The M17 rifle grenade (left) is a high explosive rifle grenade, using the Mk2 grenade body.
The rifle grenade was fired from the M1 Garand rifle which had the M7 spigot adapter placed over the barrel end, fixated in the Bayonet lock. The outside diameter of the spigot is 22mm, as well as the inner diameter of the tail of the rifle grenade.
The rifle grenade is placed over the spigot and fired by means of a launching cartridge, meaning that before firing the rifle grenade the clip with the ball cartridges have to be removed and a launching cartridge has to be chambered.
The fuze is of the concussion type; upon impact the firing pin is swung forward into the firing cap (red) by inertia, riding the compression spring. The firing cap ignites the detonator (orange charge), which ignites the main charge of TNT in the grenade body.
When the grenade is transported the firing pin is fixated by a wire safety clip which is placed through a groove in the firing pin, clipped around the tail on the outside. This safety is removed just prior to firing the grenade.
One will have noticed that this rifle grenade uses the same concussion type fuze as the M9A1 HEAT rifle granade, however with the addition of an adapter between the fuze and the grenade body.
In 1944 the “Adapter grenade projection M1” (right) was introduced, replacing the M17 rifle grenade. This consitst of the 22mm -inner diameter- tail of a rifle grenade, with four spring steel strips mounted in top between which a Mk2 handgrenade could be clamped. A strip with a thin end that has been bend 90 degrees is connected to one of these springs. A rectangular shaped steel hollow section is placed over this strip, held in place by the thin bend end.
When a handgrenade is placed in the adapter, the end of the spoon is stuck through this rectangular hollow section. Just prior to firing, the split pin and ring are removed, however the spoon is fixated by the rectangular hollow section. Upon firing, the rectangular hollow section is swung back by inertia, bending straight the thin end strip. The spoon is now free to rotate and release the firing pin to rotate into the firing cap, igniting the pyrotechnic powder train of the fuze.
The main difference between the two rifle grenades is that the M17 detonates upon impact, as where the grenade Mk2 withe the granade adepter will expode only after the time fuze has expired.
One can see both rifle grenades in action here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgXuhv7-54 between 17:15 and 18:12
Regards, DJH
The rifle grenade was fired from the M1 Garand rifle which had the M7 spigot adapter placed over the barrel end, fixated in the Bayonet lock. The outside diameter of the spigot is 22mm, as well as the inner diameter of the tail of the rifle grenade.
The rifle grenade is placed over the spigot and fired by means of a launching cartridge, meaning that before firing the rifle grenade the clip with the ball cartridges have to be removed and a launching cartridge has to be chambered.
The fuze is of the concussion type; upon impact the firing pin is swung forward into the firing cap (red) by inertia, riding the compression spring. The firing cap ignites the detonator (orange charge), which ignites the main charge of TNT in the grenade body.
When the grenade is transported the firing pin is fixated by a wire safety clip which is placed through a groove in the firing pin, clipped around the tail on the outside. This safety is removed just prior to firing the grenade.
One will have noticed that this rifle grenade uses the same concussion type fuze as the M9A1 HEAT rifle granade, however with the addition of an adapter between the fuze and the grenade body.
In 1944 the “Adapter grenade projection M1” (right) was introduced, replacing the M17 rifle grenade. This consitst of the 22mm -inner diameter- tail of a rifle grenade, with four spring steel strips mounted in top between which a Mk2 handgrenade could be clamped. A strip with a thin end that has been bend 90 degrees is connected to one of these springs. A rectangular shaped steel hollow section is placed over this strip, held in place by the thin bend end.
When a handgrenade is placed in the adapter, the end of the spoon is stuck through this rectangular hollow section. Just prior to firing, the split pin and ring are removed, however the spoon is fixated by the rectangular hollow section. Upon firing, the rectangular hollow section is swung back by inertia, bending straight the thin end strip. The spoon is now free to rotate and release the firing pin to rotate into the firing cap, igniting the pyrotechnic powder train of the fuze.
The main difference between the two rifle grenades is that the M17 detonates upon impact, as where the grenade Mk2 withe the granade adepter will expode only after the time fuze has expired.
One can see both rifle grenades in action here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgXuhv7-54 between 17:15 and 18:12
Regards, DJH
