Hand grenade 67751 226011521 2008-07-16T12:55:34Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/Freary1|Freary1]] to version by 65.191.158.197. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (441479) (Bot) {{redirect|Grenade}} [[Image:F1 grenade DoD.jpg|thumb|right|[[F1 grenade]]]] [[Image:Grenade_RGD-5_Navy.jpg|thumb|right|[[RGD-5]]]] [[Image:M67b.jpg|thumb|right|[[M67 grenade]]]] A '''hand grenade''' is a small hand-held [[anti-personnel]] weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after a short time. The word "grenade" is derived from the French "grenade" (meaning [[pomegranate]], the fruit originally called in French "Pomme-grenade" or "grenade-apple," in reference to the general size of early grenades and because its [[shrapnel]] pellets reminded soldiers of the seeds of this fruit). [[Grenadier (soldier)|Grenadiers]] were originally [[soldiers]] who specialized in throwing grenades. Not all grenades are thrown by hand. Several types are fired from rifles or purpose-designed [[grenade launcher]]s. For example, [[tear gas]] grenades used in [[riot control]] are fired from [[riot gun]]s, and the [[M203 grenade launcher]] can be fitted to several types of [[assault rifle]]s. ==History== [[Image:FireLanceAndGrenade10thCenturyDunhuang.jpg|thumb|Earliest known representation of a gun (a [[fire lance]]) and a grenade (upper right), [[Dunhuang]], 10th century CE.<ref>"The Genius of China", Robert Temple</ref>]] [[Image:Liquid fire granades Chania.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Hand grenade]]s operating with [[Greek fire]]. (10th-12th c. National Historical Museum, Athens, Greece.)]] [[Image:Sidolowka prod Lwow.jpg|thumb|Production of [[Sidolówka]] hand grenades in an underground [[Armia Krajowa]] facility in [[Lwów]] during [[World War II]]]] It is impossible to know which came first, Greek fire, or Chinese hand grenades, due to confusion over the early use of Greek fire. The first grenade was partly invented in [[China]] during the [[Song Dynasty]] (960—1279 AD), known as [[Zhen Tian Lei]] when Chinese soldiers packed [[gunpowder]] into ceramic and/or metal containers. In [[1044]], a military book ''[[Wujing Zongyao]]'' ("Compilation of Military Classics") described various gunpowder recipes in which one can find the prototype of the modern hand grenade.<ref>Joseph Needham: Science and civilization in China: Vol. 5; Part 6: Chemistry and chemical technology; Military technology: missiles and sieges, Cambridge University Press 1994, ISBN 0-521-32727-X</ref> At the same time the Greeks of the [[Byzantine empire]] made hand grenades with [[Greek fire]] in the 10th to 12th centuries. The first [[cast iron]] bomb-shells and grenades seen in China did not appear in Europe until 1467.<ref name="needham volume 5 part 7 179">Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 179.</ref> Within a couple centuries of this, the Chinese had discovered the explosive potential of packing hollowed cannonball shells with gunpowder. Written later by [[Jiao Yu]] in the mid 14th century book of the ''[[Huolongjing]]'' ("Fire Drake Manual"), this manuscript recorded an earlier Song-era cast iron cannon known as the 'flying-cloud thunderclap eruptor' (fei yun pi-li pao). The manuscript stated that ([[Wade-Giles]] spelling): <blockquote> The shells (phao) are made of cast iron, as large as a bowl and shaped like a ball. Inside they contain half a pound of 'magic' gunpowder (shen huo). They are sent flying towards the enemy camp from an eruptor (mu phao); and when they get there a sound like a thunder-clap is heard, and flashes of light appear. If ten of these shells are fired successfully into the enemy camp, the whole place will be set ablaze...<ref name="needham volume 5 264">Needham, Volume 5, 264.</ref> </blockquote> This text of the ''Huolongjing'' was also important for the understanding of the Chinese hand grenade in the 14th century, as it provided much more detailed descriptions and even printed illustrations of the grenade bombs used.<ref name="needham volume 5 part 7 179 180">Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 179-180.</ref> In 1643 it is possible that 'Grenados' were 'thrown amongst the Welsh' at [[Holt, Wrexham|Holt Bridge]] during the English Civil War. The use of the word 'grenade' in the [[English language]] apparently originated in the [[Glorious Revolution]] (1688), where cricket ball-sized iron spheres packed with gunpowder and fitted with slow-burning wicks were first used against the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]] in the battles of [[Battle of Killiecrankie|Killiecrankie]] and [[Battle of Glen Shiel|Glen Shiel]].