Does anyone know in which years the L1A1, L1A2, and L1A3 CS grenades were introduced into service.
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British L1A1 L1A2 L1A3 CS grenades
- Thread starter reccetrooper
- Start date
The Grenade Recognition Manual site states 'about March 1960' as date for introduction of the L1A1, but I can't find dates for the later types.
A related question: did the L13 series grenades replace the L1 series, and if so, were the former the last CS grenades fielded by the British Armed Forces?
I don't know when the L1 series of CS grenades were introduced into service but guess it might have been in the 1960s or 1970s (so many ammo natures were introduced then). The ADAC list dated 23/09/1992 details Grenades Hand Irritant CS Anti-Riot L1A1, L1A2 and L1A3 obsolete. Directly below them are Grenades Hand Irritant CS Anti-Riot L13A1 and L13A2, not shown as obsolete or obsolescent. So, yes, I think you can say that the L13 series replaced the L1 series of CS grenades. This is the section devoted to special purpose ammunition (T4 natures). Also listed are Grenades Hand Practice Anti-Riot L16A1 and L16A2, Grenades Discharger Anti-Riot Irritant CS L9A1 and L11A1, and Grenade Discharger Practice Anti-Riot L14A1 Long Range.
Thanks for reply. Does 'special purpose ammunition (T4 natures)' refer only to irritant ammunition, or to other less-lethal ammunition (i.e. baton rounds) also? Are the L13A1 and L13A2 still in service (if so, presumably the L16A1 and L16A2 are too)?
Sorry I don't know whether the L13 and L16 series are still in service. In September 1992 there were over 100 different ammunition items on the T4 list. Some were marked as obsolete, some as no longer in use (possibly meaning obsolescent or simply all stock worldwide had been expended and with no likelihood they would be replaced by the same - which could mean there were newer replacement models for them). Many were CS, some were various pyrotechnic cartridges, electrical items, smoke signalling devices, flares, fire extinguisher cartridges, simulators and components for munitions used in training. They also included Chemical Agent Y3 Mk 1 and Mk2, which as I understand it were Mustard Gas, however both were marked as no longer in use. I believe that around that time the UK was keen to be able to declare it no longer had chemical weapons.