Hand grenade Booklet #5
Swiss mercenaries hand grenades
It was in the fifteenth century that these made their way to Europe and over time were placed in metal shells, creating what could be described as the first true grenades. The word “grenade” in fact comes from the French “pomegranate,” and scholars suggest this is because the early hand grenades (as well as their modern counterparts), did in fact, resemble the fruits; but also because the pomegranate tends to “explodes” as it ripens to spread seeds over a vast perimeter. The fact remains that the grenade had stuck.
During the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, Swiss mercenaries' use of hand grenades marked a significant development in European warfare. These early grenades were indeed made of metal, typically iron or brass, and filled with gunpowder. The design consisted of a hollow metal sphere or cylinder, sealed except for a small hole where a fuse could be inserted.
The Swiss mercenaries, renowned for their military prowess, demonstrated their ingenuity by introducing hand grenades as a tactical weapon during their campaigns in Italy. These grenades were primarily used for siege warfare, where they could be thrown over defensive walls or into enemy fortifications to cause damage and chaos among defenders.
The mechanism of these early grenades was relatively simple yet effective. A fuse made of slow-burning material, such as hemp rope soaked in saltpetre, was inserted into the grenade's fuse hole. The fuse burned slowly when the grenade was lit and thrown, allowing the throwers time to distance themselves before detonation.
The effectiveness of early hand grenades was not only in their explosive power but also in the strategic disruption they caused. The sudden explosion of a grenade could significantly disrupt enemy formations, create panic, and inflict casualties among defenders.
However, these early grenades had limitations. They were prone to malfunction, with fuses sometimes failing to ignite the gunpowder or detonating prematurely. Additionally, their range and accuracy were limited compared to later grenade designs.
Despite the limitations, the use of hand grenades by Swiss mercenaries during the Italian Wars showcased the potential of explosive devices as a battlefield weapon. Over time, improvements in design and technology would lead to the refinement of hand grenades into more reliable and versatile weapons, paving the way for their widespread adoption in European warfare.
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