Grenades in World War I
Grenades -Grenades were a main weapon used during WW1. A grenade is a small explosive or bomb thrown by hand or launched at short range. Grenades can take any shape that could be easily thrown: cans, balls, discs, or sticks. There are many different types of hand grenades. Nonlethal, fragmentation, illuminating, chemical, offensive, lastly practice and training.
Nonlethal grenades were used for diversionary purposes. Fragmentation grenades main purpose was to produce casualties. Illuminating provided illumination of terrain and targets. Chemical grenades are used for incendiary, screening, signaling, training, or riot-control. Offensive grenades were simply put to work for their blast effect. And practice and training grenades are for training personnel in use, care and handling of service grenades. |
The First GrenadesThe first grenades were invented in the fifteenth century. The first grenades were hollow iron balls filled with gunpowder and were started by a slow burning wick. They were mostly used and promoted during World War I.
Reason for InventionThese weapons were invented because they could damage others who were not in the line of sight. Another reason grenades were invented was to help in trench raiding. They were found effective when exploded among enemy troops in the ditch of a fortress during an attack. Grenades were also used mostly to defend the grenadiers. Those were the men with the job of bombing other trenches.
Inventor of the GrenadeThe original inventor of the grenade is not known. Although, Sir William Mills of Sunderland who lived from April 1856 - 1932 invented the Mills bomb in 1915. It was developed and manufactured at his factory in Birmingham, England. The Mills bomb was the hand grenade most used by British and Imperial forces during the First World War. The Mills bomb was the first modern fragmentation grenade, and was used in the trenches from 1915.
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Grenades in Action
Impact Of Grenades During WW1
Grenades had a strong impact on WW1. Their greatest ability was their effectiveness in attacking enemy positions during trench warfare. This led grenades to becoming a standard part of the combat equipment. Grenades helped which ever side using them protect their grenadiers. Which is why bombing parties grew in number and frequency as the war progressed. Overall, deciding to use grenades after 200 years of them being forgotten was a good idea for the nations in WW1.
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Grenades affected everyone during WW1. They were dangerous for soldiers near the front lines in Europe to use. Mainly because they'd blow up when reaching the front trench. The civilians were not as impacted by grenades but on some occasions their homes and buildings were attacked by these weapons. All this led to leaders of the warring nations planning strategies on how to get their hands on these weapons and how to use them correctly while getting the most out of them
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Positives of Grenades-
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Connections to Today
Soldiers used these grenades to protect themselves and to also bomb the other opposing side. This worked
very effectively because bombing parties seemed to grow in number and frequency as the war progressed. Although they did not always do a lot of damage, they were easy to carry and could easily surprise the other side.
very effectively because bombing parties seemed to grow in number and frequency as the war progressed. Although they did not always do a lot of damage, they were easy to carry and could easily surprise the other side.
![Picture](/uploads/6/7/3/8/67381893/960874584.jpg?299)
An example of a grenade today includes the M67 Fragmentation Grenade. It is highly more advanced than the grenades used in WW1. There are still some similarities, like firing the pin to get it started.
The M67 grenade is a hand grenade used by the United States military. The soldier throws the grenade at its target in order to cause explosives. M67 is a better development of the M33 grenade. The M33 was used in the Vietnam war.
Grenades Improvement
-Metal coating over the primer and powder inside the grenade
-Now send a larger and more impactful blast.
-Have a safety clip to prevent the safety pin on the grenade from being pulled accidentally
The M67 grenade is a hand grenade used by the United States military. The soldier throws the grenade at its target in order to cause explosives. M67 is a better development of the M33 grenade. The M33 was used in the Vietnam war.
Grenades Improvement
-Metal coating over the primer and powder inside the grenade
-Now send a larger and more impactful blast.
-Have a safety clip to prevent the safety pin on the grenade from being pulled accidentally