Grenade, Hand No. 7

History

Due to the limited nature of the No. 6 concussion grenade as an anti-infantry measure during the First World War (1914-1918), the No. 7 fragmentation grenade was developed. Both appeared in 1915 along with several other makeshift grenade solutions. Like many of these makeshift models, the No.

7 had a short lifespan as a front-line weapon. The British ran these programs to remove the limitations of their earlier Series 1 grenades.

#7 relies on a double shell design with an inner and outer layer. The inner part is filled with explosives, while the other is filled with metal shavings that fly around when the grenade detonates. The 7th line was heavier than the original 6th line, so the latter was preferred by the British infantry.

A timed, friction-based fuze mechanism was used to detonate the two shells. Although listed in 1915, the No. 6 and No. 7 shells were declared obsolete as early as late 1915. In any case, the existing stockpile lasted until about 1917, as all weapons were needed for war.

Grenade, Hand #7 Size

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