Page 22 - History of War - Issue 10-14

FRONTLINE Frontline

GRENADETACTICS

Adaptations to shock, confuse and even take on the heaviest armour

1. PICK YOUR GRENADE ANM18SMOKEGRENADE
Incontrasttotheothertypesofexplosiveson
thispage,theANM18isintendedasasignalling
RKG-3ANTI-TANKGRENADE eviceratherthananoffensiveweapon.
As the name suggests, this is also particularly effective against When ignited, smoke billows through four
armoured vehicles. When thrown, a miniature four-panel parachute is gnition holes on the top of the device, with the
deployed,meaningthatiftargetedcorrectly,itwillstrikethetargetata mokebeingeitherviolet,green,redoryellow
90-degree angle. It was originally used in the Soviet epending on the markings on the side.
Union,buthassincebeenseeninuseinIraq.
XM102 STUN GRENADE
BOOBYTRAPSANDIEDS Classifi ed as a ‘less lethal’
The hand grenade’s ease of use makes it particularly weapon (as they have
well suited for booby traps. Many improvised explosive been known to be fatal,
devices(IEDs)inuseiniraq,EasternUkraineand despite their moniker),
numerous other guerilla conflicts worldwide make use of when detonated these emit
conventionalgrenades,aswellaslandminesandhome a sound of 170 to 180
made explosives, with murderous ingenuity. decibels, causing instant
disorientation. They are
used to clear rooms when
in the presence of non-
combatants, particularly
during ambushes.

RPG-7
FirstdesignedintheSovietUnionin1961,
this portable, shoulder-launched device
hassincebecomethemostwidelyused
rocket-propelledgrenadelauncherinthe
world. It has a maximum range of around
halfamile(920metres),andisparticularly
effective when used against tanks and in
other anti-armour circumstances.

2. PRIME AND COOK 3. LAUNCH AND IGNITION 4. TAKE COVER

After pulling out the safety pin, the delay After the grenade has been launched, the The M67 grenade is designed to infl ict damage
detonationcycleoftheM67givesthethrower detonation cycle is activated. This is caused by on enemy positions too obscure to be targeted
four to five seconds to throw the grenade at the the spring-loaded safety lever separating from by gunfi re. The explosive range of the grenade is
target.TheM67consistsof6.5ounces(185 the grenade itself while in mid-fl ight. In turn, estimated to be lethal to a distance of 16.5 feet
grams) of sensitive ‘Composition B’ explosives, the M213 series fuse ignites the Composition (5 metres) and can cause damage up to about
whichisinturncontainedwithinacasewitha B material, causing the subsequent destructive 50 feet (15 metres), while fragments can be
diameter of 2.5 inches (6.35 centimetres). explosion and fragmentation. found as much as 750 feet (228 metres) away.

22