing of the No.15 shows a red band (top) an a pink band (middle).