<ref>{{cite journal| last=Cramb| first=Auslan | month=23 Feb| year=2004| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/23/ngren23.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/23/ixhome.html| title=Battlefield gives up 1689 hand grenade| journal=Scotland Correspondent}}</ref> These grenades were not very effective (probably because a direct hit would be necessary for the grenade to have effect) and, as a result, they saw little use. However, [[trench warfare]] favored the grenade. In a letter to his sister, Colonel Hugh Robert Hibbert, described an improvised grenade employed during the [[Crimea War]] (1854-1856): :''We have a new invention to annoy our friends in their pits. It consists in filling empty soda water bottles full of powder, old twisted nails and any other sharp or cutting thing we can find at the time, sticking a bit of tow in for a fuse then lighting it and throwing it quickly into our neighbours pit where it bursts, to their great annoyance. You may imagine their rage at seeing a soda water bottle come tumbling into a hole full of men with a little fuse burning away as proud as a real shell exploding and burying itself into soft parts of the flesh.''<ref>{{cite web | title=The National Archives, records of the UK government | work=Letters of Hibbert, Hugh Robert, 1828-1895, Colonel, ref. DHB/57 - date: 14 Jun. 1855 | url=http://www.a2a.org.uk/search/records.asp?cat=017-dhb&cid=3-1-3#3-1-3 | accessdate=2006-08-09}}</ref> [[Image:French grenade catapult.jpg|right|thumb|French troops using a [[catapult]] to throw hand grenades during [[World War I]].]] In [[World War I]] (1914-1918) both sides only had small pre-war stocks of grenades. As an interim measure, the troops often improvised their own, such as the [[Jam Tin Grenade]]. These were replaced when manufactured versions such as the [[Mills bomb]], the first modern fragmentation grenade, became available to British front-line troops. The Mills bomb was developed at the Mills Munitions Factory in [[Birmingham]], England and was described as the first 'safe grenade'. 75,000,000 grenades were made during World War I. It was an explosive-filled steel canister with a triggering pin and a distinctive deeply notched surface. This segmentation was thought to aid [[fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] and therefore increase the grenade's deadliness. Later research showed that the segmentation did not improve fragmentation in any way at all. Improved-fragmentation designs would later be made with the notches on the inside, but at the time, this would have been too expensive to produce. The external segmentation of the original Mills bomb was retained, since it did provide a positive grip surface. This basic "pin-and-pineapple" design is still used in some modern grenades. On the other hand, the U.S. [[M67 grenade|M67]] fragmentation grenade has a smooth exterior. which is much more suitable for being rolled into a room or being thrown in a flat arc like a baseball. To propel grenades farther, the [[rifle grenade]] was devised. This made use of a modified rifle with a blank cartridge to propel the grenade. These rifles would often be permanently fixed in wooden support frames and would not be used for firing bullets. Use was also made of [[catapult]]s, both manufactured and improvised, although these were eventually replaced in the trenches by small [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]]. [[Image:Steilhandgranate Schnittmodell db.jpg|thumb|Section of the Stielhandgranate Model 24.]] Parallel to the Mills bomb and its similar counterparts, the Germans issued the [[Stielhandgranate]], or stick grenade, which featured an explosive charge encased in a metal can and mounted on a wooden shaft for throwing. This simple design continued to evolve throughout the First and Second World Wars, with the [[Model 24 grenade]] (popularly known as the "potato masher") becoming one of the most easily recognized of all small arms, and synonymous with the German soldier. The [[Molotov cocktail]] is an improvised grenade prepared from a glass bottle filled with [[alcohol]] ([[ethanol]]) or [[gasoline]] (petrol) ignited by a burning strip of cloth when the thrown bottle bursts against its target. The Molotov