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No94 Rifle Grenade
- Thread starter spotter
- Start date
British Issue No 94 Grenades, Practice and Drill.
Just thought I would add to this subject with a couple of pics of my British issue No 94 Anti Tank Rifle Grenade, also known as Energa, made in Belgium by Mecar. From left to right: early practice version, steel head, black with white markings and yellow band dated 4/53. White drill version, same as HE but all INERT components, not designed to be fired, dated 8/64. Practice marker L1A1, blue rubber body with coloured powder marker head, dated ?/66. Finally another drill grenade in the later colour marking of Oxford blue dated 6/66.
The second picture is a Close up of the smaller parts of the white drill grenade, top impact fuse, base detonator, INERT .303" grenade launching blank, headstamp FN 61 and plastic plug to hold blank in place inside the tail tube of the grenade. Originally purchased from the Belgians to be fired from the No 4 .303" Rifle, these grenades were also launched from the L1A1 7.62mm SLR. I would have thought that by the early sixties, the SLR would have been in use but this item came with the .303" cartridge shown.
Just thought I would add to this subject with a couple of pics of my British issue No 94 Anti Tank Rifle Grenade, also known as Energa, made in Belgium by Mecar. From left to right: early practice version, steel head, black with white markings and yellow band dated 4/53. White drill version, same as HE but all INERT components, not designed to be fired, dated 8/64. Practice marker L1A1, blue rubber body with coloured powder marker head, dated ?/66. Finally another drill grenade in the later colour marking of Oxford blue dated 6/66.
The second picture is a Close up of the smaller parts of the white drill grenade, top impact fuse, base detonator, INERT .303" grenade launching blank, headstamp FN 61 and plastic plug to hold blank in place inside the tail tube of the grenade. Originally purchased from the Belgians to be fired from the No 4 .303" Rifle, these grenades were also launched from the L1A1 7.62mm SLR. I would have thought that by the early sixties, the SLR would have been in use but this item came with the .303" cartridge shown.
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Sorry to correct his,
The first UK provings were made with the Swiss Energa.. not manufactured by Mecars.
The first design of the practice Riflegrenade (wooden projectile) was rejected because of the tail fin that came loose and 'backfired'.
Later on, it became a succesfull design adapted and copied by several countries.
Attached some snaphots:
pic 1: The wooden Practice rifle grenade, with ring tail (left). The black rubber projectile (right) is the second version
pic 2: Some variants of the powderhead
pic 3: Some more.. the Energa most right is rocket assisted*
pic 4: Different type of fuzes (2 experimental Swiss models)
More information can be found in Rick Landers book 'Grenade' British and Commonwealth hand and rifle grenades- pages 202.. 207 - ISBN: 1-876713-05-4
(excellent book by the way)
PS: in picture 3, the second one from the leftis the German Energa with a central open tube and holes in the grenade body.
This modification was made after an accident while firing live 'Ball' munitions instead of the Ballistite Grenade Launcher cartridge.
The first UK provings were made with the Swiss Energa.. not manufactured by Mecars.
The first design of the practice Riflegrenade (wooden projectile) was rejected because of the tail fin that came loose and 'backfired'.
Later on, it became a succesfull design adapted and copied by several countries.
Attached some snaphots:
pic 1: The wooden Practice rifle grenade, with ring tail (left). The black rubber projectile (right) is the second version
pic 2: Some variants of the powderhead
pic 3: Some more.. the Energa most right is rocket assisted*
pic 4: Different type of fuzes (2 experimental Swiss models)
More information can be found in Rick Landers book 'Grenade' British and Commonwealth hand and rifle grenades- pages 202.. 207 - ISBN: 1-876713-05-4
(excellent book by the way)
PS: in picture 3, the second one from the leftis the German Energa with a central open tube and holes in the grenade body.
This modification was made after an accident while firing live 'Ball' munitions instead of the Ballistite Grenade Launcher cartridge.
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No94 Rifle Grenade - Energa Grenade
Energa by the way was a Swiss acronym meaning something like "Institute for the Development of Inventions and Commercial Applications".
