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Mk1 illumination grenade
- Thread starter dano1917
- Start date
dano1917
RIP
Hi gijunkman and Mark, Not really sure what I am looking for, I guess mainly that they were used in Vietnam. A cool grenade to say the least. Have been out a few days tying up loose ends in my life so have been remiss in my BOCN stuff. I think I would like to get one but need extra info on their war use etc... As mentioned before Vietnam is a new game to me so any and all info would be so appreciated...Dano
gijunkman
Well-Known Member
Dano, I couldn't tell you about war use, but they were available. If you go to the gallery on the control bar and look up my pics. I had two with the wrong fuzes. I did have a nam era shipping canister with the screw on lid, that was '68 dated. Good luck with your quest.:tinysmile_twink_t2:
dano1917
RIP
Thanks gentlemen, that's pretty much what I was looking for was years of usage etc...It is an impressive looking piece and mainly was trying to figure whether or not it fit into the Vietnam scheme of things, which obviously it does. So that would be another grenade to put onto the Vietnam "hit list" of things to snag. They appear to be a bit uncommon but do seem to surface from time to time. There are about 10 more grenades I wish to add to the Vietnam collection and this would be one of them. I am still breaking ice in this era of collecting so the information I gather is mighty important to me. I thank all profusely for their help....Dano
V40
Well-Known Member
Some of them were used as field expedient trip flares.
Also some where launched via rifle for illumination when Arty and Mortars were not close buy to provide illumination. This was a rare, very rare occassion.
A squad or larger force and a SOG RT could almost always get a hold of someone on their PRC-25/77 in the field in order to have Spooky, Specter, or Stinger come up on line and drop flares all night if you needed it. They then could use their firepower if needed then too.
To be truthful though, the Illumination Grenades were never really used in large quanities in Vietnam. They are still available out there and definately belong in a Vietnam War/Era display.
I am not even sure however, if they are still available and have a NSN or SN number? Anybody?
V40
"MACVSOG Living Historian"
Also some where launched via rifle for illumination when Arty and Mortars were not close buy to provide illumination. This was a rare, very rare occassion.
A squad or larger force and a SOG RT could almost always get a hold of someone on their PRC-25/77 in the field in order to have Spooky, Specter, or Stinger come up on line and drop flares all night if you needed it. They then could use their firepower if needed then too.
To be truthful though, the Illumination Grenades were never really used in large quanities in Vietnam. They are still available out there and definately belong in a Vietnam War/Era display.
I am not even sure however, if they are still available and have a NSN or SN number? Anybody?
V40
"MACVSOG Living Historian"
Dano, a couple of pics of one I have, dated 1970, with shipping container, unfortunately the markings on the body were smudged when new by the looks of it. The fuze is dated 1969.
Shipping can is aluminium, with card liner and a plastic lid, looks like it had a thick foil seal originally. Tony.
Shipping can is aluminium, with card liner and a plastic lid, looks like it had a thick foil seal originally. Tony.
