The US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal has announced that a new offensive hand grenade, the M111, has received full release.
In development since at least 2020, this new grenade maximises blast effects while producing minimal fragmentation. It is designed for use in confined spaces such as room clearing in urban combat, trenches, buildings, and caves. Unlike the M67 fragmentation grenade, the M111 reduces the risk of unintended casualties from shrapnel passing through walls or impacting unprotected friendly soldiers who may find themselves in the “kill area”.
The previous “blast” grenade in US use is the Mk21 Mod 0 Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (SOHG). It has the added feature of allowing grenades to be linked together to provide greater explosive power when required.
Russian forces have frequently used their own RGN offensive grenade in tactical combat. The experiences in the Russo-Ukraine war have emphasised the need for and advantages of the offensive grenade. With limited availability of production-issued grenades, Ukrainian soldiers have been improvising their own offensive versions, often using soft drink cans.
The offensive grenade can be used closer to the thrower with minimal risk of self-injury. These grenades also generate very high over-pressure, which can cause disabling effects even on an enemy behind cover that would deflect fragments of a grenade like the M67. The M67 was designed to be thrown by a soldier from within a trench or foxhole against an attacking enemy in the open.
The M111 measures 110 mm in length and 59 mm in diameter, weighing 670 grams. It uses the same M213 pyrotechnic fuse and safety lever as the M67, so its operation will be identical. Consequently, soldiers will be able to use the M111 with minimal difficulty. The body is made of plastic with a filler of RDX Composition A-2 high explosive and aluminium powder. Day & Zimmermann, Inc. is manufacturing the M111. The OHR now has Full Material Release, and it is expected to be available for combat issue as it reaches the field.
by Stephen W. Miller
