No. 20 Rifle Grenade

[IRC Kevin]

I'm looking at the No. 20 rifle grenade and its use in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31/7/17. Operational order mentions "cup attachments" to be carried by both bombers and rifle grenadiers as part of their kit. Does the version of the No. 20 grenade used with the cup attachment still have a 10" rod, or is the rod now completely redundant, or was it fitted with a shorter rod if the cup was in use? Rifle grenadiers carried six No. 20 grenades, ordinary bombers carried eight No. 23 grenades and every other soldier carried one No. 23 grenade, one rod and one cartridge in top pocket.

[TonyE]

The No.20 grenade would not be used with the cup attachment as it is too narrow in diameter and would not sit in the cup so there would be no point. It was a rodded grenade only.

In May 1917 the following memorandum was issued by 2nd Army Headsquarters:

Firing the No.20 grenade from the prone position.

Experiments have recently been carried out at the Second Army Grenade School as to the best method of firing the "Hales" No.20 Rifle Grenade for use in open warfare.

The No.23 "Mills" is generally recognised as being of no use in open warfare for use of Rifle Bombers in the 2nd line of the 1st wave owing to its limited range (90 yards) and danger of prematures. etc; therefore the No.20 has been generally adopted as the best type of Rifle Grenade at present in use.

It was found that the best method of firing, either in the open or from cover of shell holes, was from the lying position, with both elbows resting on the ground and left hand holding the magazine.

Advantages.

(1) A better line for direction can be obtained, as the eye is further from, and behind, the grenade.

(2) The firer has more cover from view.

(3) In the case of a premature explosion there is practically no danger of the firer being hit, owing to the fact that the grenade invariably bursts laterally.

In tests carried out, this position was found to be far better in every way than the kneeling position, and a far greater degree of accuracy was obtained.

Owing to the length of the rod (10 inches), it is practically impossible to fire the No.20 from the hip when standing, as the shock of discharge is too great.

A rough sketch is attached to illustrate the position.

Regards

TonyE

[IRC Kevin]

Thanks for this, Tony. I'm now wondering why bombers and rifle grenadiers were issued with the cup if it was only for the No. 23 grenade, which presumably the bombers would be throwing, as their prime method of delivery rather than firing, though one cup as opposed to many rods may be a sensible way of doing things if you only have a re-supply of 23 grenades, as separate items do have a nasty habit of getting lost in a confused situation! Presumably the issue was to allow flexibility of roll between grenadiers and bombers once the attack had progressed. Ammunition issues show that no No. 5 grenades were carried by any of the Battalion, with all Mills type being the No. 23 variant.

[TonyE]

If the rifle bombers were issued with both the No.20 and the No.23 then I suppose that they could have used the No.20 with the cup still fitted to the rifle. it would not had performed any function but I suppose neither would it have interferred with the use of the No.20.

Here is a picture of my rifle fitted with the cup and a No.23. I will take a picture later with a No.3 in place in the rifle (which has the same dimensions as the No. 20).

Regards

TonyE

[calibre792x57.y]

The whole point of using the No. 23 grenade was that it could be used as a Hand or Rifle grenade. In the latter role the base plug was fitted with a 5 1/2-inch or 6-inch rod and the rifle had the cup attachment whose purpose was to restrain the grenade safety lever when the safety pin was removed immediately prior to discharge. The attachment played no part in the discharge of the grenade. Indeed it could be fired simply by placing the safety lever so it rested against the rear edge of the bayonet blade. A blank cartridge was used to discharge the grenade which had a maximum range of either 80 or 90 yards depending on which rod was used. This was three times the normal range of a thrown Mills, now easily outranging the German stick bomb. The rodded patterns were rather more difficult to carry in any quantity and also suffered more from the effects of the wind on the trajectory, although of course they had much longer ranges. Generally rodded grenades were discharged from stands and fired by means of a lanyard, whereas the No.23 was used much as one would use a mortar in the offensive role with several grenadiers discharging their rifles together at close ranges. In the earliest production the 23 was considered a different tactical weapon to the hand grenade and the rods were sweated into the base plugs. The No.5 was kept in production and supplied for Hand use. Common sense prevailed and the rods were supplied separately so the bomb could be fitted with a rod when required for Rifle use and production of the No.5 was tailed off. Hence the ammuntion issues showed only the No. 23 Mills. -- SW

[IRC Kevin]

Thanks for the replies, chaps, you've cleared up my questions nicely.