Using Hand Grenades

Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide

GRIPPING PROCEDURES
The importance of properly gripping the hand grenade cannot be
overemphasized. Soldiers must understand that a grenade not held
properly is difficult to arm. Gripping procedures differ slightly for right-
and left-handed soldiers.

Right-handed soldiers hold the grenade upright with

the pull ring away from the palm of the throwing
hand so that the pull ring can be easily removed by
the index or middle finger of the free hand.

Left-handed soldiers invert the

grenade with the fingers and
thumb of the throwing hand
positioned in the same manner as by right-handed
personnel.

THROWING

Since few soldiers throw in the same manner, it is difficult to establish

firm rules or techniques for throwing hand grenades. How accurately
they are thrown is more important than how they are thrown. If a
soldier can achieve more distance and accuracy using his own personal
style, he should be allowed to do so as long as his body is facing
sideways, towards the enemy's position, and he throws basically
overhand. There is, however, a recommended method of throwing hand
grenades:
1. Observe the target to mentally establish the distance between your
throwing position and the target area. In observing the target,
minimize your exposure time to the enemy (no more than 3
seconds).

2. Remove the safety clip.

3. Grip the hand grenade in your throwing hand.

4. Grasp the pull ring with the index or middle finger of your
nonthrowing hand. Remove the safety pin with a pulling and twisting
motion. If the tactical situation permits, observe the safety pin's
removal.

5. Look at the target and throw the grenade using the overhand
method so that the grenade arcs, landing on or near the target.

6. Allow the motion of your throwing arm to continue naturally once

you release the grenade. This follow-through improves distance and
accuracy and lessens the strain on your throwing arm.

7. Practice the necessary throws that are used in combat, such as the
underhand and sidearm throws. Soldiers can practice these throws
with practice grenades, but they must throw live fragmentation
grenades overhand in a training environment.

THROWING POSITIONS

Standing. The standing position is the most

desirable and natural position from which to
throw grenades. It allows you to obtain the
greatest possible throwing distance. Soldiers
normally use this position when occupying a
fighting position or during operations in fortified
positions or urban terrain.

Observe the target to mentally estimate the

distance. Use the proper handgrip and arm the
grenade while behind cover.

Assume a natural stance with your weight balanced equally on

both feet. Hold the grenade shoulder high and hold the
nonthrowing hand at a 45° angle with the fingers and thumb
extended, joined, and pointing toward the intended target.

Throw the grenade with a natural motion, using the procedures

described above in THROWING.

Seek cover to avoid being hit by fragments or direct enemy fire. If

no cover is available, drop to the prone position with your Kevlar
facing the direction of the grenade's detonation.

Kneeling. The kneeling position reduces the

distance a soldier can throw a grenade. It is used
primarily when a soldier has only a low wall, a
shallow ditch, or similar cover to protect him.

Observe the target to mentally estimate the

throwing distance. Using the proper grip, arm
the grenade while behind cover.

Hold the grenade shoulder high and bend your nonthrowing knee
at a 90° angle, placing that knee on the ground. Keep your
throwing leg straight and locked, with the side of your boot firmly
on the ground. Move your body to face sideways toward the
target position. Keep your nonthrowing hand at a 45° angle with
your fingers and thumb extended, joined, and pointing toward the
enemy position.

Throw the grenade with a natural throwing motion. Push off with
your throwing foot to give added force to your throw. Follow
through with your throwing arm.

Drop to the prone position or behind available cover to reduce

exposure to fragmentation and direct enemy fire.

Alternate prone. The alternate prone

position reduces both distance and accuracy.
It is used only when an individual is pinned
down by hostile fire and is unable to rise to
engage his target. Use the following
procedures when throwing from this position:

Lie down on your back with your body

parallel to the grenade's intended line of
flight. Hold the grenade at chin-chest level
and remove the safety pins.

Cock your throwing leg at a 45° angle,

maintaining knee-to-knee contact and
bracing the side of your boot firmly on the
ground. Hold the grenade 4 to 6 inches behind your ear with your
arm cocked for throwing.

With your free hand, grasp any object that is capable of giving
added leverage to increase your throwing distance. In throwing
the grenade, push off with your rearward foot to give added force
to your throw. Do not lift your head or body when attempting to
throw a grenade as this exposes you to direct enemy fire.

After throwing the grenade, roll over onto your stomach and press
flat against the ground.

WEAPON CAPABILITIES
Hand grenades are used extensively during combat in urban areas.
Smoke grenades are used for obscuration and signaling. Riot control
grenades are used to control civil disturbances. Fragmentation,
concussion and stun grenades are used to clear the enemy from rooms
and basements. Hand grenades are the most used explosive munition
during intense combat in urban areas. In World War II, it was common
for a battalion fighting in a city to use over 500 fragmentation grenades
each day. Stun grenades are used primarily during precision clearing of
an urban structure when the presence of noncombatants is likely.

Hand grenades are difficult weapons to use. They involve a high risk of
fratricide. Commanders should conduct precombat training with hand
grenades as part of normal preparations. Soldiers must be very careful
when throwing hand grenades.

