What is a pineapple grenade?

The fragmentation hand grenade was used by the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Commonly known as a “pineapple” grenade, because of its shape and structure, the MK2 has grooves in its cast-iron shell to aid in gripping the grenade – which give it the appearance of a pineapple fruit.

Why are pineapple grenades used?

Only around a third of grenades body became dangerous shrapnel. However, despite this being noticed quite early, many grenades kept their pineapple design. These grooves improved grip, allowing soldiers to handle and throw these grenades much easier.

Why are grenades called pineapples?

This was intended to enhance fragmentation (in practice, it was found that the grooves did not enhance fragmentation as much as desired) and provide a better grip when handling and throwing the grenade. The grooves and knobs gave it the appearance of a pineapple, and are the origin of the nickname.

Why don't we use pineapple grenades anymore?

"stick" anti personnel grenades fell out of favour due to the following. The mills bomb and later "pineapple" type grenades were just cheaper and you could carry more. Transport was also an issue.

What is a pineapple grenade made of?

The Mk II was manufactured with grooves in the cast iron. This is erroneously believed to aid fragmentation but additionally provided for a better grip when throwing the grenade. This gave it the appearance of pineapple fruit, giving it the common nickname of the "pineapple" grenade.

How to tell if a grenade is real or fake

Does the military still use pineapple grenades?

The M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the United States military. The M67 is a further development of the M33 grenade, itself a replacement for the M26-series grenades used during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the older Mk 2 "pineapple" grenade used since World War I.

When were pineapple grenades last used?

The Mk 2 series of hand grenades in US service were standardized in 1920 and lived on through the 1960s. The Mk II/Mk 2 series fragmentation grenade was the standard American Army infantry hand grenade from 1918 until the 1960s.

What was a potato masher in WW2?

It was a standard grenade for the Imperial German Army during World War I, and the Wehrmacht during World War II. Its distinctive appearance led to it being called a "stick grenade", or "potato masher" in British Army slang, and it remains one of the most easily recognized infantry weapons of the 20th century.

What is the blast radius of a pineapple grenade?

The effective casualty-producing radius is 15 meters. ALTHOUGH THE KILLING RADIUS IS 5 METERS AND THE CASUALTY PRODUCING RADIUS OF THIS GRENADE IS 15 METERS, FRAGMENTS CAN DISPERSE AS FAR AWAY AS 230 METERS. (7) Color/markings -- olive drab body with a single yellow band at the top.

How did German stick grenades work?

Unlike the majority of hand grenade designs, the Stielhandgranate design was ignited by friction. Inside the hollow wooden handle, a steel rod was attached to a string. After the string was pulled, a shower of shower of sparks lit a fuse that burned for approximately 4.5 seconds before exploding.

How heavy is a pineapple grenade?

Nicknamed "pineapples", they each weighed 1 pound 5 ounces (about 0.6 kilograms). They remained the standard fragmentation grenades of American forces in WW2. The Mk IIA1 variant design was placed in production in 1942.

Why are grenades painted yellow?

The fuze bouchon (body) was modified by eliminating the "cut-back" and the safety lever lengthened. Yellow was the color code for high explosive ordnance at this time and HE grenades were painted accordingly. Understandably this was found to be an impractical color due to its high visibility to the enemy.

What is the most powerful hand grenade?

The M67 Grenade is a fragmentation grenade used by the United States military and Canadian forces, almost half a pound of high explosive with a fatal blast radius of 5 yards.

What grenade does the US Army use?

Its absence left the baseball-shaped M67 defensive fragmentation grenade as the U.S. Army's sole lethal hand grenade. Now, army engineers at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey are working the Enhanced Tactical Multi-Purpose (ET-MP) grenade, which will use electronic controls to bring hand grenades into the 21st century.

Why do Germans use stick grenades?

The stick design also minimized the risk of the grenade rolling downhill back towards the thrower when used in hilly terrain or in urban areas. However, the additional length of the handle meant that fewer could be carried."

Can you pull a pin out of a grenade with your teeth?

Pulling the pin with your teeth.

Pulling the pin on a grenade is easy, but it's not that easy. If you plan to pull the pin with your teeth, set up a dental appointment because you're going to rip at least three pearly whites from your mouth. Just slow down and pull it with your hand, Rambo.

Why do you throw a grenade with a straight arm?

Also remember that when throwing a grenade you not want it to fly like ball. You need to lob it up and over and then drop straight down into an enemy position such as a trench or shell scrape. The straight arm action, if the grenade is released at the right point creates this type of flight path.

How far can the average soldier throw a grenade?

On average a grenade can be thrown between 20 and 40 meters. The casualty radius of a grenade is between 5 and 20 meters; with a minimum of 50% of exposed personnel becoming casualties within a radius of around 15 metres from the blast.

How many grenades did soldiers carry in ww2?

1,496 rounds of rifle ammunition (assuming 1 cartridge belt, 1 bandolier and 1 clip in the gun for riflemen) 700 rounds of automatic rifle ammunition. 15 rifle grenades (variable) 24 fragmentation grenades (variable)

How far can you throw a German stick grenade?

A trained German grenadier could lob a stick grenade generally out to 35 yards depending on situation and environmental factors.

Why do grenades have handles?

Stick grenade

Stick grenades have a long handle attached to the grenade proper, providing leverage for longer throwing distance, at the cost of additional weight.

What does a grenade tattoo mean?

It can signify that you lost a loved one to war, or it could represent your love for the weapon itself. A heart grenade can also show that the individual wearing it is a sensitive person.

What kind of grenade was used in Vietnam?

The M26A1 / M61 was the primary fragmentation grenade used by American forces in the Vietnam War. The M26 series (M26/M61/M57) was replaced by the M33 series grenade (M33/M67) at the end of the Vietnam War.

Why are grenades Green?

"Our scientists came up with a sugar formation to replace the sulfur previously used in most smoke grenades employed by the U.S. military," said Col. Koster. After rigorous testing the result was positive and today, the green and yellow sugar-based mixture versions are currently being used in the field, he said.

What is a thermite grenade?

Thermite grenades are a type of explosive incendiary ordnance used by the UNSC. The flames from the thermite grenade can burn underwater. Thermite grenades rely on a chemical process between metal powders and oxides to create high temperatures, with no explosion.