F-1 grenade (Russia)

Anti-personnel hand grenade

F-1
F-1 hand grenade
Type	Anti-personnel hand grenade
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1939–present (Russia)
Used by	Soviet Union, Cuba, China
Wars	World War II Hukbalahap Rebellion Korean War Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War^[1] Six-Day War Yom Kippur War Angolan Civil War Iran-Iraq War Iraq War 2011 Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War War in Donbass 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Specifications
Mass	600 g (1.3 lb)
Length	130 mm (5.1 in)
Diameter	55 mm (2.2 in)

Filling	Trinitrotoluene
Filling weight	60 g (2.1 oz)
Detonation mechanism	Time delay fuse 3.2 to 4.2 s

The Soviet F-1 hand grenade (Russian: Фугасный > Fugasnyy 1, "Explosive, Type No. 1") is an anti-personnel fragmentation defensive grenade. It is based on the French F1 grenade and contains a 60 g (2.1 oz) explosive charge (TNT). The total weight of the grenade with the fuze is about 600 g (21 oz).^[2]

Due to its shape and its yellow-green color, it is nicknamed the limonka (fem. 'little lemon'). It is also nicknamed Efka (Russian: Эфка) for the letter F.^[3] It is similar to the American Mk 2 "pineapple grenade", which was also ultimately modeled on the French F-1.

F-1 simulation-training grenade is called УРГ (учебная ручная граната), URG (training hand grenade).

Fuse

The Universal'nyi Zapal, Ruchnaya Granata, Modernizirovannyi]] (UZRGM) (Russian for 'universal igniter, hand grenade, improved') fuse is a universal Russian type also used in the RG-41, RG-42, RGO-78, RGN-86 and RGD-5 grenades. The standard time delay for this fuse is 3.5 to 4 seconds. There was a myth originating from Peter Kokalis article in Soldier of Fortune (magazine) that implied UZRGM fuze variants are available in versions which give delays between zero (i.e., instantaneous, specifically for use in booby-traps) and 13 seconds. However the UZRGM fuse never had such variants, all UZRGM fuses have delay of 3.2 to 4.2 seconds if working correctly. The myth originated from the author reading the numbers stamped on the fuse body, which are concealed when fuse is inserted into the grenade. This number indicates factory production line not the fuse delay. Having fuses without clear external marking indicating that it is "short fuse" with 0 or 1–2 seconds delay would be dangerous for soldier operating them.^[4] It is possible to hear a loud "pop" as the fuse ignites and begins to burn.

History

The F-1 was introduced during World War II and subsequently redesigned post-war. It has a steel exterior that is notched to facilitate fragmentation upon detonation and to prevent hands from slipping. The distance the grenade can be thrown is estimated at 30–45 m (98–148 ft). The radius of the fragment dispersion is up to 200 m (660 ft) (effective radius is about 30 m (98 ft),^[5]). Hence, the grenade has to be deployed from a defensive position to avoid self-harm. About 60 percent of the grenade body pulverizes during the explosion, only 30 percent of the body splits into 290 high-velocity, sharp-edged splinters each weighing around 1 gram with an initial speed of about 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s).

While the F-1 is no longer regarded as a front-line weapon with the former Warsaw Pact countries, it still remain in widespread use specially with insurgent groups.^[6]

Foreign copies

Several countries produced copies of the F-1 grenade, including China (as the Type 1), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Poland, and Romania.^[7] In 2024, Ukraine started production of an improved F-1 grenade which was approved for military use in September 9th, 2024.^[8] Several insurgent groups have produced their own grenades based on the F-1.^[6]

There are different production variations according to country of origin, including fuse and explosive filling. Poland in particular, produced a rifle grenade based on the F-1 known as the F1/N60. This variant have an impact fuse instead of a time delay fuse.^[7]

Operators

Bulgaria^[6]
China − Produced locally as the Type 1 grenade^[6]^[9]
Czech Republic^[6]
Georgia^[10]
Iraq^[11]
North Korea^[12]
Poland − Produced locally as late as 2010^[7]
Romania^[10]
Russia^[10]
Soviet Union
Syria^[13]
Ukraine − Domestically produced copies^[8]
Vietnam^[9]

References

^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2013-05-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Owen, J.I.H (1975). Brassey's Infantry Weapons of the World. New York, N.Y.: Bonanza. pp. 223–224. ISBN 0-517-242346.
^ Yu. Veremeev, "Происхождение "лимонки".
^ Gordon L. Rottman (2015). The Hand Grenade. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 32. ISBN 9781472807359.
^ "Советская ручная граната Ф-1"
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Jones & Ness 2010, p. 751.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jones & Ness 2010, pp. 751−752.
^ ^a ^b "Ukraine produces analogs of Soviet F-1 and RGD-5 grenades". Militarnyi. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Rottman 2020, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jones & Ness 2010, p. 752.
^ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (1998). Iraq Country Handbook (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. A-18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
^ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (1997). North Korea Country Handbook (PDF). Quantico, VA: Federation of American Scientists. p. A-93. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
^ Campbell 2016, pp. 18, 75.

Bibliography

Campbell, David (2016). Israeli Soldier vs Syrian Soldier: Golan Heights 1967–73. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1331-2.
Jones, Richard D; Ness, Leland S, eds. (2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 (36th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2908-1.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2020). Vietnam War Booby Traps. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-4246-6.