Jam Tin Grenade

Infobox Weapon|is_explosive=yes
name= Double-Cylinder Grenade


caption=
origin=flagcountry|United Kingdom
design_date=
service=1915 -
type=Hand grenade
filling=Ammonal + Steel fragments
detonation=Timed Friction Fuse
number=
weight=
fill_weight =
length=
diameter=
variants= No 8 'Light', No 9 'Heavy'|

The Double Cylinder, No 8 and No 9 hand grenades were early designs used by the British Army in World War I.

Overview

The Jam-Tin (or Double Cylinder) was one of the many grenades designed for British use in the early part of the First World War in response to the failings of the No 1 grenade.

The grenade was an inner can of explosive with an outer can of metal fragments or ball bearings. The heavy pattern No 9 grenade contained more HE and more shrapnel.

The fuse was ignited by a friction device or a cigarette.

Initially when demand for grenades was at its greatest, engineers were encouraged to improvise their own grenades from the tins containing the soldier's ration of jam, hence the name. Incidents with the improvised form and the supply of superior grenades led to official withdrawal of the design.

References

*cite journal
quotes= no
last= Wintirngham
first= Tom
authorlink= Tom Wintringham
year= 1940
month= 2 March
title= Shells and Grenades
journal= Picture Post

External links

* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/grenades.htm Weapons of War: Grenades]
* [http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/thegreatwar/articles/factsandfigures/handgrenades.htm British Hand Grenades On The Western Front In The Great War]

ee also