Anti-Tank M9 and M9A1

Length, inches

11.24

Diameter, inches

Color

Weight, pounds

TNT filling, ounces

4

Description: Anti-Tank Grenade M9A1 consists of a body, a stabilizer assembly, and a fin. The body is cylindrical, the two pieces joined in the middle with roundes ends. The stabilizer is a hollow tube which screws into the base of the body and fits over the laun-cher; it also carries a shoud fin assembly which aids in stabilizing the flight of the grena-de. The body is made of cast steel.

The impact fuze, which consists of a striker held away from a detonator by a creep spring and safety pin, is assembled integrally with the stabilizer assembly. The safety pin projects through the fuze body and clamps around the stabilizer tube. When the pin is withdrawn, a drop of two feet, nose first, to a hard surface will cause the fuze to func-tion.

This grenade is designed primarily for use against and other armored or resistant tar-gets. It must strike within 20° or normal to be sure to function. However, the velocity of the grenade itself is not a critical factor, as it incorporates the hollow-charge principle. The danger radius to the rear of the explosion is 50 yards.

Operation: The grenade is fired from a rifle by means of a special launcher attach-ment. A special cartridge is used for propulsion. The grenade must be placed on the launcher before the safety pin is withdrawn. The safety pin is removed before firing. When the grenade is fired, set-back holds the striker away from the detonator. On im-pact, the striker overcomes the creep spring and hits the detonator.

Remarks: The M9 is an ealier model. It has the same tail assembly, but the head is acorn-shaped and is equipped with a point detonating fuze. It is sligthly less sensitive than the M9A1. The safety pin of the M9 is located in the base of the grenade body in-stead of in the stabilizer tube. Its pull ring is secured to the body with adhesive tape.

Figure 230. Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade M9A1