A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after a short time. The word "grenade" is derived from the French grenade, meaning pomegranate, so named because its shrapnel pellets reminded soldiers of the seeds of this fruit. Grenadiers were originally soldiers who specialized in throwing grenades.

American Grenades

A hand grenade is a small hand-held anti-personnel weapon designed to be thrown and then explode after…

The internal workings of the English Mills No. 5 hand grenade.

English Grenade

The internal workings of the English Mills No. 5 hand grenade.

This grenade consists of three parts: (1) a lemon-shaped, serrated, cast iron body; (2) a special igniter the body of which is a hollow piece of wood fixed in the collar of the grenade by three wooden pins; (3) the charge.

French Grenade (C.F.)

This grenade consists of three parts: (1) a lemon-shaped, serrated, cast iron body; (2) a special igniter…

<p>A: Bouchon<br>B: Lever<br>C: Bouchon Seal<br>D: Striker<br>E: Spring<br>F: Hinge Pin<br>G: Split Pin<br>H: Split Pin Ring<br>I: Moisture Cap<br>K: Primer<br>L: Priming Powder<br>M: Fuse<br>N: Detonator</p>

Grenade Parts

A: Bouchon B: Lever C: Bouchon Seal D: Striker E: Spring F: Hinge Pin G: Split Pin H: Split Pin Ring…

Instead of a standard bouchon assembly being used this grenade is equipped with a Percussion Plug Assembly, Mark I, containing the striker, primer and standard two inch length Bickford fuse. The grenade is ignited by means of first, removing the percussion cover of cap, then knocking or striking the head of the striker sharply against a hard object or against the body.

Cross-Section of a Grenade

Instead of a standard bouchon assembly being used this grenade is equipped with a Percussion Plug Assembly,…

This grenade is nothing more than the No. 5 fitted with a rod 5&frac14; inches long screwed into a steel base plug which in turn screws into the bottom of the grenade. To keep the lever of the bomb in place after the pin has been pulled, a ring attachment is fixed to the rifle by means of the bayonet.

Model 23, Mark I (Rifle)

This grenade is nothing more than the No. 5 fitted with a rod 5¼ inches long screwed into a steel…

The torpedoes used by the Confederates were various in form and construction. The most efficient ones were the galvanic and percussion. The percussion or "sensitive" ones exploded by the act of forcible contact. Some of these were made in the form of a double cone, with percussion tubes arranged around the cylinder thus formed, at the point of contact of the bases of the cones.

Percussion Torpedo

The torpedoes used by the Confederates were various in form and construction. The most efficient ones…

Rifle on the United States cruiser, Atlanta. The illustration shows a detailed view of the rifle, specifically, the shield, which is labeled "a".

Six-inch Breech Loading Rifle

Rifle on the United States cruiser, Atlanta. The illustration shows a detailed view of the rifle, specifically,…

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, copper case; b, primer; c, wooden capsule filled with shot; e, powder charge; d, paper partition between the rear end of the capsule and the powder." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Short Cartridge - Copper Case

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, copper…

A soldier, kneeling down preparing to throw a grenade.

Soldier, Kneeling, Throwing Grenade

A soldier, kneeling down preparing to throw a grenade.

A soldier lying in the prone position, throwing a grenade. In anatomy,the prone position is a position of the body lying face down.

Soldier, Prone, Throwing Grenade

A soldier lying in the prone position, throwing a grenade. In anatomy,the prone position is a position…

A soldier preparing to throw a grenade.

Soldier, Throwing Grenade

A soldier preparing to throw a grenade.

A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle.<br>Top: A, platform; B, torpedo; C, water tight pine box; D, pin to be drawn.<br>Lower: A, vessel at anchor; B, her cable; E, F, two torpedoes; C, D, the coupling lines.

Torpedo Boat

A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. Top:…

The steam-vessels were protected by torpedo-nets formed of ropes weighted with iron or lead, and furnished with hooks to catch the little submarine mines. These nets were hung from spars placed athwart the bowsprit in front of the vessel, and sometimes in like manner along its sides.

Torpedo Net

The steam-vessels were protected by torpedo-nets formed of ropes weighted with iron or lead, and furnished…