Fragmentation grenade



A fragmentation grenade (commonly known as frag or frag grenade) is an anti-personnel weapon that is designed to disperse small projectiles or fragments on detonation. The body may be made of hard plastic or steel. The outer casing and/or a fragmentation matrix consisting of notched wire, preformed fragments (spherical or otherwise,) provide the projectiles. When the word grenade is used without specification, and context does not suggest otherwise, it is generally assumed to refer to a fragmentation grenade.

Grenades are normally either offensive or defensive, depending on the effective casualty radius. If this exceeds the distance at which a soldier can reasonably be expected to throw the grenade, he must do so from, or be able to get into, some form of cover. Mills bombs and the Soviet F1 are examples of defensive grenades.

The Dutch V40, Swiss HG 85 and US M67, are offensive grenades as they have an effective wounding radius of around 15 m and can easily be thrown further. Fragments may travel more than 200 m.