Mk 2 (Pineapple Hand Grenade)

Fragmentation Hand Grenade [ 1918 ]

The Mk 2 series of hand grenades in US service were standardized in 1920 and lived on through the 1960s.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/15/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

The Mk II/Mk 2 series fragmentation grenade was the standard American Army infantry hand grenade from 1918 until the 1960s. Perhaps better known as the "pineapple" grenade for its patterned grooved metal body, the Mk II served in the latter months of World War 1 and throughout World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and various other period conflicts during its operational tenure. Other operators went on to include the armed forces of Argentina, Chile, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The Mk II first appeared in 1918 and saw limited use in the Great War replacing the Mk I series hand grenade of 1917. The original Mk I was a product of American design and introduced in 1917. However, there were noted ignition issues with the mark forcing production to be halted and delivered grenades to be recalled en masse. Eventually, the Mk I series was dropped from service in 1918, replaced by the much improved Mk II series - leaving the Mk I as a footnote in American military history.©MilitaryFactory.com

Outwardly, the Mk II grenade was of a traditionally accepted hand grenade design encompassing a fragmentation body attached to a percussion-cap-and-time-fuse-delay detonation system atop a tapered neck. A ring held a safety pin in place prior to the grenade's activation. The time fuse delay ran for approximately five seconds after activation to which the operator would lob the device against an enemy. The body of the grenade was manufactured of iron and dotted by a pattern of protruding blocks which gave the grenade its unique appearance while also aiding in its handling. The internal contents of the grenade consisted of 2 ounces of TNT filling to which, once detonated, would shatter the iron body in every direction, causing massive fragmentation damage to everything and anything within the blast radius. Initial production forms utilized an igniting fuse system while later models gave way to a detonating fuse arrangement.

The initial production model became the Mk II of 1918 which was followed by the revised Mk IIA1 of 1942. By this time, America was fully committed to the war effort that was World War 2 and production of all war goods spiked substantially. The Mk IIA1 variant was differentiated by its lack of a bottom "filler" hole and used the M10A2 igniting fuse (as opposed to the M10A1 and M11 series seen prior). A "high-explosive" version - the Mk II HE - was then issued with an M5 detonating fuse while the Mk II FRAG-TNT was completed with the M6A4C detonating fuse. During the war 2, the grenade could also be equipped with stabilizer fins and a tube body for firing from the muzzle of service rifles equipped with the M7 adapter, this configuration giving the standard infantryman a broader tactical reach against dug-in foes. The Mk II/ Mk 2 series served on until its circulation reach was minimized, ultimately replaced by more modern and efficient hand grenade types the world over. In April of 1945, the Mk II series (note Roman numerals) was redesignated as the "Mk 2". The variants naturally followed suit in the US Army inventory, each dropping their Roman numeral identifiers.

The Mk II series was eventually replaced in the American inventory by the smooth-sided (and decidedly egg-shaped) M26 series of the 1950s.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications

Basics [+]

Manufacturer(s)

State Factories - USA

Operators

Argentina; Chile; Israel; Kingdom of Italy; Netherlands; Turkey; United States

Service Year

1918

National Origin

United States

FIRE SUPPORT
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.

Weight (Empty)

1.10 lb / 0.50 kg

Action

Manually-Actuated; Thrown

Caliber(s)*

Not Applicable
*May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

Feed

Single-Use

Sights

Not Applicable.

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, Mk II - Initial Production Form; M10A1 or M11 detonation fuses; EC blank powder filling.

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, Mk IIA1 - M10A2 detonation fuses; EC blank powder fuses.

Grenade, Hand, Fragmentation, HE, Mk II - M5 series detonation fuses; TNT filling.

Grenade, Hand, TNT, Fragmentation, Mk II - M6A4C series detontation fuses; TNT filling.

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon representing special forces

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Images

1 / 4

Image of the Mk 2 (Pineapple Hand Grenade)

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

2 / 4

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

3 / 4

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

4 / 4

Close-up detail view of the WW2-era Mk 2 Pineapple fragmentation hand grenade; color

❮ ❯

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)