cocktail received its name during the 1939 [[Winter War]], but had been in use earlier in the decade. The name originated from Finnish troops during the Winter War. It was named after former Soviet foreign minister [[Vyacheslav Molotov]] whom they deemed responsible for the war, and a [[black humor|humorous]] reference to the Soviet bombs known as "[[Molotov bread baskets]]" in Finland. ==Design== [[Image:Reservehigh20048611453.jpg|thumb|Unused and used [[Survey of modern US hand grenades|M69]] training grenades.]] Grenades come in different sizes and shapes, for different purposes. Most are designed to explode, projecting [[shrapnel]], i.e., sharp pieces of the casing, [[Serration|serrated]] wire, or an [[incendiary]] material. Some, like smoke grenades, merely burn, releasing colored smoke for masking, marking, or signaling. All grenades have two things in common: first, they are hollow so they can be filled with the [[explosive]] or chemical filler; and second, they contain a hole into which a [[Fuse (explosives)|fuse]] can be screwed or inserted. A grenade is essentially a small [[bomb]], and works very much like a simple [[firecracker]]. A firecracker is made up of a paper body filled with [[flash powder]] and fitted with a small [[fuse (explosives)|fuse]]. Once lit, the fuse burns down to the powder and blows the paper body apart. In modern hand grenades, the fuse is lit by an internal device rather than an external flame. ==Characteristics== Hand grenades have four characteristics: * Their employment range is short * Their effective casualty radius is small * Their delay element permits safe throwing; * Their hard shell enables grenades to [[ricochet]] off hard surfaces, like walls, before detonating. Hand grenades have the following main parts: * The '''body''' contains the filler, and in some grenades provides the fragmentation * The '''filler''' is the chemical or [[explosive]] substance in the grenade, which determines the grenade's use and characteristics * The '''fuse''' assembly causes the grenade to function by [[Combustion|igniting]] or [[detonation|detonating]] the filler [[Image:Grenade training with dummy.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army grenade training during initial entry training includes throwing both dummy and live hand grenades. A hand grenade range instructor, right, observes an [[M67 grenade]] in flight. Photo: Walter Ludka.]] ===Using grenades=== A classic hand grenade has a safety handle or lever (sometimes called the "spoon") and a removable safety pin that prevents the handle from being released. Some grenade types also have a safety clip to further prevent the handle from coming off in transit. To use a grenade the soldier grips it firmly with his/her throwing hand, ensuring that the safety lever is firmly held in place with the thumb. This is called the 'death grip' by many soldiers, because letting the lever go could (and probably will) cause the grenade to detonate, killing the thrower. Left-handed soldiers are advised to invert the grenade, ensuring that the thumb is still the digit holding the safety lever in place. The pull ring of the safety pin is then grasped with the index or middle finger of the non-throwing hand and the safety pin is removed using a pulling and twisting motion. The grenade is then thrown towards the target, an over-arm throw is recommended but may not be suitable for an actual combat situation. Soldiers are trained to throw grenades in standing, prone-to-standing, kneeling, prone-to-kneeling, and alternate prone positions and in under- or side-arm throws. If the grenade is thrown from a standing position the thrower must then immediately seek cover or lie prone if no cover is nearby. Once the grenade is thrown the safety lever is released and the striker throws the safety lever away from the grenade body as it rotates to detonate the primer. The primer explodes and ignites the fuse (sometimes called the delay element), the fuse burns down and activates the detonator which explodes the main charge. When using an antipersonnel grenade, the objective is to have the grenade explode so that the target is within its effective radius. For the M67 fragmentation grenade used by several NATO nations, the effective kill zone has a five meter radius, while the casualty-inducing radius is approximately fifteen meters.