Smoke and signaling grenades United States hand grenades

1 smoke , signaling grenades

1.1 m1 frangible grenade (fs)
1.2 m8, m83 , model 308-1 white smoke
1.3 m15, m16, , m34
1.4 m18
1.5 xm48/e1/e2/e3
1.6 mk 1 mod 0/1/2/3
1.7 ex 1 mod 0 , ex 2 mod 0

smoke , signaling grenades
m1 frangible grenade (fs)

in september 1942 united states standardized molotov cocktail-style device nominally designated grenade . consisted of pint-sized clear glass bottle crimped metal cap. dubbed frangible because made of glass, brittle , broken.

most fillers liquid compounds selected because activated exposure air, not requiring detonator. fs mixture of sulfur trioxide , chlorosulfuric acid created heavy, acrid screening smoke.

the m1 frangible grenade (fs) declared limited standard 1944.

m8, m83 , model 308-1 white smoke

a smoke grenade similar visually mk iii he-blast grenade, m8 (also written an/m8) filled hexachloroethane (hc), chemical agent produces thick white smoke when burned. m8 used signaling , screening purposes, , since works burning hc effect, can used improvised incendiary device. hc smoke toxic , can cause more serious health problems prolonged exposure. m83 (also written an/m83) modernized version of m8, using ta (terephthalic acid) instead of hc filler mixture. model 308-1 white smoke modified version of m8 produced @ special operations branch of naval weapons center @ china lake california, referred china lake. model 308-1 modified navy seal requirement greater burning rate, meaning greater smoke output shorter overall burning time.

m15, m16, , m34

the m15 white phosphorus smoke grenade, nicknamed willie peter or willie pete (for white phosphorus), used screening , signaling purposes. cylindrical, rounded edges compared of m8. wp has many of same properties of hc, , burned create effect, giving m15 similar incendiary capability. m16 colored version of grenade available in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, , black smoke versions. later simplified red, yellow, green, , violet. m34 grenade variant of m15 designed usable rifle grenade using m2 series of grenade launching adapters, , ribbed give fins better grip on grenade body.

m18

a purpose-designed smoke flare, m18 smoke grenade visually similar m8, different type of filler , internal construction. m18 produced 4 colors of smoke: yellow, green, red, , violet. used extensively in vietnam war , since. non-submersible variant of m18 flotation bladder made, use in marking @ sea.

xm48/e1/e2/e3

a variant of xm47 series, in following section, xm48 skittering type smoke grenade: filler burned internally , vented through ports in grenade body, making grenade spin erratically. xm48 series burns unknown filler red-colored smoke, wp or hc based, , not known standardized.

drawing of mk 1 illumination grenade


mk 1 mod 0/1/2/3

an illumination grenade, magnesium filler ignited wick type fuze, mk 1 mod 0 first produced during second world war. mod 1 featured improved type fuze, moving away simple wick lighter design. mod 2 featured simplified overall design, while mod 3 replaced single-piece steel body two-piece plastic shell.

ex 1 mod 0 , ex 2 mod 0

developed joint project between navy , dupont chemical company, ex 1 , ex 2 part of target illumination , recovery aid (tiara) program. dupont created number of glow-in-the-dark fillers, settling on non-toxic pb-155 compound. pb-155 (also known tiara 5) glows when oxidizes , therefore used mark things @ night minimal fuss. developed navy seals, first production models created in 1963. ex 1 mod 0 hand grenade, based on m25a2 chemical grenade described in following section. testing in 1963 showed tiara 5 mixture had averse effects on functioning of c12 fuze integral m25a2 design. led replacement of fuze s integral primer, m39a1, model resistant filler mixture, m5. ex 2 mod 0, visibly more similar other cylindrical smoke , chemical grenades (such an/m8 , m18 discussed in section) designed used rifle grenade using m2 series of grenade launcher adapters.

the army tested plastic chemiluminescent grenade in 1966, utilizing pb-155 filler , m217 impact fuze, negative results mixture s usefulness intended role, brightness , duration of functioning being insufficient .