SWIMMER WEAPON SYSTEM GRENADES
The Swimmer System was composed of many different items, from special jungle fatigues to special hand grenades and of course the special devices or boobytraps.
Three of the grenades that were introduced into the Swimmer Weapon System were the 3801-1 smoke grenade, the 3801-1 Napalm grenade and the Non-submersible smoke grenade. Interesting enough the non Non-submersibe grenade is still within todays inventory. Also within the realm of special purpose grenades was the Zero Delay Hand Grenade Fuze.
The Smoke Grenade, White Model 3801-1 was designed to produce a maximum amount of smoke for a period of approximately 2 minutes for the purpose of breaking contact with the enemy, or screening small scale land operations.
This grenade was a modified AN-M8 HC smoke grenade having the same physical and operational features. It was basically the same size as the M8 and weighed 1.5 lbs. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of this grenade.
The Napalm Grenade Model 3801-1 was designed specifically to ignite water soaked structures and other targets of opportunity. It had a 4 second delay regular grenade fuze, and had a burst area of approximately 20 diameter. The grenade was supplied in a kit form, where personnel had to add regular gasoline at the staging area to the grenade body which had the napalm mix already inside it.
The grenade held 12 fluid ounces of fuel and weighed lb.
The Non-submersible smoke grenade was (and is) a modified M-18 color smoke grenade that has a pyrotechnic inflated floatation bladder called a Bullute. The grenade functioned just like another smoke grenade, except when the smoke composition (6.5 ounces) started to burn pressure from burning smoke composition separates the canister top from smoke assembly. The inflates the flotation bladder while providing smoke emission for a minimum of 90 seconds
The grenade weighed 1 lb.
Not to be forgotten is the Zero Delay hand Grenade Fuze. Of course this fuze was used in booby trapping U.S. hand grenades. This fuze was externally identical to the standard M-204A2 or A2 hand grenade fuze. However, in manufacture the 4 second delay train was left out which made it an instantaneous fuze. The only identification was a tag that was on the fuze identifying it; this tag was removed when the fuze was installed in the grenade. Photo shown was reported to be the Zero Delay, but I cannot confirm its accuracy.
The first 3 grenades were manufactured in numbers and used effectively. However most of the non submersible and napalm grenades were used by SEAL Teams.
The Zero delay grenade fuze was reportedly only made in limited numbers. Though there seems to be more than a couple war stories about its use during the Vietnam war.
The Swimmer System was composed of many different items, from special jungle fatigues to special hand grenades and of course the special devices or boobytraps.
Three of the grenades that were introduced into the Swimmer Weapon System were the 3801-1 smoke grenade, the 3801-1 Napalm grenade and the Non-submersible smoke grenade. Interesting enough the non Non-submersibe grenade is still within todays inventory. Also within the realm of special purpose grenades was the Zero Delay Hand Grenade Fuze.
The Smoke Grenade, White Model 3801-1 was designed to produce a maximum amount of smoke for a period of approximately 2 minutes for the purpose of breaking contact with the enemy, or screening small scale land operations.
This grenade was a modified AN-M8 HC smoke grenade having the same physical and operational features. It was basically the same size as the M8 and weighed 1.5 lbs. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of this grenade.
The Napalm Grenade Model 3801-1 was designed specifically to ignite water soaked structures and other targets of opportunity. It had a 4 second delay regular grenade fuze, and had a burst area of approximately 20 diameter. The grenade was supplied in a kit form, where personnel had to add regular gasoline at the staging area to the grenade body which had the napalm mix already inside it.
The grenade held 12 fluid ounces of fuel and weighed lb.
The Non-submersible smoke grenade was (and is) a modified M-18 color smoke grenade that has a pyrotechnic inflated floatation bladder called a Bullute. The grenade functioned just like another smoke grenade, except when the smoke composition (6.5 ounces) started to burn pressure from burning smoke composition separates the canister top from smoke assembly. The inflates the flotation bladder while providing smoke emission for a minimum of 90 seconds
The grenade weighed 1 lb.
Not to be forgotten is the Zero Delay hand Grenade Fuze. Of course this fuze was used in booby trapping U.S. hand grenades. This fuze was externally identical to the standard M-204A2 or A2 hand grenade fuze. However, in manufacture the 4 second delay train was left out which made it an instantaneous fuze. The only identification was a tag that was on the fuze identifying it; this tag was removed when the fuze was installed in the grenade. Photo shown was reported to be the Zero Delay, but I cannot confirm its accuracy.
The first 3 grenades were manufactured in numbers and used effectively. However most of the non submersible and napalm grenades were used by SEAL Teams.
The Zero delay grenade fuze was reportedly only made in limited numbers. Though there seems to be more than a couple war stories about its use during the Vietnam war.