<ref>[https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/10881-1/fm/3-23.30/fm3_23x30.pdf United States Army Field Manual 3-23.30, Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals] (2005 revision), page 1-6</ref> Fragments can fly as far as 230 meters. "Cooking off" is a term referring to intentionally holding onto an armed grenade after the pin has been pulled and the handle released, to decrease the amount of time to detonation after throwing. This technique is used to reduce the ability of the enemy to take cover or throw the grenade back. It is also used to allow the grenade to burst in the air over defensive positions.<ref>[https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/10881-1/fm/3-23.30/fm3_23x30.pdf United States Army Field Manual 3-23.30, Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals] (2005 revision), pages 3-11 to 3-12</ref> This technique is inherently dangerous, since fuses may vary from grenade to grenade. Because of this the U.S. Marines (MCWP 3-35) describe cooking-off as the "least preferred technique", recommending a "hard throw, skip/bounce technique" to prevent an enemy returning a grenade. A call is usually given upon deploying a grenade, to warn friendly forces. Some yells, such as "grenade" or "[[fire in the hole]]" are used when a grenade has been thrown in by an enemy; in any instance the purpose is to warn fellow soldiers to take cover. In the [[U.S. Military]], when a grenade is dropped into an enclosed space like a tunnel, room, or trench, the person dropping the grenade should yell "fire in the hole" to warn that an explosion is about to occur. Other U.S. military procedures include calling "frag out" to indicate that a fragmentation grenade has been deployed. Grenades are often used in the field to construct [[booby trap]]s, using some action of the intended target (such as opening a door, or starting a car) to trigger the grenade. These grenade-based booby traps are simple to construct in the field using readily available materials. The most basic technique involves wedging a grenade in a tight spot so the safety lever does not leave the grenade when the pin is pulled. A string is then tied from the head assembly to another stationary object. When a soldier steps on the string, the grenade is pulled out of the narrow passageway, the safety lever is released, and the grenade detonates. Abandoned booby traps and discarded grenades contribute to the problem of [[unexploded ordnance]]. The use of trip wire-triggered grenades (along with [[land mine]]s in general) is banned under the [[Ottawa Treaty]] and may be treated as a war crime wherever it is ratified. [[Image:RGD5 b.jpg|thumb|Discarded [[RGD-5]] hand grenade (live but un[[fuze]]d)<!-- Fuze is the right spelling. "Fuse" is incorrect Study the "fuze" hyperlink and check other web references and you will see.--> in Northern Kuwait.]] The [[People's Republic of China]], the [[United States]], and [[Russia]] have not signed the treaty despite international pressure, citing self-defense needs. The United States is, however, a signatory of the 1996 Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices. The 1996 Protocol restricts use of mines to regions and situations where the mined areas are known, clearly marked, and access is controlled so as to minimize civilian casualties. In signing the 1996 Protocol, the United States made a reservation that 'mines' as defined in the treaty would not apply to booby trap-rigged hand grenades. [[Image:Musee-de-lArmee-IMG 1039.jpg|thumb|Cutaway view of a [[Mills bomb]].]] Grenades have also been made to release [[smoke]], [[tear gas]] and other gases, as well as illumination. [[Special forces]] often use [[Hand grenade#Stun grenades|stun grenades]] to disorient people during entry into a room. Some grenade designs were made to be thrown longer distances. The [[Model 24 grenade|German "potato-masher" grenade]] had a long wooden handle that extended its range by fifty percent.