How was the grenade used?

Answer 1

Prior to aircraft, infantrymen relied on artillery to supply their extra firepower. Hand-grenades were a supplement to artillery; an infantryman's personal form of artillery.

What ever and when ever the infantryman needed artillery fire, he had it readily available, in the form of the grenade; he could place where he wanted...when he wanted. Besides used in general warfare (urban, forest, jungle, desert, etc.) grenades were often used in clearing bunkers, tunnels, caves, and other enclosures.

The only real drawbacks to "Hand-grenades" was basically two:

1. Never ever depend upon the "Hollywood" movies...wait 3 seconds, or wait 10 seconds, then throw it rule. Grenade fuses (timers) could almost always be different. As taught in boot camp (basic training), throw and duck immediately...no "Hollywood" counting of seconds type throwing.

2. The second very common danger, but for some reason was seldom ever brought up or taught, was during close in fighting; tossed grenades sometimes (at least once per battle) BOUNCED off a tree or wall and landed close to friendly forces. When that occurred, the thrower had best yell, "grenade (or frag) hit the ground (take cover)." Sometimes, even a quick explanation added importance to the warning, "...a grenade bounced off a tree! Right there! Everybody Duck!"