Post by missthundercat on Dec 20, 2006 21:40:15 GMT -5
A hand grenade is a small hand-held bomb designed to be thrown. Essentially small bombs, they can either be thrown by hand, or, with adequate knowledge, can even be set up in boobytraps, a method often employed by the New Knights Templar and other specialized Resistance members. SWAT is also a frequent user of various types of hand grenades.
Types of Hand Grenades
Commonly known as a "frag", they are antipersonnel grenades designed to damage or destroy their target with a burst of flying shrapnel from the body (made of hard plastic or steel) flechettes, notched wire, or the case by itself. The filler may also include small metal balls to injure the target. These grenades are usually classed as defensive grenades because the effective casualty radius is greater than the distance it can be thrown; it is assumed that they will be thrown from behind cover at attackers. Both the Resistance and Grammaton are reluctant in using of frag grenades in an urban battlefild, as side-casualties are a fact and the confined spaces of the city might cause the rikocheting scrapnel to backfire.
Due to their highly damaging propeties, frag grenades are the ones most often used in boobytraps.
When the word "grenade" is used without qualification and context does not suggest otherwise, it is generally assumed that a fragmentation grenade is referred to.
Also antipersonnel grenades, designed to damage their target with explosive power alone. Compared to fragmentation grenades, the explosive filler is usually of a greater weight and volume. The case is far thinner and is designed to fragment as little as possible. The shock wave overpressure produced by this grenade when used in enclosed areas is greater than that produced by the fragmentation grenade. Therefore, it is especially effective in enclosed areas.
These grenades are usually classed as offensive weapons because the effective casualty radius is smaller than the distance it can be thrown.
The Resistance and SWAT both make liberal use of these.
The most common smoke grenades are canister-type grenades. They are used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, and screening devices for unit movements. The body is a sheet-steel cylinder with a few emission holes on top and at the bottom. These allow the smoke to be released when the grenade is ignited. Two main types exist - colored smoke (for signaling) and screening smoke.
A second type of smoke grenade is the explosive bursting type. These are filled with white phosphorus (WP). Rather than igniting a mixture which burns to make smoke, the WP grenade contains a bursting charge which spreads the white phosphorus by explosive action. White phosphorus catches fire in the presence of air, and burns with a brilliant yellow flame, producing copious amounts of dense white smoke.
Resistant members are notorious for using smoke grenades in hit-and-run guerilla/skirmish tactics.
Gas-expelling grenades are rarely used to disperse large groups, because of the risk of causing generalized panic and accidental casualties. Grenades are instead used to create barriers of tear gas in order to direct the movement of large groups of people, or to protect police officers on the verge of being overwhelmed. As an exception, tear gas may be used to disperse a mob surrounding a small centralized group of victims.
Similarly, gas-expelling grenades are not often used to force criminals out of their cover because of the risk of intoxicating people in enclosed areas, although SWAT teams will occasionally employ CS gas grenades to facilitate the arrest of an armed criminal, especially if there are no bystanders in the area.
The Resistance uses a variant of custom made riot control grenades, a simpler, gas-releasing grenade that can contain any kind of non-lethal gas. Obscure Resistance gunsmith and mechanic Horatio Kane is (in)famous for his sleeping-gas and hallucinogenic gas grenades.
These produce intense heat by means of a chemical reaction called "thermite reaction." The body is practically the same as that of a smoke grenade. The reaction produces a tremendous amount of heat, burning at 2200 degrees Celsius (4000 degrees Fahrenheit). A thermite grenade can melt together the metallic parts of an object. This makes incendiary grenades useful for destroying weapons caches, artillery units, and vehicles. Other advantages of thermate include its ability to burn through a 1/2-inch (12,7 mm) steel plate, and that an external oxygen source is not needed to sustain the reaction, thus allowing certain incendiary grenades to even burn underwater.
Thermite reaction fire causes some of the worst and most painful burn injuries because they burn so quickly and at such a high temperature. A single lit particle can burn through skin, nerves, muscles and even bones.
The effective yet dangerous potential of incendiary grenades means they are handled only hig highly-expertised SWAT police officers and very very few Resistance members. Due to the uncontrollable nature of the fire produced, they are strictly never used in urban environment.