The first British interest in the Energa grenade was in 1946 as a part of a programme of continuing development of its wartime rifle grenades. In September 1947 the War Office (WO) removed rifle grenades from its weapons requirements list and development stopped but the acquired Energa 1946 pattern models were kept for possible warhead exploitation. The programme was restarted in 1949 to provide an anti-tank capability for the emerging EM2 rifle and the old grenades dug out of store for initial deliberations. A newer (1948) pattern was purchased in small quantities during 1951 for trials and for operational use in Korea. At this time I believe the first practice grenades with wooden bodies and alloy tails were purchased by the WO (they were different to Ammodillo's example and more like the well known shape) accounting for the Practice Mark 1 nomenclature.
In 1951 the latest (1951) pattern of Energa was acquired and meandered through trials and acceptance tests before being formally introduced in 1955 as Spotter observes.
Ammodillo mentioned Rick's book 'Grenade'. I know they are hard to find but Rick has sent a small quantity over which I would be happy to pass on to interested parties. I have to charge 35 plus postage to cover costs. PM if you are interested.
Energa by the way was a Swiss acronym meaning something like "Institute for the Development of Inventions and Commercial Applications".
The first British interest in the Energa grenade was in 1946 as a part of a programme of continuing development of its wartime rifle grenades. In September 1947 the War Office (WO) removed rifle grenades from its weapons requirements list and development stopped but the acquired Energa 1946 pattern models were kept for possible warhead exploitation. The programme was restarted in 1949 to provide an anti-tank capability for the emerging EM2 rifle and the old grenades dug out of store for initial deliberations. A newer (1948) pattern was purchased in small quantities during 1951 for trials and for operational use in Korea. At this time I believe the first practice grenades with wooden bodies and alloy tails were purchased by the WO (they were different to Ammodillo's example and more like the well known shape) accounting for the Practice Mark 1 nomenclature.
In 1951 the latest (1951) pattern of Energa was acquired and meandered through trials and acceptance tests before being formally introduced in 1955 as Spotter observes.
Ammodillo mentioned Rick's book 'Grenade'. I know they are hard to find but Rick has sent a small quantity over which I would be happy to pass on to interested parties. I have to charge 35 plus postage to cover costs. PM if you are interested.
@Bonnex
The Grenade rifle, No94 Practice Mark I (1948) has fins (pic page 202 in Ricks Book)
The one in my collection is the First (1944) Swiss Practice rifle grenade with ring tail.
PS: let's not forget Bonney and Oakley who participated in the research for the book
The Grenade rifle, No94 Practice Mark I (1948) has fins (pic page 202 in Ricks Book)
The one in my collection is the First (1944) Swiss Practice rifle grenade with ring tail.
PS: let's not forget Bonney and Oakley who participated in the research for the book
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No94 Rifle Grenade - Energa Grenade
Thanks Ammodillo. Nice of you you to mention Bonney and Oakley. I wrote the bit on the Energa grenade for Rick.
Thanks Ammodillo. Nice of you you to mention Bonney and Oakley. I wrote the bit on the Energa grenade for Rick.
An extraction of Swiss Army booklet 53.111-d (dated 1954)
Describing the use of 'Die Panzerwurfgranate, Pz-WG. und Ex-WG. [the first and second generation Energa rifle grenades]
Pz-WG.48 should be read as model 1948 [second generation]
Pz-WG.44 ..model 1944 [first generation]
Describing the use of 'Die Panzerwurfgranate, Pz-WG. und Ex-WG. [the first and second generation Energa rifle grenades]
Pz-WG.48 should be read as model 1948 [second generation]
Pz-WG.44 ..model 1944 [first generation]
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Youre welcome... there's more in my archives
Attached are some (cropped) scans from an Document No. ARA 6158A dated JUNE 1968.
At that time MECAR, S.A. was a subsidiary of ALLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC (ARA).
This is a partial extraction from the brochure: PRESENTATION of MECAR 40 mm RIFLE GRENADES.
(caps and brackets are mine)
The most interesting picture is the depicted ''MILITARY PRODUCTS" on the bottom shelve are some
Blindicide munition models, Training Simulators and Sub Caliber projectiles of Swiss Origin (Rak-Rohr).
