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Dutch V40 practice grenade

I remember reading about these at the time the Canadian army removed them from service. An accident on the grenade range was the cause. A fumble-fingered soldier dropped a V-40 in the grenade ranges' bunker, both the soldier and the 'safety observer' with him tried to pick up the thing in order to throw it out. The grenade went off with the two soldiers pretty much 'standing' on the grenade- both survived with wounds they were expected to recover from. Failing to kill two men standing on the thing did not speak well of it's lethality, so it was dropped.
Can't for the life of me find that article now, though.
 
Is the blue V40 only for throwing practice or can a spotter charge be used with it?
Also what is the difference between the V41 and the V40?
 
dano1917 said:
Excellent grenade spotter. I think yours is a 1971 version made for U.S. use. The v40's are sweet...Dano
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Mine has also "S-40" and "MFT-71" stamped in the spoon does that mean it is US produced? There is no marks/paint or stamps on the body.
 
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Anders said:
Mine has also "S-40" and "MFT-71" stamped in the spoon does that mean it is US produced? There is no marks/paint or stamps on the body.
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Hi Anders, my opinion was merely based on assumption (a semi-educated guess) and hope another may jump in here and either confirm or offer an alternate opinion. I was well aware that was a Dutch made grenade used by U.S. special forces in Vietnam, but until today was unaware that Canadians used it also, and also unaware that the Dutch did not use it. Vietnam is a new territory for me and I expect to make a few mistakes. The V40 is a really cool little grenade and I am in the hope of finding one for my collection (either practice or inerted live)...............Dano
 
All nice ones guys. They saw allot of action with the SEALS, SOG Strat Recon Teams and Lrrps to name a few. There are probably other teams in Vietnam that got them too Like Marine Recon and CIA teams. Nobody knowes for sure where all they where used or released to.

I'll bet even the Vietnamese Rangers and LLDB Teams had them also. As far as who made when and who used them or didn't still seems a mystery to me.


V40
 
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