No. 75 Hawkins Grenade MK.1

[jjoseph barrett]

I am a complete novice were ordnance is concerned. These Hawkins Grenades where identified for me on another forum and I have looked on several sites and they state they were introduced in 1942 but two of mine are dated 1941? Can anybody give me any history on them.

 

[siegfreid]

As with a lot of British ordnance , the official introduction date is often a long time after they were actually first designed or manufactured , particularly grenades . A 1941 dated No 75 is not unusual . Hope this helps.

 

[ammocat]

I haven't been able to find a reference that I can prove to be credible, but I did find this information on the internet.
http://www.wwiiequipment.com/index....e-second-world-war&catid=47:british&Itemid=59

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Around October 1940 Captain Hawkins submitted a design for a hand-thrown Anti-Tank mine. It would be thrown in the path of oncoming tanks and contained 2.5lb of explosive which would detonate on crushing. [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By May 1941 arrangements were made to produce 100 of the grenades for extensive trails, 50 would be dummy and 50 would be live, these were ready at the beginning of June, trials of these these were successful. After these trails the General Staff decided to place an order for 2.5 million Hawkins grenades.
[/FONT]
No.75 statistics[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Height[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]1.875in (4.76cm)[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Length[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]6.5in (16.51cm)[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Width[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3.625in (9.2cm)[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Total Weight[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3lb (1.36kg)[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Explosive Weight[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]1.5lb (0.68kg)[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Explosive Type[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ammonal[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Material[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Steel[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
Pressure required[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]10lb (4.54kg)

[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Production of Hawkins Grenades by year (UK only, Filled only)[/FONT]​

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]1941[/FONT] - 242,000
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]1942 - 6,537,000[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
1943 - 4,093,000[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
1944 - 333,000[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
[/FONT]
Unfortunately, I cannot find any other sources that mention the 242,000 produced in 1941.

 

[Bonnex]

TNA/PRO SUPP4/236 etc., are the Contract Papers which show for 23rd July 1941 Grenade Hawkins No 75 complete assemblies from Metal Box Co Ltd; Self Opening Tin Box Co, Barking; Barnsley Canister Co; Read Ltd, Liverpool.

In Canada manufacturers were Mk I: American Can Co [CANCO] filled Beloeil [B/C]
Mk I & II: Roofers Supply Co [ROSCO] filled as above.

 

[Bonnex]

An early sketch of Hawkins design and correspondence.

 

[jjoseph barrett]

Thanks everybody that's brilliant.

 

[jjoseph barrett]

more pics.

 

[Bonnex]

MB13 is the monogram for The Metal Box Co's plant at Palmers Green, London N13

 

[jjoseph barrett]

Thanks for that.

 

[Barnabé]

TNA/PRO SUPP4/236 etc., are the Contract Papers which show for 23rd July 1941 Grenade Hawkins No 75 complete assemblies from Metal Box Co Ltd; Self Opening Tin Box Co, Barking; Barnsley Canister Co; Read Ltd, Liverpool. In Canada manufacturers were Mk I: American Can Co [CANCO] filled Beloeil [B/C]Mk I & II: Roofers Supply Co [ROSCO] filled as above.

Details of markings on a Canadian Hawkins CANCO dated 5/43 Barnabé