M9 HEAT

High-Explosive, Ant-Tank Rifle Grenade

United States | 1941

"The M9 rifle grenade was the standard anti-tank rifle grenade for American forces in World War 2."

Physical
The physical qualities of the M9 HEAT. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1.32 lb
0.60 kg
Weight

Muzzle-Mounted; Blank Rifle Cartridge-Actuated; Impact Fuse
Action

Not Applicable.
Caliber(s)

Single-Use
Feed

Rifle-mounted.
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the M9 HEAT High-Explosive, Ant-Tank Rifle Grenade family line.

M9 - Base Series Designation; original production form of 1940.

M9A1 HEAT - Succeeded the M9 model as the standard HEAT rifle grenade for U.S. forces; penetration up to 2" of armor protection.

M11A1 - Practice Grenade; reusable

M11A2 - Practice Grenade; reusable

M11A3 - Practice Grenade; reusable

M11A4 - Practice Grenade; reusable

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/03/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

While the U.S. Army approved and adopted an anti-personnel rifle grenade in the "M17" of 1941, it also took on stocks of a High-Explosive, Ant-Tank (HEAT) rifle grenade as the "M9". This weapon was the standardized HEAT rifle grenade for American forces in World War 2 (1939-1945) and appeared in similar design to other rifle grenade types of the period - actuation through use of a blank rifle cartridge and the grenade seated over the muzzle of a standard service rifle - namely the M1 Garand. The operator could engage targets or target areas through direct line-of-sight or indirect line-of-sight fire.

The M9 featured a body of steel sheeting and its warhead was of a shaped-charge design suitable for defeating armor up to 2-inches in thickness (though some factors such as angle came into play). The M9 was detonated through a fuse located in its base. The overall shape of the grenade was very torpedo-like with a smooth, rounded head, tapered tail section and finned aft end. The fins provided stability during the grenade's flight path. The complete grenade system added some 1.3lbs to the weight of the service rifle while also increasing its length. The M9A1 was an improved version of the M9 and supplanted the latter in frontline service by the end of the war in 1945.

The M9 gave good service throughout its time in the war. The grenades could also be used beyond its original anti-armor role and engage fortified structures. The M11 series were practice versions of the M9 that could be reused for training. These were produced across marks M11A1, M11A2, M11A3, and M11A4 - each successive design taking into account improved mass-production practices as the war evolved.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the M9 HEAT. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): State Factories - USA

[ United States ]

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Going Further...
The M9 HEAT High-Explosive, Ant-Tank Rifle Grenade appears in the following collections:

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