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} The "potato-masher" was fired by a friction igniter in the head, which was activated by a pull string threaded through the hollow handle. Immediately before throwing the grenade, the soldier pulled a small plastic ring attached to a string attached to the friction igniter. This started the time fuse which fired the detonator after a delay. The "potato-masher" is often incorrectly thought to have had an impact fuse. It did not, but the superficially similar British stick grenade design of 1908 did. ==Types of hand grenades== [[Image:200449152258blast008.jpg|thumb|Two U.S. Marines take cover during [[M67 grenade]] training during [[Exercise Foal Eagle]] in 2004.]] ===Fragmentation grenades=== The fragmentation grenade (commonly known as a "frag") is an [[anti-personnel weapon]] that is designed to disperse [[shrapnel]] upon exploding. The body is made of hard plastic or steel. [[Flechettes]], notched wire, ball bearings or the case itself provide the fragments. When the word "grenade" is used without specification, and context does not suggest otherwise, it is generally assumed to refer to a fragmentation grenade. These grenades were sometimes classed as defensive grenades because the effective casualty radius of some matched or exceeded the distance they could be thrown, thus necessitating them being thrown from behind cover. The [[Mills bomb]] or [[F1 grenade]] are examples of defensive grenades where the 30–45 m casualty radius [http://armor.kiev.ua/army/hist/f-1.shtml] matched or exceeded the 30 m that a grenade could reasonably be thrown. Modern fragmentation grenades such as the United States [[M67 grenade]] have a wounding radius of 15 m (half that of older style grenades which may still be encountered) and can be thrown about 40 m. Fragments may travel more than 200 m.[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m67.htm] ===Concussion grenades=== The concussion grenade is an anti-personnel device that is designed to damage its target with explosive power alone. Compared to fragmentation grenades, the explosive filler is usually of a greater weight and volume. The case is far thinner and is designed to fragment as little as possible. The [[overpressure]] produced by this grenade when used in enclosed areas is greater than that produced by the fragmentation grenade. Therefore, it is especially effective in enclosed areas. These grenades are usually classed as offensive weapons because the effective casualty radius is smaller than the distance it can be thrown. The US [[MK3A2]] concussion grenade is filled with [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]] and has a body made of tarred cardboard. The term 'concussion' is often erroneously applied to stun grenades. This is not descriptive of the effects caused by the grenade. The term 'concussion' is used because the grenade relies on its explosive power to create casualties. ===Percussion grenades=== [[Image:French percussion grenade.jpg|thumb|French percussion grenade.]] A percussion grenade detonates upon impact with the target. Classic examples of percussion grenades are the [[Gammon bomb|British Gammon bomb]] and [[No. 69 grenade]]. Timed fuse grenades are generally preferred to hand-thrown percussion grenades because their fuzing mechanisms are safer and more robust than those used in percussion grenades. Some percussion grenades have a conventional [[pyrotechnic]] fuse fitted as a backup detonation device. ===Smoke grenades=== {{main|Smoke grenade}} [[Image:M18 grenade.gif|left|thumb|Smoke grenade.]] Smoke grenades are used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, and [[smoke-screen|screening]] devices for unit movement. The body is a sheet-steel cylinder with emission holes in the top and bottom. These allow the smoke to be released when the grenade is ignited. Two main types exist, colored smoke (for signaling) and screening smoke. In colored smoke grenades, the filler consists of 250 to 350 grams of [[colored smoke]] mixture (mostly [[potassium chlorate]], lactose and a dye). Screening smoke grenades usually contains HC ([[hexachloroethane]]/[[zinc]]) smoke mixture or TA ([[terephthalic acid]]) smoke mixture. HC smoke is harmful to breathe, since it contains [[hydrochloric acid]]. Whilst not intended as a primary effect, these grenades can generate enough heat to scald or burn unprotected skin and the spent casing should not be touched until it has cooled. ===Riot control=== [[Image:ABC-M7A2 A3 grenade.gif|thumb|[[CS gas]] grenade.]] Contrary to popular belief, gas-expelling grenades are rarely used to disperse large groups, because of the risk of causing generalized panic. Grenades are instead used to create barriers of tear gas in order to direct the movement of large groups of people, or to protect police officers on the verge of being overwhelmed. As an exception, tear gas may be used to disperse a mob surrounding a small centralized group. Similarly, gas-expelling grenades are not often used to force criminals out of cover