Also known as Flash grenades, they are used to confuse, disorient, or momentarily distract a potential threat for up to five seconds. A "flashbang" especally, can seriously degrade the combat effectiveness of affected personnel for up to a minute. "Flashbangs" produce a blinding (1 million Candela) flash and deafening (170-180 dB SPL) blast. This grenade can be used to incapacitate people, generally without causing serious or permanent injury. Standard operating procedure for SWAT has officers deploy flashbangs close to the point of entry. This is because all attention will be directed towards the door once it has been breached, and deploying the flashbang close to this point heightens the chances that the criminals will be affected by the device. However, the Resistance is also familiar with their use, and often deploys them as counters in raids or in ambushes. They are particularly good for use in urban environment, as they cause next to no permanent or severe damage, minimalizing side-casualties. Both SWAT and the Resistance frequently use them in conjuction with Sting grenades.
Also called Hornet's Nest grenades, these are another less-lethal type of grenade that are based on the design of the fragmentation grenade, only in this case, instead of metal scrapnel, the grenade employs many small, hard rubber balls about 20mm in diameter. Upon detonation, the subject is incapacitated by the blunt force of the projectiles. The advantage to using sting grenades comes from the fact that the subject is very often knocked out, winded, or at the very least dislodged from cover because of the shock. Vision is sometimes also impaired due to minor trauma of the visual cortex located in the back of the head. Some types have an additional payload of chemical agents like CS gas or pepper spray.
The advantages compared to a flashbang are
A disadvantage of using sting grenades is that a sting grenade is not sure to lessen the lethality of a suspect, so it is dangerous to use if the subject is armed. This arises from the fact that sting grenades rely on the body's reaction to adversive stimuli (pain and blunt force trauma) rather than in denial of sensory input. A person with sufficient mental focus can concentrate enough to fire a few shots even after being hit by a sting grenade's payload, whereas a flashbang will physically affect vision and sense of orientation in space. Also, the effective range of a sting grenade is limited compared to a flashbang.
Types of Hand Grenades
Fragmentation grenades
Commonly known as a "frag", they are antipersonnel grenades designed to damage or destroy their target with a burst of flying shrapnel from the body (made of hard plastic or steel) flechettes, notched wire, or the case by itself. The filler may also include small metal balls to injure the target. These grenades are usually classed as defensive grenades because the effective casualty radius is greater than the distance it can be thrown; it is assumed that they will be thrown from behind cover at attackers. Both the Resistance and Grammaton are reluctant in using of frag grenades in an urban battlefild, as side-casualties are a fact and the confined spaces of the city might cause the rikocheting scrapnel to backfire.
Due to their highly damaging propeties, frag grenades are the ones most often used in boobytraps.
When the word "grenade" is used without qualification and context does not suggest otherwise, it is generally assumed that a fragmentation grenade is referred to.
Concussion grenades
Also antipersonnel grenades, designed to damage their target with explosive power alone. Compared to fragmentation grenades, the explosive filler is usually of a greater weight and volume. The case is far thinner and is designed to fragment as little as possible. The shock wave overpressure produced by this grenade when used in enclosed areas is greater than that produced by the fragmentation grenade. Therefore, it is especially effective in enclosed areas.
These grenades are usually classed as offensive weapons because the effective casualty radius is smaller than the distance it can be thrown.
The Resistance and SWAT both make liberal use of these.
Smoke grenades
The most common smoke grenades are canister-type grenades. They are used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, and screening devices for unit movements. The body is a sheet-steel cylinder with a few emission holes on top and at the bottom. These allow the smoke to be released when the grenade is ignited. Two main types exist - colored smoke (for signaling) and screening smoke.
A second type of smoke grenade is the explosive bursting type. These are filled with white phosphorus (WP). Rather than igniting a mixture which burns to make smoke, the WP grenade contains a bursting charge which spreads the white phosphorus by explosive action. White phosphorus catches fire in the presence of air, and burns with a brilliant yellow flame, producing copious amounts of dense white smoke.
Resistant members are notorious for using smoke grenades in hit-and-run guerilla/skirmish tactics.
Riot Control
Gas-expelling grenades are rarely used to disperse large groups, because of the risk of causing generalized panic and accidental casualties. Grenades are instead used to create barriers of tear gas in order to direct the movement of large groups of people, or to protect police officers on the verge of being overwhelmed. As an exception, tear gas may be used to disperse a mob surrounding a small centralized group of victims.
