M61 grenade
Encyclopedia
Description
The M26 is a fragmentation grenade developed by the United States military. Its distinct lemon shape led it to being nicknamed the "lemon grenade".Fragmentation is caused by a special fragmentation coil that lies between the outer layer and explosive filling. The coil is designed so that fragmentation will not exceed a radius of 15m, allowing for a more controlled blast that is less likely to injure the thrower than previous designs.
Use
To use the grenade, one must first pull the safety pin while holding down the safety lever (spoon). As long as the spoon is held in place, the grenade is not armed. It is armed only when the spoon is released, allowing the firing pin to strike the primer and ignite the 4- to 5-second fuse. (Fuses may burn at slightly different speeds.)For the M61, an extra safety clip must also be removed before the grenade is thrown. This feature was added after reports of unplanned detonations when the safety pin snagged on underbrush, particularly in the forests of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
Origins
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it became clear that there were faults with the Mk 2 grenade
Mk 2 grenade
The Mk 2 defensive hand grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the U.S. armed forces during World War II and in later conflicts including the Vietnam War. The Mk II was standardized in 1920 replacing the Mk I of 1917. It was phased out gradually, the U.S. Navy being the last users...
American forces used: it created uneven fragmentation upon explosion, the fragments tended to go past the intended range, and the fuse caused smoke or sparks to come out of the grenade, which alerted the intended target.
The M26 emerges
The M26 was developed as a result of the studies on the Mk 2. Unlike its previous counterpart, its fragmentation does not exceed a radius 15 m and its fuse creates no tell-tale smoke or sparks.Use
The M26 series was the primary fragmentation grenade used by American forces in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
M26A2
The M26A2 is an M26A2 modified to accept an impact fuzeFuze
Fuze Beverage, commercially referred to as just Fuze , is a manufacturer of teas and non-carbonated fruit drinks enriched with vitamins. Currently the brand consists of five vitamin-infused lines: Slenderize, Refresh, Tea, Defensify, and Vitalize...
. It is slightly fatter than the M26A1.
