Hand and Rifle Grenade No. 54

[German EOD]

I have these British grenades in my files.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any further information about them.
Was this a prototype?
Does anyone have any original photos of this?

 

[Chris]

Here a two photo's and some info

 

[LEAFLET]

Here a Pic of the original Colour.
LEAFLET

 

[Bombdoc]

These were produced between the wars, primarily as a projectile for firing from the discharger cup fitted to the No4 rifle. I believe they were also used in the Northover projector.
They used an "Allways" impact fuze which was also used on the No 69 grenade. They gained a reputation for being dangerous as the fragment throw was somewhat wide for an offensive grenade and the reliability not great. They were never made in large numbers.

 

[Millsman]

The No.54 certainly evolved from the Humphries No.30 that was tested by Australian troops in France in April 1917. This in turn has similarities with a Daniels and Gardiner Patent No.124,837 from May 1916. At the end of the Great War there were tests carried out with a number of Allways designs by Bellamy, Wilding Cole, Vickery, plus the No.30.

So the No.54 design could have had a number of influences prior to 1923.

 

[Alan1]

Alongside the Nos 55 and 56, the No 54 is a rare find these days. And Millsman is quite right to point out the connection to the Humphries wch it does resemble quite closely.
But it was not fired from a discharger cup fitted to the No 4 rifle, for that was in 21/2 inch calibre, or bore, nor was it ever fired from either Mark of the Northover Projector, for that was in 21/2 inch calibre as well. In fact, the Northover was originally designed to fire the No 76 S.I.P. grenade, green top only, but would also accept the No 36 and No 68 grenades.
It is possible that Bombdoc may have seen some reference to the 2 inch cup discharger that was adopted in 1925 and that certainly could fire the No 54, but the SMLE series petered out after the Mark 111, before jumping to the Mark V, and the No 4 was fitted from the outset with the new cup discharger, designated No 3 Mk 1, when the decision to revert to a calibre of 21/2 inches was taken in 1933.
So far as I am aware, the Northover Projector was never considered for any calibre other than 21/2 inches.
Very interesting period, when many designs and concepts were being considered.
Alan1