No 2 grenade
Encyclopedia
The No 2 grenade is a percussion cap
fragmentation
and rifle grenade
used by the United Kingdom
during World War I
.
and was produced by Cotton Power Company under contract from the Mexican government. France also purchased some as a rifle grenade. The United States
also tested the No 2 as a potential grenade, but it was not adopted.
When World War I
broke out, it soon became obvious that the standard British grenade, the No 1 Grenade
, could not be produced fast enough to meet with demand. To help meet supply, the British government purchased all of the No 2 grenades made by the Cotton Powder Company.
Later on, the No 2's explosive was changed to Tonite
so that it could accept more common detonators. It is unknown if this actually increased supply.
The grenade was officially declared obsolete in 1920, but it is likely that the No 2 stopped being used by British forces in 1916.
, while the 8mm model is designed to be used in the Lebel Rifle
. The only difference between the models is that the 7mm Model has a clip attached to it to make it properly fit the M95, while the 8mm model doesn't.
The 7mm variant was used by the British as a temporary rifle grenade until others, such as the Hales rifle grenade
, were developed.
. Instead of a handle, the aerial bomb variant of the No 2 has only a cloth streamer.
Percussion cap
The percussion cap, introduced around 1830, was the crucial invention that enabled muzzleloading firearms to fire reliably in any weather.Before this development, firearms used flintlock ignition systems which produced flint-on-steel sparks to ignite a pan of priming powder and thereby fire the...
fragmentation
Fragmentation grenade
A fragmentation grenade is an anti-personnel weapon that is designed to disperse shrapnel upon exploding. The body is made of hard plastic or steel. Flechettes, notched wire, ball bearings or the case itself provide the fragments...
and rifle grenade
Rifle grenade
A rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
used by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Operation
To use the grenade, the user has to insert the detonator, pull out the safety pin, then throw it. Streamers on the grenade are designed to stabilze the grenade's flight so that it always lands head-first.Adoption
The No 2 was created by Marten Hale in 1907. It was first used in the Mexican RevolutionMexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
and was produced by Cotton Power Company under contract from the Mexican government. France also purchased some as a rifle grenade. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
also tested the No 2 as a potential grenade, but it was not adopted.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, it soon became obvious that the standard British grenade, the No 1 Grenade
No 1 Grenade
The Grenade, Hand No 1 was the first British hand grenade used in World War I.-Overview:The Grenade No 1 was designed in the Royal Laboratory and is based on reports of Japanese hand grenades during the Russo-Japanese War by General Sir Aylmer Haldane, who was a British observer of the...
, could not be produced fast enough to meet with demand. To help meet supply, the British government purchased all of the No 2 grenades made by the Cotton Powder Company.
Supply
However, like the No 1, the No 2 required a special detonator that was similar to the one used in the No 1. This made it even more difficult to get adequate supplies of the No 2 to the troops and further tied up supplies. Arguably, the No 2 made the grenade problem worse for the British, as there had to be separate detonators for the No 1 and No 2 that could only be made by a small group of firms.Later on, the No 2's explosive was changed to Tonite
Tonite (explosive)
Tonite is an explosive sometimes used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It consists of a mixture of equal weights of barium nitrate and guncotton.According to "Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise" by P...
so that it could accept more common detonators. It is unknown if this actually increased supply.
The grenade was officially declared obsolete in 1920, but it is likely that the No 2 stopped being used by British forces in 1916.
Mk I and II
There were two variants of the No 2 created, the Mk I and Mk II. The Mk I has a 16-inch long handle and one cloth streamer, while the Mk II has a 7-inch long handle and multiple cloth streamers.Rifle Grenade
The Rifle Grenade variant of the No 2 comes in two forms, 7mm and 8mm. The 7mm model was produced for Mexico and is designed to fit into the M95 Mauser rifle used by the Mexican ArmyMexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
, while the 8mm model is designed to be used in the Lebel Rifle
Lebel Model 1886 rifle
The Lebel Model 1886 rifle is also known as the "Fusil Mle 1886 M93", after a bolt modification was added in 1893. It is an 8mm bolt action infantry rifle which entered service in the French Army in April 1887...
. The only difference between the models is that the 7mm Model has a clip attached to it to make it properly fit the M95, while the 8mm model doesn't.
The 7mm variant was used by the British as a temporary rifle grenade until others, such as the Hales rifle grenade
Hales rifle grenade
The Hales Rifle Grenade is the name for several rifle grenade used by British forces during World War I. All of these are based on the No 3 design.-Operation:...
, were developed.
Aerial Bomb
A modified version of the No 2 was used as a weapon by the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. Instead of a handle, the aerial bomb variant of the No 2 has only a cloth streamer.