List of signal grenades of the United Kingdom
The British Army used several signal grenades from their introduction in the 20th century.
Usage[]
The grenades were used to communicate information through pre-arranged combinations of coloured smoke and lights. Generally smoke was for daytime use and lights at night but some light producing grenades were suitable for daytime use.[1]
List[]
Rifle grenades[]
Used with rifle discharger clipped to front of rifle and propelled by blank cartridge with 30 grains of ballistite.[2] Signal grenades were fired holding the rifle at 70 degrees, the butt on the ground and the rifle trigger uppermost.[3][a]
- No. 42 Day Signal - Four different colours of smoke candle. With a parachute.
- No. 43 Night - similar to No.42 but with coloured stars. The stars are separated by 12 ft of cord and burn simultaneously
- No. 45 Night Signal - similar to 42 and 43 but the star changes colour during use e.g. white-red-white or red-green-red
- No. 48 Day or Night Locality Signal - four flash signals which fire sequentially with short delay between each.
- No. 52 - as No. 43 but three white illuminating stars
Rodded grenade type where a 15-inch long rod at base of grenade is inserted into the rifle[b] and fired from barrel with a blank cartridge of 43 grains cordite.[2] This was older method of firing grenades.
- No. 31 Day Signal - smoke candle and parachute
- No. 32 Night Signal - 2-3 coloured illuminating stars and parachute
- No. 35 Night Signal - changing light and parachute similar to No. 45
- No. 51 Day or Night Signal - white illuminating stars and parachute. same as No. 52
Hand grenades[]
Notes[]
- ^ Volume II section 54, p143
- ^ a b c Volume II section 55 p 154
- ^ Pamphlet 13: Lesson 4, paragraph 2
- ^ Pamphlet 13: Lesson 3, paragraph 4
- ^ Grenade, Hand No.83, Smoke Green IWM Collection
- ^ Grenade, Hand, Smoke L35A1 IWM Collection
References[]
- War Office Small Arms Training, Volume II (1924) HMSO.
- War Office Small Arms Training, Volume I, Pamphlet No. 13, Grenade, 1937,
- Grenades of the United Kingdom
- World War II infantry weapons of the United Kingdom