M67 grenade

Infobox Weapon


caption=The M67 fragmentation grenade
name=M67
origin=flag|United States
type=Hand grenade
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=1
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
service= Current
used_by= United States, Canada
wars=
designer=
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number=
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weight=14 ounces (397 g)
length=
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crew=
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max_range=
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diameter=2.5 inches (50.8 mm)
filling=Composition B
filling_weight=6.5 ounces (184 g)
detonation=Pyrotechnic delay fuse - 4 seconds
yield=

The M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the US armed forces and Canadian forces - where it is referred to as the C13. The M67 is a replacement for the M61 grenade used during Vietnam and the older MK2 "pineapple" grenade used since World War II.

Description

The M67 can be thrown about 40 meters by the average soldier. It has a 4.2 second fuse that ignites explosives packed inside a round body. Shrapnel is provided by the grenade casing and produces a casualty radius of 15 meters, with a fatality radius of 5 meters, though some fragments can disperse as far out as 230 meters. Its effectiveness is not just its blast radius, which measures approximately 45 feet (13.7 m), but shrapnel that embeds itself into objects and people up to 700 feet (213 m) away from the blast. [ [http://cordover.blogspot.com/2007/06/thoughts-on-foiled-london-plot.html "Cafe Cordover"] ]

Four steps must be taken to activate the grenade:

First the user adopts the "throwing position", feet spread apart with the grenade held squarely in the user's abdomen area.

Second, the user removes the safety clip from the grenade (many troops on deployments will remove the clip before hand).

Third, the user places his non-dominant index finger in the pin of the grenade while maintaining a firm grasp on the body of the grenade and safety lever with the dominant hand so when the user does pull the pin, the lever doesn't automatically fly off and ignite the fuse. At this point if the pin is accidentally pulled, the pin can be reinserted as long as the user maintains a grasp on the safety lever.

Fourth, the user firmly pulls the grenade away from the pin, ensures that the lever is still intact, and heaves the grenade at the intended target. The user then yells "frag out" to warn others of the outgoing grenade, and then takes cover from the blast. Yelling "grenade" is a warning of an incoming grenade thrown by the enemy.

As an added safety measure, the pin of a live grenade is bent so it prevents an accidental removal. When the pin is pulled, the user must pull hard enough to straighten the pin as it comes out. The pin is small and made of a relatively soft metal, so it isn't difficult in the heat of combat.

When the grenade is thrown, tossed or dropped, the safety lever (which is under spring tension but held in place by the pin) flies off. This action frees a spring-loaded firing pin which snaps over onto a percussion cap, lighting the time delay fuze which is followed a few seconds later by detonation.

External links

* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m67.htm M67 Grenade Fact Sheet]
* [http://inert-ord.net/usa03a/usa3/m67/index.html Additional photos of M67]
* [http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=98 Canadian Forces C13 info page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHEP0IBAaI Video #1 of M67 fragmentation grenade]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cub1if-JvsE&NR Video #2 of M67 fragmentation grenade]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGiHGFLftp4&mode=related&search= Video #3 of M67 fragmentation grenade]

Notes

ee also

*United States hand grenades