F1 grenade (Australia)
| F1 grenade | |
|---|---|
 Australian soldier lobbing a grenade during RIMPAC Exercise 2014. | |
| Type | Time-fused grenade |
| Place of origin | Australia |
| Service history | |
| In service | Late 1990s – Present |
| Used by | Australia |
| Wars |
Iraq War War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Thales Australia |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 375 g |
| Length | 96mm |
| Diameter | 58mm |
|
| |
| Filling | RDX (phlegmatized with paraffin wax) |
| 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.
History
The F1 grenade replaced the M26 grenade in Australian service in the late 1990s.[1] It is a high explosive, anti-personnel grenade with a lethal radius of 6 metres (6.6 yd), casualty radius of 15 metres (16 yd) and a safety radius of 30 metres (33 yd).[2] The grenade weighs 375g and contains over 4000 2.4 mm steel ball fragments arranged to achieve uniform distribution of lethal fragments through 360° upon functioning. It has a fuse time of 4.5 to 5.5 seconds.[2] Thales Australia also manufactures an F3 practice grenade, being a non-fragmentation replica of the F1 used for training, incorporates a high impact aluminium die cast body and hazard band with a distinctive appearance. The F3 practice hand grenade has a replaceable pyrotechnic fuze that displays an audible output and a distinct cloud of white smoke visible to 200 metres (220 yd) to indicate functioning.[2]
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 Later, in September 2007, the grenade was temporarily withdrawn from service after a civilian Defence employee was seriously injured in an accident at the Defence Proof and Experimental Establishment at Graytown, Victoria.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.[3] The grenade was returned to service in October 2007 after it was deemed technically sound.[4]
In 2013 it was announced that Thales in partnership with German company Diehl will develop an insensitive munitions variant.[5]
Notes
- ↑ Dennis et al 2008, p. 247.
- 1 2 3 "Hand Grenades: Ordnance-designed for operational effectiveness" (PDF). Thales Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011.
- ↑ "F1 Grenade Safety" (Press release). Department of Defence. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ↑ "F1 Grenade Released Back Into ADF Service" (Press release). Department of Defence. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ↑ "Australian Munitions and Diehl to develop new hand grenade". Australian Defence Magazine. 13 September 2013.
References
- Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Bou, Jean (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195517849.