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M15 grenade file photo [27028]

M15 Grenade

Country of OriginUnited States
TypeGrenade
Diameter64.000 mm
Length136.000 mm
Weight0.879 kg
Range30.000 m
Explosive Charge425g white phosphorous

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe M15 grenades were initially used during WW2. They each contain 425 grams of white phosphorous with the burn time of about 60 seconds at the very high temperature of over 2,600 degrees Celsius. The typical soldier could throw the grenade at the range of about 30 meters, and the grenade's damage radius was about 9 meters. The delay time for the typical M6 or M206 fuses was about 4.5 seconds. They were intended to be screening weapons, hiding infantry movements with the dense smoke generated by the white phosphorous content, but they were also often used as an extremely effective weapon against enemy infantrymen. In this anti-infantry role, they were notably used in great numbers against Japanese bunkers and caves in the Pacific theater of war, either to burn or to drive out the defenders. About 5,800,000 M15 grenades were produced by Dec 1945.

After WW2, the M16 variant was developed. One distinguishing feature of the M16 grenades was the multitude of colors of smoke available: green, orange, red, violet, yellow, black, and blue; it was later reduced to only green, red, violet, and yellow. Later, M34 grenades were introduced, making the weapon compatible with M2 grenade launchers, along with other improvements.

This weapon was at times casually referred to as "Willy Pete", which was derived from white phosphorous.

Sources: FAS.org, Wikipedia ww2dbase

Last Major Revision: Aug 2017




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Person says:
21 Sep 2018 02:43:24 PM

The weight of this weapon is listed as "880.000kg" which is most likely incorrect, and probably supposed to be "880.000g"
2. Commenter identity confirmed C. Peter Chen says:
24 Sep 2018 05:25:47 AM

To "Person" of 21 Sep 2018: That is indeed an error on our part, thank you for pointing this out. It has been corrected.

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