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L1 irritant CS grenade series

MINENAZ16

Well-Known Member
Ordnance approved
Hello,
I'm looking for datas of hand grenades a/riot irritant CS L1 series.
Regards
l1a2.jpg
 
I have a grenade as shown L1A2 made by SPRA 5-68. I have no other details.

Also marked 1 MB /67
 
Last edited:
Information about L1A1, A2 and A3 is in A&R Vol. 3 Pam 13 part 5. Maybe someone has it.
Both grenades were obsolete in 1985
 
I have some training information for the L1A1 dated 1961, and dated 1965. I also have inert empty examples of the L1A1, L1A2, and L1A3.

I will post images tomorrow.
 
Sebastian I have info but to large for BOCN please send me your email address so I can send it over to you.

Regards,

Chris
 
Hello,
I'm looking for datas of hand grenades a/riot irritant CS L1 series.
Regards
View attachment 164278
Minenaz16,
This grenade was developed as the X7E1 and introduced into Service in December 1959 as the Grenade, Hand, Anti-riot, Irritant L1A1. The bodies were made by the Metal Box Co and Shermuly Pistol Rocket Apparatus Ltd (SPRA) were the main contractors who did the filling etc.

The grenade (L1A3 version) was Obsolete in 1985.

I would be interested in hearing about manufacturing dates before 1960 for the L1A1 and any date at all for the X7E1.
 
Here is the training information I have, and photos of my examples. (Inert, empty, FFE)

 

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​L1A1 photos
 

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​L1A2 photos
 

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​L1A3 photos
 

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Thanks for details.
Maybe you could add dimensions (diameter, length with and without fuze)
 
were these used in Northern Ireland (at least early on in The Troubles) or was CS launched by grenade discharger/baton gun only?
 
Average dimensions across the three items.
Body diameter (not over the tape), 58.3mm - 58.6mm, the bodies are slightly out of round.
Bottom end cap rim diameter, 61.5mm - 61.8mm, the rims are slightly out of round.
Body length 112.8mm
Overall length 136.5mm
 
were these used in Northern Ireland (at least early on in The Troubles) or was CS launched by grenade discharger/baton gun only?

A BBC News report from August 12 1969 mentions tear gas being fired in the Bogside, but it also mentions tear gas grenades being hurled from an RUC vehicle.

A Wiki page on CS mentions 1,091 12.5gm canisters and 14 50gm canisters being used in the Battle of the Bogside. The lighter canisters were undoubtably CS cartridges, and I assumed the heavier canisters were grenades, as the CS grenade weighs approx four times the weight of a CS cartridge.

This was confirmed by reference to Anna Feigenbaum’s book, ‘Tear Gas’ , which says “
[FONT=&amp]By the end of the thirty-six hours of CS gassing, a total of fourteen 50-gram grenades and 1,091 cartridges containing 12.5 grams of CS had blanketed the Bogside.”[/FONT]


 
Marc, I was looking through Google Images today and came across two photos that show British soldiers with what appear to be CS grenades on their flak vests.
 

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thanks for posting George - found another pic too:

5cd51c97870d590bdc2a81dcb3.jpg


I bought 'Tear Gas' book :)
 
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