What happens if you hit a hand grenade with something like, a baseball bat?

Question

I know that the majority of hand grenades are designed to trigger at a set period of time, but would it automatically trigger if it was hit by something hard and blunt like a baseball bat? This is an argument I had with some of my roleplaying buddies who like developing war tactics, and thought hitting a grenade with a blunt weapon was stupid.

Answer 1

Not much.

Answer 2

Baseball Grenade

Answer 3

Hmmm.Hitting a hand grenade with a baseball bat? Sounds like some of your friends are fans of Wiley Coyote. Can I interest any of them in this fine, handy-dandy life insurance policy from the ACME company?



But seriously, probably it would not be a good idea; but the chances are nothing would happen unless the jolt loosens the pin. These things are made pretty sturdy for obvious reasons that you don't want accidents to happen, even if a soldier carrying a grenade was hit by the blast from an explosive device, for example, or by a bullet or shrapnel.



The "timing device" you speak of is not a clock-like mechanism, it is just a fuse, that burns chemically for a few seconds before igniting the charge. It could go off inadvertently, but you would still get a chance to throw it and duck --although that is not the sort of thing you would like to stake your life on. So, all-in-all, not a very good thought to contemplate.

Answer 4

Hand grenades are detonated by a fuse mechanism that activates when the pin is pulled and the safety is released. The fuse ignites a filler consisting of an explosive that causes the grenade to detonate. The fuses are designed to detonate after 4-5 seconds. However, those fuses are not perfect. They can burn slow or fast. It would not be a good idea to try and hit it with a baseball bat to project it for this reason. You could possibly miss it and it would drop to the ground and reduce your time to get rid of it.



Also, Grenades are heavier than baseballs, and would be hard to project that far. You would be exposing yourself to enemy fire by standing up and going through the motions to propel the grenade in this manner. In short, it would be stupid.

Answer 5

Nothing would happen, except maybe break the baseball bat.

Hand grenades have a fuse inside. Only when the pin is pulled and the spoon released, does the fuse begin to burn. I think typical time is 4 1/2 seconds. Once the spoon has been released, there is nothing which will stop the grenade from exploding.

Answer 6

LOL. I wish I had had a bat all those years ago, because I can't throw for sh**. The percussion of the bat would not do anything to the grenade except send it on its way. Hit it with say a good heavy hammer and you'll probably break it, but even that should not make it detonate. Damn, the times I could have used that. Pull the pin, let the striker fly and lace it with a bat!

Answer 7

?



It would likely explode: if you hit the top and broke the safety as to start the fuse and/or it will break, for sure, if hit by say an AK-47 round: usually did not detonate, but sometimes they did.



As to their value: over rated, should be restricted to "experienced" infantry personnel. Caused many "friendly" casualities in Vietnam.



Usual causes were: they hit a tree limb, branch and fell back or short, or the fool tossed it say 10 yards, or the fool forgot to pull the pin an Charlie returned it "postage due"



My infantry unit (4/31st) restricted the use and such of the grenade and it paid off. Most effective in such as "clearing" a tunnel, hootch, bunker, certain they are useful in "urban" warfare as in "Tet" or such, not the best "jungle' weapon.

Answer 8

Well if it's designed to go off after a certain period of time, I would imagine that you could hit it with a bat. Like in war movies, you will see someone throw a grenade, it hits the floor, and then a few seconds later it explodes.



I wouldn't try it though!

Answer 9

Being a "Role Playing Gamer" I doubt you know how to use a baseball bat. I suggest staying away from the big boy toys and sticking to computer games. I'm attacking you because only a retard would ask a question like that.

Answer 10

They are designed not to go off very easily. Hitting it with a bat probably wouldn't set it off unless you dislodged the pin. Remember grenades are even struck by small arms fire occasionally during combat. C4 plastic explosive can take a direct hit by small arms fire and not go off either.

Answer 11

A US military grenade is shock resistant. The striker is not in contact with the primer. The detonator is surrounded by the power.



While it is not advisable, it would not readily explode. This is to protect airborne troops and rough handling.



Rocket propelled grenades incur shock when fired.

Answer 12

Say for example, a M67 Frag Gernade, If hit with a baseball bat, It shouldn't detonate. But it when it is hit by a baseball bat and the pin falls out, you better run for your life.

Answer 13

if you put this much thought into it why not try hitting a dud to see if the bat can actually move the item. if so study the material, it might be shock resistant to the point where it would not go off. it might be a better idea to just dodge it or throw it back

Answer 14

It would hurt your wrists!! For better results, pull the pin then keep hitting.....if it doesn't go off after 15 seconds, write DUD on it and trash...

Answer 15

No it needs a fuse detonated by a percussion cap.

Answer 16

I don't think anything will happen necessarily! Depends on where you hit it! If you take the top off it it will probably go off!

Answer 17

Why don't you try it and see what happens?



What a dumb thing to even contemplate.



Has American youth been dumbed down to gargantuan proportions?



Maybe you and your friends should start thinking about peace tactics before you get shipped off to fight and have a chance to find the answer for yourself if the bat works.

Answer 18

dude

until and unless u take out the clip the granade is not suppose to explode. But it clearly says on the boxes in which it is packed.....'Fragile' now u know wat that means...

Answer 19

Darwin might rule in that case.

Answer 20

I say go for it - you'll never know the answer until you try, right?

Answer 21

haha, yeah you should try it...tell me how it goes

Answer 22

Tell them BOOM !