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Are these ball grenades?

K

kaskowiski

Well-Known Member
It appears I broke the rules of the forum by posting pictures of found ordnance. I shall therefore re-post without pictures and explain context in the hope that this post stays up. The items were found during an archaeological investigation on an 1886 military depot and were immediately removed by the NZ Navy bomb disposal squad and have subsequently been destroyed. Consequently I only have brief information on the items. I hope this description is in accordance with the rules of the forum. The sperical grenades / shells are 79mm (3 1/8) diameter with a threaded 3/4 inch hole for fuse (no fuses present) and no raised collar around the threaded hole. Both the Navy and I are keen to know if these are WWI grenades or perhaps spherical shells dating to the New Zealand wars of the 1860s.
The 79mm diameter appears to be the problem with regard to them being shells as most were either smaller or larger. French bracelet grenades do seem to be the most similar. Any assistance would be most appreciated
Kume
 
Hi. Sounds a lot like one that I have. When I got it, it was fitted with a simple wooden time delay friction ignited plug. As it has the threaded fuze well, Ive always assumed it was a French 1914 with the wrong fuze, but I may be wrong. Cheers
 

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In respect of the 1860's period the obvious British candidates would be the Land Service Grenade and the Sea Service Grenade but they are the wrong size (too small and too large respectively). As you and Fragman point out the French 1914 fits the description very well. A fragment might help nail it for certain.
 
Hi Bonnex. Do you have any dimensions/drawings for the Land Service Grenade, Cheers?
 
Fragman said:
Hi Bonnex. Do you have any dimensions/drawings for the Land Service Grenade, Cheers?
Click to expand...

No drawings but the Land Service Grenade is spherical and between 2.738 and 2.778 inches in diameter and the thickness of metal is between 0.359 and 0.399 inches. The fuze hole is 0.6775 at the top tapering to 0.634 (both inches diameter). Empty weight is 1 lb 10 oz.

Sea Service Grenade is about 3.5 inches diameter, same fuze hole, and 3 lb 9 oz empty weight.

Hope that is useful.
 
Regarding fragment identification I understand that the french grenade had internal grooves to assist it exploding into many pieces - were these internal grooves also used on the British ball grenades? Would they be a defining feature of the French grenade?
Kume
 
Given the size, and the threaded fuze hole, the presence of internal Segmentation would indicate the French 1914 pattern.

The British Land and Sea Service grenades are not internally segmented.
 
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Thanks Bonnex. I think there is little doubt know as to what they are. The next unknown is how they end ed up in New Zealand.
Kume
 
I'm just wondering why no one is using the cannon ball word? Looks like a cannon ball with a screw in fuze.
 
Yes, and the body for the French m1914 ball grenade was fitted with many different type fuzes as fuze technology improved. The coolest fuze I have sen correct to the M1914 French ball is an all brass percussion fuze. May be able to dig up a pic at a later date...Dano
 
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