Offensive Grenades

The MK3A2 offensive hand grenade, commonly referred to as the

concussion grenade, produces casualties during close combat while
minimizing the danger to friendly personnel. The grenade produces
severe concussion effects in enclosed areas. For this reason, it is the
preferred hand grenade during offensive operations in a MOUT (military
operations on urbanized terrain) environment. It can be used for light
blasting and demolitions, and for creating breach holes in interior walls.
The concussion produced by the MK3A2 is much greater than that of the
fragmentation grenade. It is very effective against enemy soldiers in
bunkers, buildings, and underground passages.

Smoke Grenades

The effects of smoke grenades in urban areas are nominal. Smoke

grenades produce dense clouds of colored or white smoke that remain
stationary in the surrounding area. They can cause fires if used
indiscriminately. If trapped and concentrated within a small space, their
smoke can suffocate soldiers.

Smoke hand grenades produce either white smoke or colored smoke for
short periods of time. Because they only produce small amounts of
smoke, smoke hand grenades are not effective for screening units
larger than one or two squads. White smoke grenades are most often
used to conceal individual vehicles; colored smoke grenades are used to
mark or spot positions.

The AN-M8 HC smoke grenade produces a dense white or gray smoke.

It burns intensely and cannot be easily extinguished once it ignites. The
smoke can be dangerous in heavy concentrations because it makes
breathing difficult and causes choking. The M8 grenade is normally used
for screening. It produces a slowly building screen of longer duration
than the obsolete M34 WP grenade without the problem of collateral
damage caused by scattered burning particles.

Incendiary Grenades

The AN-M14 TH3 incendiary hand grenade is used to destroy equipment

and start fires. It is used to damage, immobilize, or destroy vehicles,
weapons systems, shelters, and ammunition. The M14 incendiary
grenade is especially effective against flammable objects such as
wooden structures. It is also used to create an immediate smoke cloud
to conceal movement across a narrow open space such as a street. Its
smoke is not toxic but can cause choking in heavy concentrations.

The AN-M14 incendiary grenade is an effective weapon against enemy

armored vehicles when used in the close confines of combat in urban
areas. It can be thrown or dropped from upper stories onto enemy
vehicles.

Riot Control Grenades

The M7A3 CS riot control grenade can be used to control riots or

disperse personnel. Urban areas often create variable and shifting wind
patterns. When using CS grenades, soldiers must prevent the irritating
smoke from affecting friendly troops. The CS grenade burns intensely
and can ignite flammable structures. Enemy troops wearing even
rudimentary chemical protective masks can withstand intense
concentrations of CS gas.

Fragmentation Grenades

The fragmentation grenade produces a large amount of small high-

velocity fragments, which can penetrate plasterboard partitions and are
lethal at short ranges (15 to 20 meters). Fragments lose their velocity
quickly and are less effective beyond 25 meters. The fragments from a
fragmentation grenade cannot penetrate a single layer of sandbags, a
cinder block, or a brick building, but they can perforate wood frame and
tin buildings if exploded close to their walls.

Fragmentation barriers consisting of common office furniture,

mattresses, doors, or books can be effective against the fragmentation
grenade inside rooms. For this reason, a room should never be
considered safe just because one or two grenades have been detonated
inside. Fragmentation grenades detonated on the floor not only throw
fragments laterally but also send fragments and spall downward to
lower floors. Predicting how much spall will occur is difficult since
flooring material varies, but wooden floors are usually affected the
most.

The M67 fragmentation grenade is the most commonly available

grenade during combat in urban areas. It provides suppression during
room-to-room or house-to-house fighting, and is used while clearing
rooms of enemy personnel. When used at close ranges, it can be
cooked off for two seconds to deny the enemy time to throw it back.
The fragmentation grenade can be rolled, bounced, or ricocheted into
areas that cannot be reached by 40mm grenade launchers. Soldiers
must be cautious when throwing grenades up stairs. This is not the
most desired method of employment.

A major problem with the US-made fragmentation grenade is its

tendency to bounce back off hard targets. Grenades are often directed
at window openings on the ground floor or second floor. At ranges as
close as 20 meters, a thrower's chances of missing a standard 1-meter
by 1-meter window are high. The fragmentation grenade normally
breaks through standard window glass and enters a room. If the
grenade strikes at a sharp angle or the glass is thick plate, the grenade
could be deflected without penetrating.

Stun Grenades

The M84 stun hand grenade is designed to be thrown into a room

(through an open door, a standard glass window, or other opening) to
deliver a loud bang and bright flash sufficient enough to temporarily
disorient personnel in the room.

More Grenade Art

Ammo pouch with grenades Ammo pouch with grenades

Last updated: 05-SEP-2004

Copyright ©2004 Gary W. Cooke
To the best of my knowledge all military data and images presented in these pages are UNCLASSIFIED, NON-
SENSITIVE, and approved for public release.

Sources:
FM 3-06.11 Combined Arms Operations in Urban Terrain.
FM 3-23.30 Grenades and Pyrotechnic Signals, 2000.
TM 9-1330-200-12 Operator's and Maintenance Manual for Grenades.