The M9 rifle grenade was an American anti-tankrifle grenade used during World War II. It was derived as a lighter version of the M10 grenade which was too heavy to be fired to an effective distance from a rifle. (The M10 evolved into a rocket-propelled munition known as the bazooka.)
Towards the end of the Second World War, its limited effect against heavy German tanks became noticed. This became apparent when US forces engaged T-34 tanks in the Korean War. It was replaced in the anti-tank role by the M28, an American version of the Energa rifle grenade, which was itself replaced several years later by the M31 HEAT rifle grenade.
It was adopted by the British as the No. 85 grenade in 1944,[2] and was similarly superseded by the Energa in British service too during the 1950s. This new munition in the Commonwealth armoury required adapted discharger cartridges, which were made in the UK, Canada, Australia, India and Pakistan.[2]
The antitank grenade, M9A1, has a sheet steel body and tail assembly and weighs 1.23 pounds [560 g]. The body is filled with 4 ounces [110 g] of Pentolite using the “hollow charge” principle. The tail contains the impact fuze and the stabilizing fin is spot welded on a stabilizer tube screwed to the head. The impact fuze consists of a firing pin held by a spring in flight. When shipped, the firing pin is retained by a safety pin. When the grenade strikes a target the pin moves forward to activate the detonator and explode the charge. The hollow shaped charge of this grenade has remarkable armor-penetrating qualities, The M9Al anti-tank rifle grenade supersedes the grenade, A.T., M9."
WAR DEPARTMENT, INFANTRY FIELD MANUAL § WEAPON AND AMMUNITION TECHNICAL MANUAL, INFANTRY REGIMENT, PARACHUTE, June 1944, Page 43
References
^Ian V Hogg (20 August 2013). The American Arsenal: The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalogue. Frontline Books. p. 329. ISBN978-1-47389-703-8.
^ ab"British Military Small Arms Ammo - rifle grenade discharger cartridges". Retrieved 24 April 2017.
^Rottman, Gordon L. (10 February 2009). North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75. Warrior 135. Osprey Publishing. pp. 28–29. ISBN9781846033711.
External links
U.S. Explosive Ordnance (Vol. 2); Part 4 - Grenades
US Marine Corps Guidebook 1951 - Rifle Grenades
January 22, 2023
rifle, grenade, american, anti, tank, rifle, grenade, used, during, world, derived, lighter, version, grenade, which, heavy, fired, effective, distance, from, rifle, evolved, into, rocket, propelled, munition, known, bazooka, m9an, grenade, grenade, launching,. The M9 rifle grenade was an American anti tank rifle grenade used during World War II It was derived as a lighter version of the M10 grenade which was too heavy to be fired to an effective distance from a rifle The M10 evolved into a rocket propelled munition known as the bazooka M9An M9 grenade on an M7 grenade launching adapterTypeRifle GrenadePlace of originUnited StatesService historyUsed byUnited StatesAustraliaCanadaIndiaPakistanUnited KingdomChinaNorth VietnamProduction historyProducedJanuary 1942 July 1945No builtApproximately 26 876 000VariantsM9A1 Type 64SpecificationsMass590 grams 1 Length284 mmDiameter48 mmFillingPentoliteFilling weight113 gramsM9 rifle grenade being launched from an M1 Garand Towards the end of the Second World War its limited effect against heavy German tanks became noticed This became apparent when US forces engaged T 34 tanks in the Korean War It was replaced in the anti tank role by the M28 an American version of the Energa rifle grenade which was itself replaced several years later by the M31 HEAT rifle grenade It was adopted by the British as the No 85 grenade in 1944 2 and was similarly superseded by the Energa in British service too during the 1950s This new munition in the Commonwealth armoury required adapted discharger cartridges which were made in the UK Canada Australia India and Pakistan 2 China adopted a copy of the M9A1 rifle grenade as Type 64 It was used by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War being fired from AT 44 grenade launchers fitted on M44 Mosin Nagant carbines 3 Description Edit GRENADE ANTITANK M9Al STANDARD The antitank grenade M9A1 has a sheet steel body and tail assembly and weighs 1 23 pounds 560 g The body is filled with 4 ounces 110 g of Pentolite using the hollow charge principle The tail contains the impact fuze and the stabilizing fin is spot welded on a stabilizer tube screwed to the head The impact fuze consists of a firing pin held by a spring in flight When shipped the firing pin is retained by a safety pin When the grenade strikes a target the pin moves forward to activate the detonator and explode the charge The hollow shaped charge of this grenade has remarkable armor penetrating qualities The M9Al anti tank rifle grenade supersedes the grenade A T M9 WAR DEPARTMENT INFANTRY FIELD MANUAL WEAPON AND AMMUNITION TECHNICAL MANUAL INFANTRY REGIMENT PARACHUTE June 1944 Page 43References Edit Ian V Hogg 20 August 2013 The American Arsenal The World War II Official Standard Ordnance Catalogue Frontline Books p 329 ISBN 978 1 47389 703 8 a b British Military Small Arms Ammo rifle grenade discharger cartridges Retrieved 24 April 2017 Rottman Gordon L 10 February 2009 North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958 75 Warrior 135 Osprey Publishing pp 28 29 ISBN 9781846033711 External links EditU S Explosive Ordnance Vol 2 Part 4 Grenades US Marine Corps Guidebook 1951 Rifle Grenades Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M9 rifle grenade amp oldid 1066382506, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
