View source for Gammon bomb

{{more citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox weapon
 |name= Grenade No. 82 "Gammon bomb"
 | image= N°82 Gammon bomb.JPG
| image_size = 
 |caption= Gammon Bomb (dated March 1944) shown filled
 |origin=United Kingdom
 |type= [[Hand grenade]]
 <!-- Type selection -->
 |is_ranged=
 |is_bladed=
 |is_explosive=yes
 |is_artillery=
 |is_vehicle=
 |is_missile=
 |is_UK=yes
 <!-- Service history -->
 |service= 1943–1945
 |used_by= United Kingdom, Canada, United States
 |wars= [[World War II]]
 <!-- Production history -->
 |designer= R.S. Gammon
 |design_date=
 |manufacturer=
 |unit_cost=
 |production_date=
 |number= many thousands
 |variants= No. 82 Mk 1
 <!-- General specifications -->
 |weight= 340 grams (empty)
 |length=
 |part_length=
 |width=
 |height=
 |diameter=
 |crew=
 <!-- Explosive specifications -->
 |filling=Typically [[composition C]]
 |filling_weight= Variable: up to 900 grams
 |detonation= Instantaneously, on impact with the target
 |yield=
 }}

The '''Gammon bomb''', officially known as the '''No. 82 grenade''' was a British [[hand grenade]] used during [[World War II]].

==Overview==
Designed by Capt. R. S. Gammon of the 1st [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]], the Gammon bomb was developed as a replacement for the temperamental and highly dangerous "[[sticky bomb]]" grenade.  It consisted of an elasticized [[Basic knitted fabrics|stockinette]] bag made of dark coloured material, a metal cap, and an [[No._69_grenade#All-ways_fuze|all ways fuze]], the same fuze as was found in the [[No. 69 grenade]] and [[No. 73 grenade]]. <!-- The correct spelling is FUZE not fuse. If you take the trouble to read the fuze hyperlink, you will understand why. -->

The Gammon bomb or grenade was an "improvised hand-thrown bomb used by the Home Guard, the Special Air Service and the Resistance, especially suitable for the destruction of parked aircraft or vehicles. An explosive charge was wrapped in fabric and sewn to an impact fuse that detonated on sharp contact".<ref>{{cite book |last= Hastings |first= Max | author-link = Max Hastings |title= Das Reich: The March of the 2nd SS Panzer Division through France, June 1944 |edition=  2 |orig-year= 1981 |year= 2013 |publisher= Zenith Press |location= Minneapolis  United States |isbn= 978-0-7603-4491-0  |page= 237 }}</ref>

Unlike conventional grenades, the Gammon bomb was flexible in the amount and type of munition that could be delivered to a target. For anti-personnel use, a small amount of [[plastic explosive]] (about half a stick), along with shrapnel-like projectiles, if available, would be placed in the bag. Against [[armoured fighting vehicle]]s or other armoured targets, the bag could be completely filled up with explosives, making an unusually powerful grenade which could only be thrown safely from behind cover.

Using the Gammon bomb was very simple. After filling the stockinette bag with explosive, the screw-off cap was removed and discarded. Removing the screw-off cap revealed a stout linen tape wound around the circumference of the fuze. <!-- The correct spelling is FUZE not fuse. The spelling is different for a good reason. If you take the trouble to read the fuze hyperlink, you will understand why. -->
The linen tape had a curved lead weight on the end. While holding the lead weight in place with one finger (to prevent the linen tape from unwinding prematurely) the grenade was then thrown at the target. When the Gammon grenade was thrown, the weighted linen tape automatically unwrapped in flight, pulling out a retaining pin from the fuze mechanism. Removal of the retaining pin freed a heavy ball-bearing and [[firing pin|striker]] inside the fuze, which was then held back from the [[percussion cap]] only by a weak creep spring. In this manner the all ways fuze became armed in flight. Impact with the target gave the heavy ball-bearing a sharp jolt - overcoming the weak resistance of the creep spring - that slammed the striker against the percussion cap. The percussion cap fired directly into the adjacent [[detonator]], which in turn sent a violent shockwave into the main explosive filling contained inside the stockinette bag. Detonation of a Gammon grenade was instantaneous on impact with the target, i.e. there was no time-delay.

Gammon bombs were primarily issued to [[special forces]] such as [[paratrooper]]s who were issued plastic explosive routinely.  These units found the Gammon bomb to be particularly useful due to its small size and weight when unfilled, as well as its adaptability. It was even effective against armoured vehicles, and paratroopers called it their "hand artillery". It was also popular as a small amount of the C2 fast-burning explosive could heat a mug of coffee or K-rations without giving off any smoke from the bottom of a foxhole.<ref>{{cite book | last = Beevor | first = Antony | author-link = Antony Beevor | title = D-Day: The Battle for Normandy | publisher = Viking | date = 2009 | location = London | page = [https://archive.org/details/ddaybattlefornor00beev_164/page/n308 25] | url =https://archive.org/details/ddaybattlefornor00beev_164| url-access = limited | isbn = 978-0-670-88703-3 }}</ref>

Gammon bombs were declared obsolete in the early 1950s, at which point many stocks were destroyed,  though some continued in service up to at least 1957, even later in some other countries. 
Typically, most examples encountered today are in the form of drill, [[dummy round|inert]] or [[unexploded ordnance|UXO]].

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/WW2%20Grenades/Gammons.JPG Photo of assorted Gammon Bombs]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080916220806/http://www.lexpev.nl/fuzesandigniters/unitedkingdom/no247allwaysfuze.html Photos & cross-sectional diagram of the "Allways" fuze used in Gammon bombs]
* [http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/images/WW2%20Grenades/No69%20sectioned.JPG Sectioned No 69 grenade (same fuze as Gammon bomb)]
* [http://visualcollector.com/VisualCollectorLinks/HowItWorks/C-No69MkI-L.jpg Another sectional view of a No 69 grenade]

{{WW1and2 British Grenades}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gammon Bomb}}
[[Category:World War II grenades of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Anti-tank grenades]]
[[Category:Hand grenades of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943]]