V40 Mini-Grenade
Encyclopedia
The V40 fragmentation
grenade
was manufactured in the Netherlands
, and was in service in the Canadian Forces
and the US Armed Forces
The V40 grenade is spherical in shape, 6.5 cm (2.5 in) high, and 4 cm ( 1.5 in) in diameter - approximately the size of a golf-ball. It has a safety pin and safety lever with a safety clip attached to the safety lever.
The steel body of the grenade has 326 squares pressed into its inside face to produce
separate fragments when the explosive fill is detonated. The V40 weighed 136 g (4.8 oz) and was issued primed from the manufacturer. Fuze
delay time was four seconds.
This grenade was considered lethal up to a radius of 5 metres (5.5 yards) and dangerous up to 300 m (325 yd) from point of impact. It was commonly referred to as the Mini-Frag
Due to its small size, a considerable number could be carried; but small size also made the weapon dangerous when wearing gloves, as the impact of the striker on the primer
was difficult to feel. These grenades where in service from the late 1960's to at least 2008.
Fragmentation (weaponry)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
was manufactured in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and was in service in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and the US Armed Forces
The V40 grenade is spherical in shape, 6.5 cm (2.5 in) high, and 4 cm ( 1.5 in) in diameter - approximately the size of a golf-ball. It has a safety pin and safety lever with a safety clip attached to the safety lever.
The steel body of the grenade has 326 squares pressed into its inside face to produce
separate fragments when the explosive fill is detonated. The V40 weighed 136 g (4.8 oz) and was issued primed from the manufacturer. Fuze
Fuse (explosives)
In an explosive, pyrotechnic device or military munition, a fuse is the part of the device that initiates function. In common usage, the word fuse is used indiscriminately...
delay time was four seconds.
This grenade was considered lethal up to a radius of 5 metres (5.5 yards) and dangerous up to 300 m (325 yd) from point of impact. It was commonly referred to as the Mini-Frag
Due to its small size, a considerable number could be carried; but small size also made the weapon dangerous when wearing gloves, as the impact of the striker on the primer
Percussion cap
The percussion cap, introduced around 1830, was the crucial invention that enabled muzzleloading firearms to fire reliably in any weather.Before this development, firearms used flintlock ignition systems which produced flint-on-steel sparks to ignite a pan of priming powder and thereby fire the...
was difficult to feel. These grenades where in service from the late 1960's to at least 2008.