Grenade
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Historically, a grenade was a small explosive charge that could be thrown by hand. The hand grenade still exists but has evolved, but there are also a number of grenades fired by specialized launchers.
The most common filler for a grenade is explosive, sometimes broken into "offensive grenades" that do not scatter metal fragments, and the more common "defensive grenade" (or grenade without qualifier) that has a blast and fragmentation effect. Other fillers include colored smoke for signaling, white phosphorus for incendiary and screening smoke effect, thermite for incediary effect, illumination, and tear gas.
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Hand grenade
Once past the early stages, there was considerable differentiation of grenade types and designs among nations. For example, the U.S. Army's general-purpose grenades increasingly were shaped more and more like a baseball, assuming that many soldiers could throw that shape accurately. Countries that do not have a sport like baseball often used a "potato masher" type with a cylindrical explosive charge with a concentric, throwing handle, which could get more distance than a ball-shaped grenade.
Most grenades have a short time fuze, activated when a safety ring is removed and a spring-loaded handle is allowed to fly off, which strikes a spark and ignites the fuse. Typical delays are 3-7 seconds after the handle springs free.
Historic
World War I
World War II
Modern
In addition to grenades intended for combat, the "flash-bang" is used for police hostage rescues, military special operations, etc. It disorients with an extremely bright light and loud noise, but rarely does more damage than a broken eardrum. The user can wear eye and ear protection.
Grenade launchers
Rifle grenade
Dedicated grenade launchers; individual weapons
The U.S. and many other countries use variants of 40mm grenades, fired from:
M79
A weapon carried much like a large shotgun or tear gas gun, the M79 breaks open at the breech to accept a single grenade. In addition to blast/fragmentation, smoke, white phosphorus, and illumination, it accepts a flechette made up of a bundle of darts for short-range antipersonel work. The other grenades must fly a minimum distance before they arm.
M203
The single-shot launcher attachment for M16 (rifle) or M4 (rifle); they mount under the barrel and fire the same 40mm grenade as the M79
Dedicated grenade launchers; crew-served or aircraft
Mark 19
A belt-fed full-automatic automatic grenade launcher, with versions that can be fired from a tripod, from a mount on a HMMWV or other vehicle, on river patrol boats, and helicopters.
Rocket propelled grenade
A hybrid weapon, generally called a rocket propelled grenade, is typified by the German Panzerfaust or Soviet RPG-7. These have a large warhead, really too large to be thrown by hand, that protrudes from the muzzle of a rocket launcher. The grenade is similar to early anti-tank grenades, in that it is a Munroe-effect shaped charge optimized for armor penetration. They have a range of a few hundred meters.
These weapons are inexpensive and extremely common. They can also be used against ground targets and, with some modifications, helicopters.
