No. 76 Special Incendiary Grenade
Encyclopedia : N : NO : NO7 : No. 76 Special Incendiary Grenade
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| No 76, Special Incendiary Phosphorus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | United Kingdom | ||
| Date of design | |||
| Service duration | |||
| Type | Incendiary | ||
| Filling | phosphorus, | ||
| Detonation | Impact | ||
| Weight | g | ||
| Filling weight | g | ||
| Length | mm | ||
| Diameter | mm | ||
| Variants | |||
| Number built | 6,000,000MacKenzie, 1995, p92: gives a figure of "more than 6,000,000 by August 1941". | ||
The No. 76 was an incendiary grenade based on white phosphorus used during World War II.
The design was the suggestion of the British firm of Albright and Wilson, phosphorus manufacturers at a time when the UK faced possible invasion by the Germans. As such it would be used by organised resistance units as part of a last ditch attempt.
It was a glass bottle filled with white phosphorus, benzene, a piece of rubber and water. Over time the rubber dissolved to create a sticky fluid which would self ignite when the bottle broke. The grenade could either be thrown by hand, or fired from the Northover projector; a simple mortar, a stronger container was needed for the latter and the two types were colour-coded. As any breakage of the flask would be dangerous, storage under water was recommended. Like the Sticky bomb it did not engender much confidence in its users.
Notes
References
- MacKenzie, S P. The Home Guard: A Military and Political History. Oxford University Press, 1995 ISBN 0198205775.
See also
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