The grenade may be used with the 50 mm grenade thrower, and differs from the hand grenade shown in Fig. 19 in having a slightly heavier body – 1 lb. 2 1/2 oz. compared with 1 lb. – and in being fitted with a propellant contai-ner which also carries the means of ignition.

The container consists of a mild steel cylinder 1.22 inches long and 1.02 inches in dia-meter which is screwed into a recess in the base of the grenade and has six radial per-forations for the escape of pressure. The container is closed at the base by a steel plug fitted with a percussion cap.

The filling of the container consists of an 11.75 grain igniter of gunpowder and a propel-lant charge of nitrocellulose flake. The rectangular flakes are a light yellow-green in co-lour with graphite distributed irregularly over the surface. The propellant contains over 95 per cent of nitrocellulose (nitrogen content 13 per cent) and is stabilized with diphe-nylamine.

The cap composition consists of mercury fulminate 32 per cent potassium chlorate 36 per cent and antimony sulphide 32 per cent.

With the safety pin removed before firing, the needle pellet is supported only by the heli-cal spring. On acceleration the pellet set back and the needle pierces the detonator. The susequent action is the same as that of the hand grenade.