The British Army used several signal grenades from their introduction in the 20th century.
The grenades were used to communicate information through pre-arranged combinations of coloured smoke and lights. Generally smoke was for daytime use and lights at night but some light producing grenades were suitable for daytime use. [1]
Used with rifle discharger clipped to front of rifle and propelled by blank cartridge with 30 grains of ballistite. [2] Signal grenades were fired holding the rifle at 70 degrees, the butt on the ground and the rifle trigger uppermost. [3] [a]
Rodded grenade type where a 15-inch long rod at base of grenade is inserted into the rifle [b] and fired from barrel with a blank cartridge of 43 grains cordite. [2] This was older method of firing grenades.
The British Army used several signal grenades from their introduction in the 20th century.
The grenades were used to communicate information through pre-arranged combinations of coloured smoke and lights. Generally smoke was for daytime use and lights at night but some light producing grenades were suitable for daytime use. [1]
Used with rifle discharger clipped to front of rifle and propelled by blank cartridge with 30 grains of ballistite. [2] Signal grenades were fired holding the rifle at 70 degrees, the butt on the ground and the rifle trigger uppermost. [3] [a]
Rodded grenade type where a 15-inch long rod at base of grenade is inserted into the rifle [b] and fired from barrel with a blank cartridge of 43 grains cordite. [2] This was older method of firing grenades.