Grenade

Overview

Grenades have taken on many forms throughout history. Generally, a grenade is propelled by either being thrown or launched from a device. Those that are thrown use a chemical time delay fuse. Launched grenades use centrifugal force to release retention springs away from the firing pin, which is then released just below the head of the grenade. Upon impact, the head is depressed onto the exposed firing pin which detonates the explosive.

Types of Common Grenades/Functions

• Frag Grenade: When the pin is pulled, the spoon is released which allows the striker pin to be forced downward by a spring. Upon impact, this creates a small spark which then burns through the chemical fuse in approximately four seconds. At the end of the fuse is a detonator which when ignited, sets off the bulk of the explosive material inside the grenade. This causes enough pressure to blow the grenade apart. The shell of the grenade splinters and is projected in all directions. Both the concussion wave and the shrapnel cause damage to nearby persons.
• Stun Grenade: Stun grenades, or flash bangs as they are sometimes called, create a very loud sound and flash of light that is designed to render enemies incapable of functioning temporarily. These devices cause temporary blindness and loss of hearing but do not cause physical damage to targets. They are often used when bystanders are present as well as in crowd control.
• Smoke Grenade: A smoke grenade uses a slow burning chemical reaction to create dense layers of smoke for a short amount of time. These are used to provide cover for infantry and signal aerial vehicles. Smoke screens are also used to interrupt the beam from a laser designator that guides in missiles to a target.
• Incendiary Grenade: An Incendiary grenade causes extreme heat by means of a chemical reaction. They are used to destroy weapon and ammo caches as well as equipment by melting or burning functioning parts. The Molotov cocktail is a common improvised incendiary grenade.
• Gas Grenade: These grenades can dispense a variety gases. Modern use of gas grenades are used in crowd control. These are used to create artificial gas walls that aid in directing crowds rather than dispersing them, contrary to popular belief.
• Sticky Grenade: Using methods ranging from glue, to sharp hooks, these grenades will stick to walls, vehicles, and hilariously, enemies. They can be low-tech improvised weapons made of axle grease and TNT, or advanced alien weaponry. Can be great in ambushes, and prevent enemies from lobbing them back.
• White phosphorous grenade: This grenade releases a white smoke that can burn everything who goes in, this grenade is a defensive and offensive grenade, it's a bit like a combination of a smoke and incendiary grenades into one weapon.
• Laughing gas grenade: Induces a fit of laughing in the target.
• Sleeping grenade: A type of game that can neutralize enemies without killing them or alerting other people.
• Sting Grenade: the sting grenade is a sort of non lethal fragmentation grenade, it's used to neutralize people without killing them, the fragment pellets instead of killing packs with a violent punch and the enemies hit by the pellets will be easier to arrest.
• EMP grenade: Used to neutralize electronic devices without blowing everything up and making a lot of noise.
• Holy grenade: this grenade exist in two variants, the worms version which screams Alleluia and blow everything violently, and the version with holy water used in games who features vampires.
• Concussion grenade: This grenade is an antipersonnel grenade that blow stuff up with only explosive power alone, these grenades are designed to not fragment and they are thinner than the frag grenades.
• Percussion grenade: Percussion grenades are classic frag grenades who detonates upon impact, these grenades are more dangerous than the other ones since their fuse are least safer than the timed ones.
• Plasma grenade: this grenade uses plasma as an explosive it's dangerous mostly against energy shields, and causes severe burns to against organic creatures.
• Nail Grenade: This grenade exists in two variants, a disk that spins and release a ton of nails, and the other who acts like a fragmentation grenade with nails instead of shrapnel.

History

While the first grenades as we know them today were only utilized until the late 18th century, other types of grenades go as far back as the Byzantine Empire of the Early to Middle Ages. These ancient grenades were often made of glass or ceramics and were often used to set fire to enemy ships or buildings. This design would later be adopted by both Muslim and Chinese Armies who used them to great affect in their various wars. The Chinese adopted them to such an extent that they created a dedicated manual on the types of recipes that a soldier could use to make grenades in the field.