Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22
j., SEPTEMBER %, 1918.
Grenades Used by Americans in the Trench


not be thrown from under cover, its
use depending entirely upon it's ex-
plosive effect upon the enemy. For
this reason the body of the offensive
grenade is u cylinder Of waterproofed
m nsrh'ahs p ana charge. as Wei as
method of operation, are identical
with that OF the defensive type. In
the defensive type. however, the ex-
plosion itself is merely useful in
that 1t is the medium whereby the
metal body is fragmented, having no
direct effect upon the enemy itself.
*
Because srenades must be thrown
with straight-arm overland throw,
it Is not possible to send them the
same distance as those proficient in
base ball can speed 1.-The pill" Because,
also, the range of the average trench
mortar is some 300 yards, the need for
some missile with range in between
that Of the hand grenade and the
trench mortar soon became apparent:
h Tbs NEED r was et 9y nh Ike a Ss Of
grenade of the defensive type. the rife
grenade is cylindrical In shape and
perfectly smooth on it's outer surface,
is pierced longitudinally by a central
tube through which the bullet from the
rife cartridge passes and effects it's
from eapd ns rife a @ne 1 aHs
means of discharger which fits over
and Is attached to the muzzle Of the
When a. bullet from a rife cartridge
passes through the central tube 1t hits
the striker and thus fires the primer.
Rs saeanSs s s timed e explode
Of the rife. The passage Of the bullet
only only, starts the mechanism WHICH
grenade is thrown from the dlscharger
by the gases which form behind the
bullet and exert their pressure on the
Range ease Of % re srsnade H Whsa the
is about 200 yards. Rifle and hand
the cost OF manufacture is about so
cents each.
. So useful has the grenade proven
Its scope has been enlarged to include
gas barrages: THOSE Tor such PURPOSES
eter aos al and
The phosphorus grenade has a bar
rel-shaped container OF drawn sheet
steel. to one end of which Is welded
9 steel collar, threaded on the inside.
thimble. which runs down into the
center of the inside of the body,
and which is designed to prevent the
phosphorus charge from coming in
contact with the detonator and fuse.
These. together with the standard
"Bouchon" assembly used In tho other
types: are screwed into, the top Of
gray when loaded. The phosphorus
grenade furnishes a shower Of burn-
ing fragments Of phosphorus as well
as cloud of dense white smoke.
1t can be used to repel an advanc.
ing enemy attack or during an ad-
vance can be used as screen to con-
ceal operations.
The gas grenade is similar in con-
struction to the phosphorus grenade,
except for two corrugations near the
bottom Of the body. which serve as
a distinguishing mark. The effect
OF the gas grenade is to produce .
dense white gas in low-lying cloud.
which IL intensely irritating and is
ella; Eiasssd as as a sufioeatinf ga The r.
'moppfng up, trenches-that is. clean-
ing out the dugouts by forcing the
enemy into the open, and OF forcing
him to wear a gas mask during the
advance.
X X
In the equipment Of patrols for the
control of.no mans land, the grenade.
usually the defensive type, plays
vital part. The only arms a soldier
usually carries on a night sally over
the disputed terrain is his revolver
and grehades. Rifles are useless, be-
cause they are noisy and they specify
T. q. 3 = 49, HA NY