M67 grenade
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| M67 | |
|---|---|
 The M67 fragmentation grenade. |
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| Type | Hand grenade |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | Current |
| Used by | United States, Canada, many other |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 14 oz (400 g) |
| Diameter | 2.5 in (64 mm) |
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| Filling | Composition B |
| Filling weight | 6.5 oz (180 g) |
| Detonation mechanism |
Pyrotechnic delay M213 fuse—4 seconds |
The M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the United States Military and Canadian Forces, where it is referred to as the C13. The M67 is a replacement for the M61 grenade used during Vietnam and the older Mk 2 "pineapple" grenade used since World War II.
Contents |
[edit] Composition
The M67 Grenade has a steel sphere body that contains 6.5 ounces of Composition B material. The M213 fuze is specifically designed for use with the M67 fragmentation grenade. The M67 grenade is 14 ounces in total and has a safety clip for ease of manipulation.
[edit] Description
The M67 can be thrown about 30 meters by the average soldier. It has a 3.0-5.0 second fuse that ignites explosives packed inside a round body. Shrapnel is provided by the grenade casing and produces a casualty radius of 15 meters, with a fatality radius of 5 meters, though some fragments can disperse as far out as 250 meters. [1]Its effectiveness is not just its blast radius, which measures approximately 45 feet (13.7 m) since shrapnel fly much further.
[edit] History
A grenade is small explosive, chemical, or gas bomb. It is used at short range, thrown by hand or launched with a grenade launcher. The word grenade comes from the French word for pomegranate because early grenades had the look of the fruit. [2]
The first grenades appeared in the Byzantine Empire, not long after the reign of Leo III (717-741).[3] Byzantine soldiers learned that Greek fire, a Byzantine invention of the previous century, could not only be thrown by flamethrowers at the enemy, but also in stone and ceramic jars.[4] Later, glass containers were employed. Byzantine hand grenades with Greek fire in the 10th to 12th centuries are on display in the National Museum at Athens. The use of Greek fire, or rather variants thereof, spread to Muslim armies in the Near East, from where it reached China by the 10th century. [5]
The first grenades were used extensively again during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). The hand grenades of World War I can be described as empty cans filled with gunpowder and stones, with a primitive fuse. The Australians used the tin cans from jam and their early grenades were nicknamed "Jam Bombs." The first safe (for the person throwing it) grenade was the Mills bomb, invented by Englishmen, William Mills in 1915. Two other important grenade designs that emerged from the first war are the French pineapple grenade and the German stick grenade.[6]
[edit] Under training conditions, to activate the grenade
First the user adopts the "throwing position," feet spread apart with the grenade held squarely in the user's abdomen area.
Second, the user removes the safety clip from the grenade.
Third, the user places his non-dominant index finger in the pin of the grenade while maintaining a firm grasp on the body of the grenade and safety lever (also referred to as a spoon by military members) with the dominant hand so when the user does pull the pin, the lever doesn't automatically fly off and ignite the fuse. At this point if the pin is accidentally pulled, the pin can be reinserted as long as the user maintains a grasp on the safety lever. As an added safety measure, the pin of a live grenade is bent so it prevents an accidental removal. When the pin is pulled, the user must pull hard enough to straighten the pin as it comes out. The pin is small and made of a relatively soft metal, so it isn't difficult in the heat of combat.
Fourth, the user firmly pulls the grenade away from the pin, ensures that the lever is still intact, and heaves the grenade at the intended target. If tactically appropriate, the user yells "frag out" to warn others of the outgoing grenade (Yelling "grenade" is a warning of an incoming grenade thrown by the enemy). When the grenade is thrown, tossed or dropped, the safety lever (which is under spring tension but held in place by the pin) flies off. This action frees a spring-loaded firing pin which snaps over onto a percussion cap, lighting the time delay fuze which is followed a few seconds later by detonation. The user takes cover from the blast.
[edit] Inspection of Unpacked Grenades
1. Inspect unpacked grenades daily to ensure that the safety pins are present.
2. Check the body for rust or dirt.
3. Make sure the lever is not broken or bent. [7]
[edit] Buying Inert Grenades
Purchasing Inert M67 Grenades can be used for training aids that withstand punishment in the field.Inert Products, LLC offers exact replicas of various military issued devices for training the armed forces. [8]
[edit] Alternative Uses
The M67 grenade has been a popular addition to movies, television shows, and video games. Contrary to how it is portrayed in Hollywood, it is nearly impossible to pull out a pin with your teeth.
[edit] External links
- FAS—Fact sheet
- Additional photos of the M67
- Canadian Forces C13 info page
- Video of operation at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)
- IMFDB grenade presence
- Army Study Guide
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/hand_grenades/hand-grenades-study-guide.shtml
- ^ http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blgrenade.htm
- ^ Robert James Forbes: "Studies in Ancient Technology", Leiden 1993, ISBN 9789004006218, p.107
- ^ Robert James Forbes: "Studies in Ancient Technology", Leiden 1993, ISBN 9789004006218, p.107
- ^ Robert James Forbes: "Studies in Ancient Technology", Leiden 1993, ISBN 9789004006218, p.107
- ^ http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blgrenade.htm
- ^ http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/hand_grenades/hand-grenades-study-guide.shtml
- ^ http://www.inertproducts.com/inc/searchresults?s=m67&ss=m67&n=826469
