The Grenade
Grenades proved to be effective weapons in the trenches, but when the forces arrived their numbers and capabilities were inadequate. Hand grenades were used and improved throughout the war, each side making attempts at more successful weapons. Impact fuses (blowing up when hitting the ground) became less common, replaced by time fuses (blowing up after a timer goes off).
The Germans tended to prefer the stick bomb, which could be thrown farther but had a smaller explosive charge. The British and Canadians used egg-shaped hand grenades, which could be thrown a shorter distance but carried a larger explosive charge.
The Germans tended to prefer the stick bomb, which could be thrown farther but had a smaller explosive charge. The British and Canadians used egg-shaped hand grenades, which could be thrown a shorter distance but carried a larger explosive charge.