because of the risk of intoxicating people in enclosed areas, although [[SWAT]] teams will occasionally employ [[CS gas]] grenades to facilitate the arrest of an armed suspect, especially if there are no bystanders in the area. This kind of deployment is most often used in an area where several suspects have a large amount of cover, since the functioning of other distraction grenades will be hindered. Tear gas grenades are similar to smoke grenades in terms of shape and operation. In tear gas grenades the filler is generally 80 to 120 [[grams]] of [[CS gas]] combined with a [[pyrotechnic]] composition which burns to generate an [[particulate|aerosol]] of CS-laden smoke. This causes extreme irritation to the eyes and, if inhaled, to the nose and throat. (See also the [[Branch Davidian#Raid and siege|Branch Davidian siege]]). Occasionally [[CR gas]] is used instead of CS. ===Incendiary grenades=== [[Image:AN-M14 grenade.gif|thumb|Incendiary grenade.]] Incendiary grenades produce intense heat by means of a [[chemical reaction]]. The body is practically the same as that of a smoke grenade. The filler is 600 to 800 grams of [[thermate]], which is an improved version of [[World War II]]-era [[thermite]]. The chemical reaction that produces the heat is called a "thermite reaction". In this reaction, powdered [[aluminium]] metal and [[iron oxide]] react to produce a stream of [[molten]] iron and aluminium oxide. This reaction produces a tremendous amount of heat, burning at 2200 °[[Celsius|C]] (4000 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]). This makes incendiary grenades useful for destroying weapons caches, artillery, and vehicles. Other advantages include its ability to function without an external [[oxygen]] source, allowing it to burn underwater. Because they are not intended to be thrown, thermate incendiary grenades generally have a shorter delay [[Fuse (explosives)|fuse]] than other grenades e.g. two seconds. [[White phosphorus]] (also used in smoke grenades; see above) can also be used as an incendiary agent. It burns at a temperature of 2800 °C (5000 °F). Thermite and white phosphorus cause some of the worst and most painful [[burn (injury)|burn injuries]] because they burn so quickly and at such a high temperature. In addition, white phosphorus is very poisonous: a dose of 50-100 [[milligram]]s is lethal to the average human. A common improvised incendiary grenade is the [[Molotov Cocktail]]. ===Stun grenades===<!-- This section is linked from [[Counter-Strike]] --> [[Image:M84 stun grenade.gif|thumb|M84 stun grenade]] Stun grenades, also called NFDDs (Noise and Flash Diversionary Devices), "flash & bang" grenades, or flashbangs, were originally designed for the British [[Special Air Service]] as an [[incapacitant]]. Stun grenades are used to confuse, disorient, or distract a potential threat. A stun grenade can seriously degrade the combat effectiveness of affected personnel for up to a minute. The best known example is the M84 Stun Grenade, which produces a blinding (6-8 million [[Candela]]) flash and deafening (170-180 [[dB SPL]]) blast. This grenade can be used to incapacitate people, generally without causing serious injury. [[Standing operating procedure]] for LAPD [[SWAT]] has officers deploy flashbangs close to the point of entry. This is because all attention will be directed towards the door once it has been breached, and deploying the flashbang close to this point heightens the chances that a suspect will be affected by the device. The flash of light momentarily activates all photosensitive cells in the retina, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds until the eye restores the retina to its original, unstimulated state. Subjects affected by flashbangs describe seeing a single frame for the five seconds (as if their vision was "paused") until it fades and normal sight returns. This is because the sensory cells which have been activated continue sending the same information to the brain until they are restored to their resting state, and the brain translates this continuous information into the same image. The incredibly loud blast emitted by the grenade contributes to its incapacitative properties by disturbing the fluid in the semicircular canals of the [[ear]]. Upon [[detonation]], the fuse/grenade body assembly remains intact and produces no [[fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]]. The body is a [[steel]] [[hexagonal]] tube with holes