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No 80 WP Smoke Grenade

roller63

roller63

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Here are four inert British No 80 WP bursting smoke grenades. From left to right, light brunswick green dated 8/45, white drill dated 8/67, eau de nil green, Inert Instruct, dated 4/73 and oxford blue drill dated 5/86. The three newest dated ones are all made by the manufacturer "BS" I'm sure someone will know who this is. All the grenades are marked Mk 1, I do not think the design changed over time. I am not sure exactly when this grenade was introduced, but it was still on issue for the first Gulf War in 1991.
Note the No 75 drill detonator assembly in front of the 1967 dated example. Tony.
MVC_427S.JPG
 
Ive been interested in buying one of these that I have been offered lately (before my bad news) I was reading a book about how some british soldiers lost some of their cromwell tanks to two tigers and managed to knock both tigers out with these grenades ,how would they have done this with these ?
Cheers DAZ
 
Hi Daz

I do not know what the danger radius of these grenades would have been, but I do know that they were often used in an anit-personnel role becaused of the burning phosphorus effects (pretty nasty stuff!). Not only does it create thick white smoke, it burns fiercly, is hard to put out, gives off nasty fumes and sticks to most surfaces. If you could get one inside a tank, it wouldn't be a nice place to be.

It was often suggested that WP Grenades could be used against armoured vehicles if you could get the phosphorus near an air intake or vent.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Tony
 
This is the most info on the No.80 I've seen in one place. If it's not too much trouble, could some lucky owner please post the dimensions of this grenade? The drawings available online are conflicted; Varying heights are stated and the diameter is often excluded. Many thanks.
 
Hi Merlin, I would be more than happy to measure a No 80 for you and post the diamensions. This will take a few days as I have been on holiday for a week and will not be where my collection is until monday. Regards, Tony.
 
I have measured my No 80 grens and found hardly any variation in size. The filled weight of a live or in this case inert filled grenade is 1.25 lbs or 580 grams. The height including striker mech/fuse is 5.5 inches, and 4.5 inches without. The diameter of the body is 2.5 inches. Hope this helps, Tony.
 
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Thank you very much for the dimensions. It is a tremendous help. I am working on a replica since it's so difficult to get that sort of item imported to the US right now.
 
just found this may interest you both...

Striker Mechanisms Nos. 2 and 3

These striker mechanisms, very similar to those used in American grenades, are used in certain smoke grenades. The No. 2 is for Grenade No. 80 and No. 3 for the Nos. 81 and 83 grenades.

The adapter of zinc base alloy, is threaded externally to fit the grenades and internally to take the housing, also of zinc base alloy. Between the two lugs of the housing is a hinge pin which carries the helical striker spring and the striker. In the cocked position, the striker is held down by the safety pin, which also secures the fly‑off lever. This latter, of pressed steel, is turned over at its end to fit over the flange on the housing and has two sets of lugs which lie on either side of the housing, one set having the safety pin passed through them.

The mechanisms differ from each other only in the contour of the fly‑off lever, the shape being adjusted to allow the lever to fit closely against the grenade body. They are distinguished by the No. 2 being zinc plated, while the No. 3 is rustproofed black.

The detonator used is carried between the housing and the adapter and projects below the latter into the body of the grenade.

In use, the safety pin is withdrawn, the hand holding the fly‑off lever against the body of the grenade. On throwing, the striker, under the influence of the striker spring, throws the fly‑off lever clear and swings over to strike the cap of the detonator.
 

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No.80 grenade

No.80 grenade entered service in 1943 and I believe the last ones stored were destroyed in 2002 after being obsolescent for a number of years.
 
That brings up memories, in 1982 I was part of a team that disposed of Canada's stock of No. 80 grenades as they were starting to leak en mass.
 
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