Bombs Grenades

See Ref 60a, p B26-L) which required only one man and could be fired in a manner similar to an ordinary rifle. Germans also used during WWII shells, bombs, grenades, and rockets with shaped charges. They are described, together with drawings in Refs 31a 52... 

Nonsmokeless Powder. Composition is not given. Used by the Army as a Main Charge in 20-mm Machine Gun Ammo, as an ejector chge in 70-mm Mortar Shells, Shrapnel Shells Pyrotechnics in Delays, Relays Igniters for Bomb Projectile Fuzes and as a Substitute Charge for some Bombs, Grenades and Projectiles (Ref 1, p 27 Ref 5, p 366)... 

White Phosphorus (WP) (Hakurin). It was used as an Incendiary and in Incendiary Mixtures in Bombs, Grenades and Projectiles, described here under Incendiaries and in Refs 2 3, WP was also used in Smoke Compositions as described here under Smoke Producing Materials, items d, e, h and in Refs 2 3... 

Historical. Until about the middle of the 19th century, Black Powder (BkPdr)(See Vol 2 of Encycl, pp B165-R to B179-R) was the only explosive known and it was used not only for commercial, but also for military purposes, both as a propellant and as a bursting charge for filling bombs, grenades and artillery shells... 

Ever since the invention of NC and NG, attempts were made to apply them either by themselves or in mixtures for military purposes. Under the term uses for military purposes may be understood propellants in rifle, cannon, rocket and pyrotechnic ammunition booster and bursting charges in bombs, grenades, mines (land and sea), artillery projectiles, warheads of torpedoes and of rockets, etc military blasting operations, military cratering, military demolition, military excavation and production of antitank ditches... 

This Encyclopedia is intended to cover the following items a)Military and industrial explosives, explosive compositions, propellants and pyrotechnic compositions b)Explosives and explosive compositions which have not been used for military or industrial purposes c)Analytical procedures for the more common explosives, propellants and pyrotechnic compositions d)Compounds which deflagrate or may possibly explode because of the presence of plosophoric groups e)Ammunition items, such as projectiles, bombs, grenades, detonators, fuzes, etc fJCalibers of weapons and projectiles used in the US and foreign countries g) Brief definitions of ordnance terms h)Names of scientists who made important contributions in the fields of explosives, ammunition and weapons... 

One current compn consists of AP 43, Na nitrate 32, TNT 15 and A1 powder 10%. Although originally invented for industrial use, many expls of this type have been used for military purposes, such as in demolition charges, and as the main Eller for bombs, grenades, mortar shells, and land and sea mines (Ref 4). See also under Perchlorate Cheddites in Vol 2, Cl 59... 

Bombard (verb). To attack, formerly with bombards, now with any weapons hurling expl shells, bombs, grenades or rockets. Also to subject(a body) to the impingement of small particles or rays Ref Merriam-Webster s(195l),305... 

Bursting Churge(Main Charge). An explosive charge(filler) in a shell, bomb, grenade, rocket, torpedo, land mine or sea mine that breaks the... 

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