along the sides which allow a blast of light and sound to be emitted. This is done to prevent injury from shrapnel but it is still possible to receive a burn, and injuries resulting from the concussive properties of the detonation sometimes occur, the intense heat created by the flashbang can also ignite flammable materials such as fuel or certain fabrics. The fires that occurred during the [[Iranian Embassy Siege]] in London were caused by stun grenades. The filler consists of about 4.5 grams of a [[pyrotechnic]] metal-oxidant mix of [[magnesium]] or [[aluminum]] and an oxidizer such as [[ammonium perchlorate]] or [[potassium perchlorate]]. ===Sting grenades=== Sting grenades are based on the design of the fragmentation grenade. Instead of using a metal casing to produce shrapnel, they are made using two spheres of hard rubber. Inside the smaller sphere is the explosive charge, primer, and detonator. The space between the two spheres is then filled with many small, hard rubber balls. Upon detonation, the subject is incapacitated by the blunt force of the projectiles. The advantage to using sting grenades comes from the fact that the subject is very often incapacitated, winded, or at the very least dislodged from cover. Some types, such as the ALSG101CS from ALS Technologies, have an additional payload of chemical agents like CS gas.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} The advantages compared to a flashbang are * The "plug 'n shut" tactic, in which one's eyes are shut and ears are plugged to avoid the affects of a flashbang. This does not protect a person from a sting grenade. * The subject does not need to be looking at the grenade for it to take full effect. * Sting grenades are much more likely to cause a subject to either fall or lower himself in pain, thus providing good sight lines to unaffected targets in the area. This makes sting grenades ideal for containing small groups of rowdy prisoners, providing a shooting opportunity when a suspect is hiding behind cover, or in allowing [[SWAT]] teams to clear small rooms. A disadvantage of using sting grenades is that they are not sure to incapacitate a subject, so they are dangerous to use with armed subjects. This is because sting grenades rely on the body's reaction to adverse stimuli (pain and blunt force trauma) rather than denial of sensory input. A person with sufficient mental focus can concentrate enough to ignore being hit by a sting grenade's payload, whereas a stun grenade will physically affect vision and sense of orientation. The effective range of a sting grenade is limited compared to a stun grenade. In addition, there is the risk of serious physical injury as the target is being pelted with actual objects capable of inflicting harm, and not just being deafened/blinded. ===Impact stun grenades=== [[Image:Distraction device img 1621.jpg|thumb|upright|]] A more recent development is the Blank Firing Grenade (BFIG or Blank Firing Impact Grenade). Preferred in many situations, especially training, for two main reasons; they are re-usable - and therefore more economical - because the charge is a standard [[Blank (cartridge)|ammunition blank]], and they are subject to very few transport restrictions when unloaded. The BFIG contains a mechanism to fire a blank cartridge when dropped at any angle onto a hard surface from a height of a metre or more. Firing will occur in any combination of positions only on impact. [http://www.hfmgroup.com/professionalsupplies/product-specs/impact-grenade.html] ===Anti-tank grenades===<!-- This section is linked from [[Tank]] --> The first [[Anti-tank warfare|anti-tank]] grenades were improvised devices usually made by putting a number of fragmentation grenades into a sandbag or by tying them together. Due to their weight, these were normally thrown from very close range or directly placed in vulnerable spots onto an enemy vehicle. Purpose-designed anti-tank grenades invariably use the [[High explosive anti-tank round|shaped charge]] principle to penetrate the tank's armor. This means that the grenade has to hit the vehicle at an exact right angle for the effect to work properly. This is achieved by the grenade deploying a small [[drogue parachute]] or fabric [[streamer]]s after being thrown. Britain put the first anti-tank grenade into the field during the Second World War with the rifle-fired [[No 68 AT Grenade]]. Also developed by the UK during the war, was the No 74 ST Grenade popularly