Grenade is a small explosive bomb that may be thrown, or may be fired from a rifle. Fragmentation grenades contain a coil of notched square wire that shatters when the grenades explode. Chemical grenades are filled with gas, smoke, or white phosphorus, which burns with a hot, smoky fire. Illuminating grenades are used at night to light up land areas.
Grenades were used in the 1400’s. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, specially trained soldiers called grenadiers used them. Today, grenades are a common weapon of all infantry soldiers.
