The grenade has a percussion action of the "Always" type, is lightly constructed and has a T.N.T. bursting charge weighing approximately 2 1/2 oz.

The grenade has a cylindrical corrugated body of tinned plate coned at each end to pro-duce the movement of the needle and detonator necessary for "Always" action. The base cap of the body forms the cone at the base of the grenade and is secured by cor-rugations and an internal brass spring.

The needle pellet is in the form of a tinned plate cylinder carrying the needle and is fitted with a coned cap of brass at its outer end which bears against the coned end of the body. This cap contains T.N.T. and fine lead shot, apparently for weighting and destruc-tive effect. A perforated tube of aluminium, fitted to the pellet, surrounds the needle and extends from the inner face of the pellet. This tube fits over the detonator and bearing against a brass spiral spring in the centre tube of the magazine, is the means of keeping the needle off the cap of the detonator when the grenade is armed in flight.

The magazine consists of a tinned plate cylinder with central tube. The cylinder contains T.N.T. and is closed at the base, where it rests in the coned base cap of the body, by a perforated cap.

The detonator with its percussion cap is housed in the perforated tube of the needle pel-let within the centre tube of the magazine. Details of the initiator compositions used are not available, but that in the detonator is probably lead styphnate and P.E.T.N. and that in the cap is probably mercury fulminate, antimony sulphide and potassium chlorate.

A safety bar of tinned plate is inserted in the body of the grenade between the needle and the percussion cap of the detonator. The outer end of this bar is attached to the safety cover by a brass tape, which is wound round the grenade when the cover is fit-ted.

The safety cover is a perforated tinned plate cup which acts as a drogue for the removal of the safety bar when the grenade is in flight. The cover is fitted with a curved portion which fits to the body when the cover is fitted over the head of the grenade. The cover is secured by the safety strip passing through the body of the grenade and the curved portion of the cover. The safety strip is of brass and is fitted with a vulcanized rubber tab by means of which it is pulled out of the grenade by hand.

The grenade is painted red and the safety cover black. The base is stamped "BREDA".

To prepare the grenade for throwing, the safety strip is withdrawn by pulling the vulcani-zed rubber tab. The grenade is now ready but, if accidentally dropped, remains unarmed. During flight, the air acting on the safety cover removes it from the grenade, unwinding the brass tape and withdrawing the safety bar, which falls away, leaving the needle and cap of the detonator held apart by the sprial spring. The action on impact depends upon the position of the grenade. If it strikes has or base downwards the spiral spring is com-pressed by the momentum of magazine or needle pellet respectively and the needle pier-ces the cap. With side impact, the outer ends of the needle pellet and magazine move down the inclines of the coned ends of the body causing both members to move towards each other and the needle pierces the cap.

It is known that the Italians have had accidents with either grenades even though the safety bar was in position. The grenades should therefore be treated with caution.

Fig. 23 – Italian Hand Grenade