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Canadian No 75 grenade?
- Thread starter Infanteer
- Start date
Hi, Continental Can Company is an American producer of metal containers. During World War II, Continental Can Company also helped the war effort by building aircraft parts, and also bombs in their manufacturing plants. The grenade it self is UK also known as Hawkins Grenade. Was mainly use as an AT mine to off track tank. Use by US, CAN,and of curse UK. although the US did came with their own version, M7 AT mine. A little bit smaller but base on design of the No.75 and it does look in very good condition.
Cheers.
Luc.
Cheers.
Luc.
The Continental Can Company of Canada was formally incorporated in September of 1935 and an American company bought out the Continental Can Company of Canada in 1989. I thought that this was the company that made the grenade as I have numerous other Canadian issued items maker marked by Canco. It would appear that there was a Continental Can Company in Canada and in the US during the war. Did they both use the same company logo? I don't know. Also, the accepted color for the No 75 in British use was either buff or brown while the grenade that I show is a green color. What color were the American made examples?
Any other ideas?
Any other ideas?
Last edited:
Grenade Hand No 75 AT Mk I North American Production
Infanteer,
According to notes that I made at QAD, Woolwich Arsenal a 'few' years ago the North American production was made to design IG4373, this would suggest differences to the British made Mk I Hawkins (DD(L)11835A/1).
Infanteer,
According to notes that I made at QAD, Woolwich Arsenal a 'few' years ago the North American production was made to design IG4373, this would suggest differences to the British made Mk I Hawkins (DD(L)11835A/1).
Slick
Well-Known Member
Info on the U.S. version M7
Infanteer
Here are some details, although lacking in info of manufacturer(s).
M7 mine
The M7 is a small metal cased U.S. anti-tank blast mine that was used during the Second World War. It was based on the British Hawkins grenade. 2.5 million were produced before production ceased, and although it has long since been withdrawn from U.S. service, it can be found in Angola, Burma, Cambodia, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Korea, Lebanon, Myanmar, Somalia, Thailand and Zambia.
Description
The mine has a thin olive green painted steel case, with a large hinged pressure plate. This plate transfers force onto the mines fuze. The fuze is triggered by relatively low pressures, making mine effective against trucks and cars. Additionally the fuze may be sensitive enough to make it effective as an anti-personnel mine. The mine was normally deployed inside a cloth bag or sack to prevent rocks getting trapped under the hinged lid of the mine. The mine only had a small main charge so was typically deployed in lines or rows of up to five mines to be effective against tanks.
Several variants of the mine were produced, and two chemical (the M600 and M601) and one mechanical fuze (the M603) were developed for the mine. A secondary fuze well may be fitted to the mine, for anti-handling devices.
pecifications
* Weight: 2.2 kg
* Explosive content: 1.62 kg of Tetryl
* Length: 178 mm
* Width: 114 mm
* Height: 64 mm
* Operating pressure: 60 to 110 kg
Variants
* M7 - fitted with M600 chemical fuze
* M7A1 - fitted with M601 chemical fuze
* M7A2 - fitted with M602 mechanical fuze
References * "Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005-2006"
Infanteer
Here are some details, although lacking in info of manufacturer(s).
M7 mine
The M7 is a small metal cased U.S. anti-tank blast mine that was used during the Second World War. It was based on the British Hawkins grenade. 2.5 million were produced before production ceased, and although it has long since been withdrawn from U.S. service, it can be found in Angola, Burma, Cambodia, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Korea, Lebanon, Myanmar, Somalia, Thailand and Zambia.
Description
The mine has a thin olive green painted steel case, with a large hinged pressure plate. This plate transfers force onto the mines fuze. The fuze is triggered by relatively low pressures, making mine effective against trucks and cars. Additionally the fuze may be sensitive enough to make it effective as an anti-personnel mine. The mine was normally deployed inside a cloth bag or sack to prevent rocks getting trapped under the hinged lid of the mine. The mine only had a small main charge so was typically deployed in lines or rows of up to five mines to be effective against tanks.
Several variants of the mine were produced, and two chemical (the M600 and M601) and one mechanical fuze (the M603) were developed for the mine. A secondary fuze well may be fitted to the mine, for anti-handling devices.
pecifications
* Weight: 2.2 kg
* Explosive content: 1.62 kg of Tetryl
* Length: 178 mm
* Width: 114 mm
* Height: 64 mm
* Operating pressure: 60 to 110 kg
Variants
* M7 - fitted with M600 chemical fuze
* M7A1 - fitted with M601 chemical fuze
* M7A2 - fitted with M602 mechanical fuze
References * "Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance 2005-2006"
Thanks guys, it would appear then that this No75 is not American made as their designation was different along with the color and it sounds like some of the other details as well. This just reinforces my belief that it is a Canadian made item.
As for originality, since nobody has commented on that can I assume that it is a good one? Has anyone ever seen a fake made by CANCO?
Would anyone care to comment on value for such a grenade? This is the first that I have encountered in over 20 years of collecting.
As for originality, since nobody has commented on that can I assume that it is a good one? Has anyone ever seen a fake made by CANCO?
Would anyone care to comment on value for such a grenade? This is the first that I have encountered in over 20 years of collecting.
Slick
Well-Known Member
Infanteer
Can't add anymore to what's been posted, but just a note to advise that the references I found(U.S.) define this as a Light Anti-Tank Mine or Blast Mine. I have never had one in hand but am pretty sure it would be, at best, a last ditch grenade.
A great example you have there. Here's hoping more details will be found on this one.
Can't add anymore to what's been posted, but just a note to advise that the references I found(U.S.) define this as a Light Anti-Tank Mine or Blast Mine. I have never had one in hand but am pretty sure it would be, at best, a last ditch grenade.
A great example you have there. Here's hoping more details will be found on this one.
I understand what you are saying and I feel awkward calling it a grenade but in the numbered series of British grenades it is No 75. Apparently, it was designed so that it could be thrown in front of a vehicle and would land in a position where it would explode if driven over. Perhaps that's why it can be considered a grenade.
Slick
Well-Known Member
Infanteer
You are 100% correct in your designation. Just dug out my Vol. 2 Grenade Recognition Manual. There it is, starting on page 83, GRENADE, HAND, No. 75, Anti tank (Hawkins).
This volume goes into great detail on the No. 75. An excellent resource for these type items. Shoulda looked before I leapt. Gomin.
Rick
You are 100% correct in your designation. Just dug out my Vol. 2 Grenade Recognition Manual. There it is, starting on page 83, GRENADE, HAND, No. 75, Anti tank (Hawkins).
This volume goes into great detail on the No. 75. An excellent resource for these type items. Shoulda looked before I leapt. Gomin.
Rick
Hi there every one, looking at the example in the pictures it looks like the top plate is spot welded on,??? all the examples i have seen are assembled by soft soldering, have a look inside and see if there is any sealer to stop the explosive from reacting with the metal.
Dave
Dave
paul the grenade
Well-Known Member
theres an article on repro 75's here. http://members.shaw.ca/dwlynn/repro/repro.htm on sgylynn's website. it looks like the repros are fairy easy to spot.
cheers, paul.
p.s. it looks ok to me, maybe repainted though.
cheers, paul.
p.s. it looks ok to me, maybe repainted though.
Thanks Paul. Yes, did already check out that site and the repros there are different in many ways. The grenade may be refinished but it sure doesn't look like it. It's just in pristine condition. If I can get my hands on it for a thorough inspection I'll have a better idea on originality.
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.