Gammon bomb
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| Grenade No. 82 "Gammon Bomb" | |||
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| Type | Grenade | ||
| Nationality | United Kingdom | ||
| Era | World War II | ||
| Platform | Individual | ||
| Target | Personnel, fortifications, and vehicles | ||
| History | |||
| Date of design | |||
| Production period | |||
| Service duration | May, 1943 - 1945 | ||
| Operators | United Kingdom | ||
| War service | World War II | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Type | Fillable plastic explosive | ||
| Filling | Typically composition C | ||
| Detonation | Impact or timed (4-7 seconds) | ||
| Weight | 340 g | ||
| Filling weight | Variable: up to 900 g | ||
| Length | N/A mm | ||
| Diameter | N/A mm | ||
| Variants | No. 82 Mk 1 | ||
| Number built | many thousands | ||
The Gammon bomb officially known as the No. 82 grenade was a British hand grenade used during World War II.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Designed by Capt. R.S. Gammon MC of the 1st Parachute Regiment, the Gammon bomb was developed as a replacement for the temperamental "sticky bomb" grenade. It consisted of an elasticized stockingette bag made of dark coloured material, a metal cap, and an 'Allways Fuse' (the same fuse as found in the No. 69 grenade).
Unlike conventional grenades, the Gammon bomb was flexible in the amount and type of munition that could be delivered to a target. For anti-personnel use, a small amount of plastic explosive (about half a stick), along with shrapnel-like projectiles if available, would be placed in the bag. Against armored fighting vehicles or other large targets, the bag could be filled completely with explosive. In this manner it was possible to make an unusually powerful grenade that could only be thrown safely from behind cover.
Using the Gammon bomb was very simple. After filling the stockingette bag with explosive, the screw-off cap was removed and discarded, and the grenade then thrown. When the Gammon grenade was thrown, a linen tape with a curved lead weight on the end automatically unwrapped in flight, freeing a ball-bearing inside the fuze. In this manner the allways fuze was armed in flight and the grenade exploded on impact.
Gammon bombs were primarily issued to special forces such as paratroopers who were issued plastic explosive routinely. These units found the Gammon bomb to be particularly useful due to their small size and weight when unfilled, as well as their adaptability.
Allways Fuse
An "Allways" fuze is an impact-only fuze. The term "Allways" refers to the fact that no matter which way the grenade lands (eg on its base, sideways or upside down) it will still explode.
[edit] References
- Ian V. Hogg - The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II - Arms & Armour Press - 1977 - ISBN 0-85368-281-X
[edit] External links
- The Grenade with Instant Fame
- Photo of assorted Gammon Bombs
- Sectioned No 69 grenade (same fuze as Gammon bomb)
- Gammon Bomb Reproductions
[edit] See also
| British Grenades of World War I & World War II |
|---|
| Anti-personnel |
| Grenade, No 1 Hales | No.s 5, 23, 36 Mills | No. 69 | No.s 8, 9 Double Cylinder Jam Tin |
| Anti-tank |
| No. 68 AT (Rifle) | No. 73 Thermos | No. 74 Sticky bomb | No. 75 AT Hawkins | |
| Special Types |
| No. 82 Gammon | No. 76 (WP) | No. 77 (WP) |
