Grenade Hand No. 80 Smoke Mk 1

[ammocat]

I came across something today, but only got a quick look at it. I believe the were the bodies of functioned No. 80 Smoke Grenades. The bodies appeared to have peeled open along a seem. There were also some intact bodies. The bodie has truncated cone bases and flat tops. There were no fuzes fitted. I will be able to post photos and dimensions tomorrow.

The No. 80 and No. 77 are the only two grenades that I am aware of that had the truncated cone base. Are there any others? Has anyone used the No. 80? Does it normally complete rupture when the fuze/detonator functions or does the body just peel open?

 

[paul the grenade]

i remember finding an old rusty No 80 that had split down the seam just as you have described. i suppose its the weakest part of the body.

 

[siegfreid]

Ammocat . I have also found loads of No77's that have split along the body seam after exploding . As 77's are much more common than 80's & they were found in Canada [presumably?] & there were millions made in Canada - my guess is 77's . I look forward with interest to seeing the pictures !

 

[Bonnex]

I came across something today, but only got a quick look at it. I believe the were the bodies of functioned No. 80 Smoke Grenades. The bodies appeared to have peeled open along a seem. There were also some intact bodies. The bodie has truncated cone bases and flat tops. There were no fuzes fitted. I will be able to post photos and dimensions tomorrow.

The No. 80 and No. 77 are the only two grenades that I am aware of that had the truncated cone base. Are there any others? Has anyone used the No. 80? Does it normally complete rupture when the fuze/detonator functions or does the body just peel open?

27, 31, 32, 38, 51, 87, 92

I have thrown a few No 80s (and one No 77) but I dont recall seeing much of the bodies afterwards but my guess is that they just burst open.

 

[oktato]

As a school kid, I regularly found No.80 grenades split down the side seam on my local range in the late 1970's

 

[ammocat]

I forgot to email the photos to myself so I can't post them today. I will post them. They were definitely No. 80's. We found several with markings that were partially legible. Sorry for the delay in posting the photos.

 

[ammocat]

Some photos. We did a better search of the area and found several with partially intact marking. Some bodies are split right open, some are ruptured, some have holes in the body with burnt edges, and some are intact. None of the intact ones have been moved so it is possible they have holes in them. There is a concern that some may have WP in them. Fortunately, they are in a secure area, so they have now become part of a training exercise for some new techs. Should we get any interesting photos when we clean them up I will post them as well.

 

[millsbomber]

Interesting, it looks like thy have not been opened up by the det as the tube is still intact.
a friend was in special operations in the 50's and told me when he wanted to be removed from say a forest or jungle area by helicopter he pierced a No80 with a small hole and the smoke would be ejected with force through the hole and would drift up through the canopy of the trees.
Picture of No77 blown det tubes picked up from a WW2 range,,,,,, Dave

 

[ammocat]

Bonnex, thanks for posting those other model numbers. I just finished looking them up, a few more pieces of info for the toolbox.

 

[hangarman]

Has any one got an exploded example of a No 77 or No 80 they would be willing to sell or swap? Cheers Hangarman