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Need clarification on US Grenades

MINENAZ16

MINENAZ16

Well-Known Member
Ordnance approved
Hello,

I often see on this forum US grenades with special gaine for special filling (wp, smk, gas, etc...) but I'm completely lost with these grenade.

Does anyone can make a good explanation of this series ? (Era, nomenclature, different fillings, rifle, hand, emission holes, etc...)

I noticed variations on the body shape (maybe variations of Mk and type of fillings).

I have pictures of theses grenades but I'm not able to make a good classification.

Many thanks.

Regards

ICE-sb-42-4.JPGICE-sb-42-5.JPGUS%20Grenade%2012a.JPGUS%20Grenade%2012b.JPGWP%20Smoke%201a.JPGWP%20Smoke%201b.JPGWP%20Smoke%201c.JPG



013.jpgimage.jpgimage2.jpgmvc-050s.jpg

CN.jpg
 
Yes Yoda I now lexpev website but I can't find answers to all my questions.
Designations and Era of theses grenades are not clear for me.
On lexpev Rifle grenade with slick body is a Mk1 but hand grenade with the same body is a Mk2.
The example of the grenade filled KJ is a Mk2 but the body is very different from other Mk2 WP and FP.
And what about the CN Mk5 ; why the designation is MK5 ?

Regards
 
Ok for the Mk5 with emission holes but I try to understand why hand grenades with different shape have same designation MkII.

mk2wpsect.jpgICE-sb-42-5.JPGmk2gaskjpaul.jpg
 
Without delving too deeply into the text, The Grenade Recognition Manual, Volume 1 designates them as Phosphorous and KJ(Stannic chloride) filled, respectively.
 
MINENAZ16 said:
Ok for the Mk5 with emission holes but I try to understand why hand grenades with different shape have same designation MkII.

View attachment 100971View attachment 100972View attachment 100973
Click to expand...

If I'm not wrong, the designation Mk ... is the same as the french F... ! Different model of ordnance can have the same numbered designation !
It's therefor that the complete designation of an ordnance is, first the name (Ex : Gren Hand) and then the numerous designation (Ex : Mk II).
Belgian exemple is the designation of the Gren M73 : you can find a Frag Gren PRAC M73 and, older, a Frag Gren DRILL M73. Two different grenades with the same numerous designation.

In your example, you have the model Mk II of the Phosphourus Hand Grenades. There is also a MK II model of the HE Hand Gren.


Yoda
 
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This is surprising because these hand grenades are all made for special fillings and rifle grenades change Mk with modification of body.

usriflegrenades1931.jpg
 
Thats one of the problems with the early US grenades, the designations can drive you crazy, basically, its the type of grenade and not the Mk. designation you need to look at, for example you can have

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, Mk. II
Gas hand grenade, KJ, Mk. II
Smoke Hand grenade, FM Mk. II
Grenade, Hand, practice, Mk. II
Smoke Candle, HC, Mk. II

It wasn't until the 1930's they finally straighten it out and adopted the M designations simply moving on in a numbered series and adding the A1, A2 descriptors to the end of the numbers. Previous grenades still in service retained the earlier designations.

And yes, they used the same bodies for a number of different grenades and fillings, including transforming some into rifle grenades.

Hope this helps a bit, either that or perhaps you are more confused that you were before:tinysmile_hmm_t2:
 
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