The Blindicide's warhead was based on the Shaped Charge technology presented in the UK No.94.
Attached are some (cropped) scans from an Document No. ARA 6158A dated JUNE 1968.
At that time MECAR, S.A. was a subsidiary of ALLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC (ARA).
This is a partial extraction from the brochure: PRESENTATION of MECAR 40 mm RIFLE GRENADES.
(caps and brackets are mine)
The most interesting picture is the depicted ''MILITARY PRODUCTS" on the bottom shelve are some
Blindicide munition models, Training Simulators and Sub Caliber projectiles of Swiss Origin (Rak-Rohr).
The Blindicide's warhead was based on the Shaped Charge technology presented in the UK No.94.
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Hi Everybody,
I'm a bit of an impostor in your site - Irish born, I served for 9 years in the Irish Army Reserve (FCA Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil - Local Defence Force) from 1962 (age 14) to 1971, reaching the rank of Corporal ("Ceannaire" in Irish), then A/platoon Sgt and (once) Pl Comdr. This was in the Infantry with exposure to the infantry weapons of the time up to the Brandt 60mm mortar and the Carl Gustav 84mm AT rifle. Along the way I met the Lee Enfield Rifles No 1 Mk III* and No4 Mk2F, Three Mks of Bren, the Carl Gustav M45 SMG, The Vickers .303" MMG, Mills 36M hand grenade and the Energa AT Rifle Grenade. I was commisioned into the RAMC in 1972 and served until 1994. I served as an RMO in BAOR, Cyprus + few days in Salalah, Canada before specialising in Military Psychiatry. This brought me into contact with the world of AT/ATO selection in UKLF (? Bordon) and BAOR (BAD Bracht).
Following a second career in the NHS, I have now retired to try to relive some of the old days. To this effect I hope to collect deactivated versions of all the weapons I have ever fired (including the Bundeswehr P1 pistol, the H&K G3 Rifle) but yet to come are the Uzi SMG, M16 A1, Bren Mk III hopefully and with luck the SA80 A1.
I am also keen to locate relevant manuals, specifically the Irish Army manuals for the Brandt 60mm mortar and Energa 75mm Rifle Grenade (or the UK manual for the No 94 Rifle Grenade)
So much for the introduction, I'm happy to answer any questions other members may have,
Kind Regards,
John Coogan
I'm a bit of an impostor in your site - Irish born, I served for 9 years in the Irish Army Reserve (FCA Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil - Local Defence Force) from 1962 (age 14) to 1971, reaching the rank of Corporal ("Ceannaire" in Irish), then A/platoon Sgt and (once) Pl Comdr. This was in the Infantry with exposure to the infantry weapons of the time up to the Brandt 60mm mortar and the Carl Gustav 84mm AT rifle. Along the way I met the Lee Enfield Rifles No 1 Mk III* and No4 Mk2F, Three Mks of Bren, the Carl Gustav M45 SMG, The Vickers .303" MMG, Mills 36M hand grenade and the Energa AT Rifle Grenade. I was commisioned into the RAMC in 1972 and served until 1994. I served as an RMO in BAOR, Cyprus + few days in Salalah, Canada before specialising in Military Psychiatry. This brought me into contact with the world of AT/ATO selection in UKLF (? Bordon) and BAOR (BAD Bracht).
Following a second career in the NHS, I have now retired to try to relive some of the old days. To this effect I hope to collect deactivated versions of all the weapons I have ever fired (including the Bundeswehr P1 pistol, the H&K G3 Rifle) but yet to come are the Uzi SMG, M16 A1, Bren Mk III hopefully and with luck the SA80 A1.
I am also keen to locate relevant manuals, specifically the Irish Army manuals for the Brandt 60mm mortar and Energa 75mm Rifle Grenade (or the UK manual for the No 94 Rifle Grenade)
So much for the introduction, I'm happy to answer any questions other members may have,
Kind Regards,
John Coogan
shamilton223
Member
Once again this forum has proved to be very useful in my research as well. Thanks to all.