Over-all length

Maximum diameter

Color

Type of filling

The body of this grenade is steel, while the tail is of aluminum alloy. The two are screw-ed together. The steel cap is attached to a steel strip, and a double brass safety strip holds the cap in place. The safety strip passes through two slots near the head of the grenade, and lies in the recess of the zinc striker holder. The tail of the H.E. grenade is painted red to distinguish it from practice and instructional grenades, which have yellow and unpainted aluminum tails, respectively. It is fired from the 45-mm Light Mortar, Model 35 - Brixia.

On withdrawing the safety strip, the cap is freed; and, on firing, the setback causes the safety device to move down into its slot. This safety device consists of a short brass rod which projects into one of the holes in the disc and holds the disc from rotating. Four light brass spring strips hold the rod in the "setback" position. At the same time, the col-lar also set back onto the firing-cap holder, being held in position by the detent spring. The collar and holder of the spring. During flight, the disc rotates as air passes through the oblique holes near the edge of the disc. The striker, being prevented from rotating by the square shape of the portion moving in a square-shaped channel, is thus moved to-ward the detonator. The grenade is then armed. On impact, the detonator rides forward on the spring and hits the striker.

Figure 231
Breda Mortar Grenade