Similarly, gas-expelling grenades are not often used to force criminals out of their cover because of the risk of intoxicating people in enclosed areas, although SWAT teams will occasionally employ CS gas grenades to facilitate the arrest of an armed criminal, especially if there are no bystanders in the area.
The Resistance uses a variant of custom made riot control grenades, a simpler, gas-releasing grenade that can contain any kind of non-lethal gas. Obscure Resistance gunsmith and mechanic Horatio Kane is (in)famous for his sleeping-gas and hallucinogenic gas grenades.
Incendiary grenades
These produce intense heat by means of a chemical reaction called "thermite reaction." The body is practically the same as that of a smoke grenade. The reaction produces a tremendous amount of heat, burning at 2200 degrees Celsius (4000 degrees Fahrenheit). A thermite grenade can melt together the metallic parts of an object. This makes incendiary grenades useful for destroying weapons caches, artillery units, and vehicles. Other advantages of thermate include its ability to burn through a 1/2-inch (12,7 mm) steel plate, and that an external oxygen source is not needed to sustain the reaction, thus allowing certain incendiary grenades to even burn underwater.
Thermite reaction fire causes some of the worst and most painful burn injuries because they burn so quickly and at such a high temperature. A single lit particle can burn through skin, nerves, muscles and even bones.
The effective yet dangerous potential of incendiary grenades means they are handled only hig highly-expertised SWAT police officers and very very few Resistance members. Due to the uncontrollable nature of the fire produced, they are strictly never used in urban environment.
Stun Grenades
Also known as Flash grenades, they are used to confuse, disorient, or momentarily distract a potential threat for up to five seconds. A "flashbang" especally, can seriously degrade the combat effectiveness of affected personnel for up to a minute. "Flashbangs" produce a blinding (1 million Candela) flash and deafening (170-180 dB SPL) blast. This grenade can be used to incapacitate people, generally without causing serious or permanent injury. Standard operating procedure for SWAT has officers deploy flashbangs close to the point of entry. This is because all attention will be directed towards the door once it has been breached, and deploying the flashbang close to this point heightens the chances that the criminals will be affected by the device. However, the Resistance is also familiar with their use, and often deploys them as counters in raids or in ambushes. They are particularly good for use in urban environment, as they cause next to no permanent or severe damage, minimalizing side-casualties. Both SWAT and the Resistance frequently use them in conjuction with Sting grenades.
Sting grenades
Also called Hornet's Nest grenades, these are another less-lethal type of grenade that are based on the design of the fragmentation grenade, only in this case, instead of metal scrapnel, the grenade employs many small, hard rubber balls about 20mm in diameter. Upon detonation, the subject is incapacitated by the blunt force of the projectiles. The advantage to using sting grenades comes from the fact that the subject is very often knocked out, winded, or at the very least dislodged from cover because of the shock. Vision is sometimes also impaired due to minor trauma of the visual cortex located in the back of the head. Some types have an additional payload of chemical agents like CS gas or pepper spray.
The advantages compared to a flashbang are
- the "plug 'n shut" tactic, which is shutting one's eyes and plugging one's ears to avoid being affected by a flashbang. This does nothing to protect a person from a Hornet's Nest's payload,
The recipient does not need to be looking at the grenade for it to take its full effect - Stingers are much more likely to cause a subject to either fall or lower himself in pain, thus providing good sight lines to unaffected targets in the area
- This makes sting grenades ideal for containing small groups of rowdy prisoners, providing a shooting opportunity when a suspect is hiding behind cover, or in allowing SWAT teams to clear small rooms. In many situations, it is preferable to a flashbang.
A disadvantage of using sting grenades is that a sting grenade is not sure to lessen the lethality of a suspect, so it is dangerous to use if the subject is armed. This arises from the fact that sting grenades rely on the body's reaction to adversive stimuli (pain and blunt force trauma) rather than in denial of sensory input. A person with sufficient mental focus can concentrate enough to fire a few shots even after being hit by a sting grenade's payload, whereas a flashbang will physically affect vision and sense of orientation in space. Also, the effective range of a sting grenade is limited compared to a flashbang.