| F1 grenade | |
|---|---|
| Type | Time-fused grenade |
| Place of origin | Australia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2006–present |
| Used by | Australia |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Thales Australia |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 375 g |
| Length | 96mm |
| Diameter | 58mm |
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| Filling | RDX |
| Filling weight | 62 g |
| Detonation mechanism |
Timed Fuse |
The F1 fragmentation hand grenade is manufactured by Thales Australia and is used by the Australian Defence Force replacing the M26 grenade. The F1 is a high explosive, anti-personnel grenade with a lethal radius of 6m, casualty radius of 15m and a safety radius of 30m.[1] The grenade weighs 375g and contains over 4000 2.4mm steel ball fragments with a fuse time of 4.5 to 5.5 seconds.[1] Thales Australia also manufactures an F3 practice grenade, being a non-fragmentation replica of the F1, which produces an audible output and white smoke to indicate functioning, and is used for training.[1]
A number of failures of the F1 grenades to detonate were reported in 2006 during combat operations in the Middle East. Later, in September 2007, the grenade was temporarily withdrawn from service after a civilian Defence employee was seriously injured in an accident at the Defence Proof and Experimental Establishment at Graytown, Victoria. Stocks of the M67 grenade were procured from the United States in the interim.[2] The grenade was returned to service in October 2007 after it was deemed technically sound.[3]