Table of Contents
Did they have rifle grenades in ww1?
The practice of projecting grenades with rifle-mounted launchers was first widely used during World War I and World War II and continues to the present, with the term “rifle grenade” now encompassing many different types of payloads including high explosive, fragmentation, and anti-tank warheads as well as concussion.
What rifles did the British use in ww1?
The standard British rifle was the Short Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle Mk III. It had a maximum range of 2,280 metres, but an effective killing range of 550. A well-trained infantryman could fire 15 rounds a minute. In August 1914, the Germans mistook the speed and precision of the British rifle fire for machine guns.
What was the standard issue rifle in ww2?
The M1 Garand
The M1 Garand was the first standard-issue semi-automatic rifle, and General George S. Patton called it “the greatest battle implement ever devised”. In 1936, the Garand officially replaced the M1903 Springfield, becoming the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces.
How were British and German grenades different?
The Germans tended to prefer the stick bomb, which could be thrown farther but had a smaller explosive charge. The British and Canadians used egg-shaped hand grenades, which could be thrown about 30 metres (10 metres fewer than the German sticks), but carried a larger explosive charge.
How were grenades used in ww1?
In World War I, hand grenades were also known as “hand bombs.” The general philosophy for their use in the fighting armies was that grenades could kill the enemy underground or behind cover. Offensive grenades used concussion, or shock-waves, to wound, while defensive grenades exploded, scattering shell fragments.
What was the standard issue rifle in ww1?
Lee–Enfield Mk III Rifle
In terms of weaponry, by 1914 all European armies had a magazine-fed bolt action rifle. The British Army had the Short Magazine Lee–Enfield Mk III Rifle more commonly known as the SMLE; it was the standard infantry rifle in the First World War and would be for much of the Second World War.
How did grenades work in ww1?
When were grenades used in ww2?
Replacing the failed Mk 1 grenade of 1917, it was standardized in 1920 as the Mk II, and redesignated the Mk 2 on April 2, 1945….
| Mk 2 Grenade | |
|---|---|
| Designed | 1918 |
| Produced | 1918–1950s |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | About 1 lb 5 oz (600 g) depending upon filling |
How far could a ww1 rifle fire?
In terms of range, the average during the war was around 1,400 metres, although accuracy could only be guaranteed at around 600 metres.
How effective were hand grenades in WW1?
Hand grenades, also known as bombs, were widely and effectively used during the war. Early on, the designs were fairly basic. Ralph Cooney was trained in the use of so-called ‘cricket ball’ grenades in 1915. It was quite elementary because the bomb had only been recently introduced into the service in the war.
What rifle did they use in WW1?
The standard British service rifle during the First World War was the Short Lee Enfield. Harry Smith of the Norfolk Regiment learned how to use one during his training in Britain in 1915. You’d either go down as a firing party or as a marking squad and you’d be in the butts.
How do rifle grenades work?
When in reality it is the small metal shards that do the damage. These sorts of grenades played a major role in World War I and many wars to follow. The concept of a rifle grenade is simple. It is made up of a special grenade with a simple steel rod attached to the bottom of it.
How many machine guns were there in WW1?
There were very few machine-guns – there were only two in a battalion and they were not even taught at Sandhurst. There were no mortars or grenades and we were given very little training in the use of other arms. The standard British service rifle during the First World War was the Short Lee Enfield.