M17 rifle grenade
The M17 is the third on the right
TypeImpact-fused rifle grenade
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1943–1945
Used byUnited States
WarsWorld War II
Production history
ProducedMay–June 1943
March–April 1944
No. built~325,000
Specifications
Mass667 g (23.5 oz)[1]
Length248 mm (9.8 in)[1]
Diameter57 mm (2.2 in)[1]
FillingTNT or EC powder
Filling weight22 g (0.78 oz)[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Impact fuze

The M17 (also known as the T2 grenade[2] ) is a rifle grenade that was used by the United States during World War II.

Description

"GRENADE, RIFLE, FRAGMENTATION, IMPACT, Ml7—

This grenade consists of a fin stabilizer assembly with impact type fuze similar to that used for Grenade, AT, M9Al. The head consists of a Mk. IIA1 hand grenade fuze body which is screwed in the fuze adapter on the stabilizer assembly. The Ml7 grenade is used in a manner identical with that of the Adapter, Grenade Projection, Ml, however, it offers a unit ready for firing without assembly in the field as is required for the Ml adapter"

WAR DEPARTMENT, INFANTRY FIELD MANUAL § WEAPON AND AMMUNITION TECHNICAL MANUAL, INFANTRY REGIMENT, PARACHUTE, June 1944, Page 43

Firing

Once the warhead is screwed in, the M17 is fitted onto a grenade launcher adapter, such as the M7 grenade launcher. A special blank .30-06 cartridge is inserted into the rifle, then fired. The M17 will not explode if it lands on sand, water or mud; only solid ground will cause it to detonate.[2]

History

Adoption

The M17 was adopted in 1943. It was the United States' primary anti-personnel rifle grenade during the middle part of World War II.[3]

Obsolescence

By the middle of 1944, the M17 had essentially been supplanted by the M1 Grenade Projection Adapter,[3] which allowed a standard grenade to be converted into a rifle grenade.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "OrData - Data Details". Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved Feb 14, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "M17". www.lexpev.nl. Retrieved Feb 14, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Rifle Grenades, WWII & After - Inert-Ord.net". www.inert-ord.net. Retrieved Feb 14, 2019.
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