No. 15 ball grenade
| No. 15 "Ball Grenade" | |
|---|---|
| Type | Time-fused grenade |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1915 |
| Used by | United Kingdom |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1915 |
| Produced | 1915 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1 lb 11+1⁄2 oz (780 g)[1] |
| Diameter | 3 in (76 mm) diameter[1] |
| Filling | Ammonal[1] |
| Filling weight | 5+1⁄2 oz (160 g)[1] |
Detonation mechanism | Timed friction fuse |
The No. 15 ball grenade, also referred to as hand/catapult/spring gun, ball grenade, or by ANZACs as a cricket ball grenade was a grenade used by the British during World War I.[2]
Overview
The No. 15 was a cast iron grenade, with a flattened top with a hole for the fuse to be inserted.[3] This time-fused grenade was fragmented by internal grooves.[3] Originally these grenades contained gunpowder and later, ammonal.[4]
To light the grenade, the user had to remove a covering that was on the fuse, then strike an external Brock matchhead igniter against the fuse.[5]
There were two types of fuses available; the five-second and the nine-second. The former was intended for throwing, while the latter was intended for catapults.[5][6]
History
The No. 15 was one of the interim grenades created due to problems associated with the No. 1 grenade which was intended for use in frontline service in the Middle East Campaign.[7][6]
First introduced in July 1915, the No. 15 Grenade was used during the Battle of Loos and fighting in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I, Dardanelles.[8] The No. 15 was noted to be easily mass-produced. By August 1915, more than 200,000 No. 15s were created per week and by mid November 1915, 500,000.[8][4]
However the No. 15 did prove problematic, the explosive charge was too large, which created smaller-than-expected fragmentation when the grenade exploded. In addition, it was also considered too large to throw because of its 3-inch (76 mm) circumference.[9] These problems were remedied with the creation of the No. 16 'oval grenade'.
Battle of Loos
The No. 15 was first widely used in the Battle of Loos.[3] Tacticians envisioned that the No. 15 would be useful in breaching German defenses and trench clearing.[8] The No. 15 was used because production of the No. 5 "Mills bomb" was running seriously behind planned figures, and not enough of them could be supplied before the start of the Loos campaign.[9]
When the Battle for Loos started, the No. 15 was beset with problems, in particular the damp conditions encountered made the fuse almost useless.[9][3] It was estimated that approximately 18 out of 20 No. 15s failed to ignite due to inoperative fuses.[8][4]
On November 20, 1915, the No. 15 and its cousin, the No. 16, were withdrawn from France and were replaced with the No. 5 'Mills bomb'.[10]
Variants
No. 16 'oval grenade'
The No. 16 was essentially an improved version of the No. 15.[6] Instead of a ball shape, it had an oval shape. which proved easier to hold. It was also filled with less explosive charge.[4] The No. 16 was planned to completely replace the No. 15, but the defeat at Loos caused both models to be withdrawn from service, both displaying the same fuse issue.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d Ainsile, "Hand Grenades" p.17.
- ^ "Turkish 'Cricket ball' grenade fragments : Lone Pine, Gallipoli". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ a b c d "Grenade, hand/catapult/spring gun, No 15 (Cricket ball or Ball Grenade)". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ a b c d "WEAPONS OF WAR: Improvised & Emergency Grenades". www.keymilitary.com. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ a b "Rare Relic, British, WW1, No15 'cricket ball' Grenade, Inert - Sally Antiques". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ a b c "No. 15 Ball Grenade Fragmentation Hand Grenade". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ Saunders, Weapons of the Trench War, p.16.
- ^ a b c d Saunders, Weapons of the Trench War, p.24.
- ^ a b c d Saunders, Weapons of the Trench War, p.25.
- ^ Saunders, Weapons of the Trench War, p. 27.