known as a [[sticky bomb]]; the main charge was held in a sphere covered in adhesive. In anticipation of a German invasion, it was produced in substantial numbers. Inherently dangerous for the user, it was relegated to [[British Home Guard|Home Guard]] use. During World War II, when tanks overran entrenchments, [[anti-tank mine]]s could be and were used by infantry as an improvised hand grenades by placing or throwing them in the path of a tank in the hope of disabling a track. The most widely-distributed anti-tank grenades are the Russian designs of the 1950s and later, mainly the [[RKG-3 anti-tank grenade|RKG-3]]. Due to improvements in modern tank armor, anti-tank hand grenades are generally considered obsolete. However in recent conflict, namely the [[Iraq War]], the RKG-3 anti-tank hand grenade has made a reappearance in the service of insurgents who utilize them primarily against [[High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle|US Humvees]], which lack the heavier armor of tanks. <ref>{{cite web|title=New Russian made armour-piercing grenade causing US casualties in Iraq| language=English|url=http://joinordie.wordpress.com/2007/09/08/new-russian-made-armor-piercing-grenade-causing-us-casualties-in-iraq/}}</ref> ==Grenades as ornamentation== [[Image:Flamme-kepi-img 0992.jpg|thumb|Grenade on a [[kepi]] of the [[French Army]].]] Stylized pictures of early grenades, emitting a flame, are used as ornaments on [[military uniform]]s, particularly in [[France]] (esp. [[French Gendarmerie]] and the [[French Foreign Legion]]), and [[Italy]] ([[Carabinieri]]). Fusilier regiments in the British and Commonwealth tradition (e.g. the [[Princess Louise Fusiliers]], Canadian Army) wear a "flaming grenade" cap-badge, reflecting their historic use of grenades in the assault. The British [[Grenadier Guards]] took their name and cap badge of a burning grenade from repelling an attack of French Grenadiers at [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]]. The flag of the [[Russian Ground Forces]] also bears a "flaming grenade" device. The branch insignia of the [[US Army]] [[Ordnance Corps]] also uses this symbol, the grenade being symbolic of explosive ordnance in general. The United States Marine Corps also uses the grenade on their uniforms: the rank insignia for master gunnery sergeant has three chevrons pointing up, with four rockers on the bottom. In the middle of this is a bursting bomb, or grenade. US Navy [[Aviation Ordnanceman]]'s rating badge features a winged device of similar design. ==See also== * [[Nils Waltersen Aasen]], the creator of the modern hand grenade * [[Rocket propelled grenade]] * [[Rifle grenade]] * [[Grenade launcher]] * [[Technology of Song Dynasty]] * [[Jiao Yu]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==References== Needham, Joseph (1986). ''Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Part 7''. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd. ==External links== * [http://www.ruag.com/ruag/juice?pageID=91604 RUAG - manufacturer of modern hand grenades] *[http://mecar.post-site.com Mecar - Belgian manufacturer of various grenade types] *[http://www.pof.gov.pk/products/handgrenades.htm Pakistan Ordnance Factories - licensed manufacturer of Arges grenades] *[http://www.cordin.com/imgrenade.html Film of exploding grenade] - taken using ultra high-speed photographic technique (2/3 million frames per second) *[http://science.howstuffworks.com/grenade.htm How Grenades Work] - from [[HowStuffWorks]] *[http://maic.jmu.edu/ordata/FullImage.asp?Image=images\E\E3981U02.JPG Exploded view of a modern Arges 73 hand grenade] *[http://www.90thidpg.us/Equipment/Projects/Grenades/index.html 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group] Article on authentic WW2 pineapple grenades *[http://www.grenades.info/ Grenade infomation and facts] [[Category:Less-lethal weapons]] [[Category:Grenades]] [[Category:Incendiary weapons]] [[ar:قنبلة يدوية]] [[bg:Граната]] [[cs:Granát (zbraň)]] [[da:Håndgranat]] [[de:Handgranate]] [[es:Granada (arma)]] [[fr:Grenade (arme)]] [[ko:수류탄]] [[id:Granat tangan]] [[it:Bomba a mano]] [[he:רימון יד]] [[lt:Granata]] [[ms:Bom tangan]] [[nl:Handgranaat]] [[ja:手榴弾]] [[no:Håndgranat]] [[pl:Granat (broń)]] [[pt:Granada (arma)]] [[ro:Grenadă]] [[ru:Граната]] [[simple:Grenade]] [[sk:Ručný granát]] [[fi:Käsikranaatti]] [[sv:Handgranat]] [[th:ระเบิดมือ]] [[vi:Lựu đạn]] [[tr:El bombası]] [[uk:Граната]] [[yi:האנט גראנאט]] [[zh:手榴弹]]