M18

General: The Tree Suspension Device M18 for smoke grenades is designed to provide a quick and simplified means for suspending standard burning-type smoke hand grenades from trees and foliage to permit emission of smoke above forests and foliage, where it is more readily visible to air observers. It must be used with the Chemical Grenade Project-ion Adapter M2 assembled to any of the following hand grenades: AN-M8, M16, or M18.

Description: The device has a small card-board tube into which is lossely packed about a ten-foot length of heavy rayon line. Attached to each end of this line are two light metal cables, one for fastening to the body of the grenade and the other for faste-ning to the stabilizer of the Adapter M2. It also has a heavier metal set-back ring to re-place the set-back band issued with the chemical grande projection adapter. This hea-vier set-back ring retains the grenade safety lever in a safe position after removal of the fuze safety pin, release the safety lever by set-back action upon being fired, and sepa-rates the greande from the adpater by set-back action against the clips of the adapter, upon being fired.

Assembly: The device is assembled for use by slipping the double loop of cable over the grenade body under the safety lever. The set-back ring is slipped over the bottom of the grenade so that it holds the safety lever in place, and the set-back band issued with the grenade is discarded. The grenade is assembled to the adapter, and the single loop of cable is slipped over the adapter fins and secured to the stabilizer tube. The adhesive tape is removed from the cardboard tube. The rifle or carbine is prepared for firing in the usual manner, using positions 3 or 4, at an angle of elevation of 50° or 70° and, normally with the butt of the gun supported by soft earth or other resilient material to avoid the possibility of cracking the shock.

Operation: Upon firing, the entire assembly is projected forward, and the set-back ring strikes the clips sharply, separating the grenade from the adapter. Because of the construction of the adapter, it tends to slow down as soon as it is separated from the grenade. In so doing, pulls the rayon line from the cardboard tube. The grenade then flies through the air, with the adapter trailing at the end of the cord. Upon reaching a tree, the cord and adapter become entangled on branches or foliage, suspending the smoking grenade.

Figure 236. Tree Suspension Device M18 Assembled and Fired