Chinese Soldier almost kills himself at hand grenade practice

[bigross86]

We were taught the straight arm method, at least that way you know it will go straight, and it is fairly accurate. We were able to throw grenades (rocks) at the other soldiers and land them quite close to them. If someone without baseball training tries to throw freestyle, he could end up launching it anywhere.

I've only thrown stun and gas grenades in real life, we through them straight arm, also because it's more comfortable when wearing a ceramic vest, a combat vest loaded with ammo and other goodies and carrying a rifle, even slung around the neck/shoulder

[sappersgt]

We were taught the straight arm method, at least that way you know it will go straight, and it is fairly accurate. We were able to throw grenades (rocks) at the other soldiers and land them quite close to them. If someone without baseball training tries to throw freestyle, he could end up launching it anywhere.

I've only thrown stun and gas grenades in real life, we through them straight arm, also because it's more comfortable when wearing a ceramic vest, a combat vest loaded with ammo and other goodies and carrying a rifle, even slung around the neck/shoulder

One of the more "fun" things was practicing throwing grenades with others at the same time. The idea was that multiple grenades, "Invalidate the enemies choice of cover."! I found out the hard way the rest of the army did NOT practice this technique.

[astralis]

hey sapper sarge,

long time no see. how's life treating ya?

[1979]

I had thrown the practice grenades (conscript training back in 2004 ) baseball style, they landed further that way, but took a more conventional approach
with the real things at the pit.

[sourkraut115]

We each got into our own throwing pit and tried to see who could throw closest to a target, who could splash the other with mud from the holes, etc.

!

Had a similar challenge from my detachment XO when I was a young corporal in the winter of '94, in Korea. Mostly we just splashed mud all over each other like young idiots while we expended the leftover grenades after running a couple of platoons through the course; afterward I got a stern "talking to" from my First Sergeant, in which I was informed that despite the fact that while we were the same age and idiocy level, I was still expected to keep the Lieutenant from doing stupid things, because he was MY responsibility.

[S2]

Chogy Reply

I don't recall a "method" taught at ROTC Basic Ft. Knox in 1976. I DO recall not getting my first two dummy grenades inside an acceptable radius during our final combat skills test.

They kept rolling out of the kill zone of the target sihoulette.

Very frustrating for an ex-pitcher/quarterback. Third one was a winner. I HIT the damned target and the grenade dropped to its foot.

Mission accomplished.

[Albany Rifles]

Chogy,

Throwing of Hand Grenades (ArmyStudyGuide.com)

This is the specified manner. Practice got you to be able to have roll into the marked circle, etc.

In reality, the round shape allows one to throw more like a baseball which does make it more accurate. In combat, it is whatever worked...no style points.

SIDE NOTE: Chogy, ya know we never resented your flight pay....we just resented your base pay!

[Chogy]

Interesting notes... so there's no real style that is enforced other than to not frag yourself or your buddies. I had this image of instructors telling athletic types "No, you can't throw it baseball style, you must throw it stiff-armed" or something along those lines. When safety is an issue, the system can become extremely dictatorial and autocratic.

[lemontree]

We teach the cricket bowling over arm technique. In my unit I personally trained the new recruits on the Line-of-control. I did'nt want any kid to kill himself.

[bigross86]

Yeah, for some reason stupid soldiers killing themselves puts a damper over everything, doesn't it?

[lemontree]

Yeah, for some reason stupid soldiers killing themselves puts a damper over everything, doesn't it?

Any loss of life is sad, and more so for young recruits, they have so much to look forward too, and they are the pride and hope of their parents. Officers should take over when mothers' and God are not around :).

[Repatriated Canuck]

Throwing cricket style is hard. If you made me do that with a grenade I would have made a mess.


My grenade training was cut due to budget. To top that off even practice grenade training was cut and all we got was a demonstration involving a practice grenade and an ammo can. The ammo can went quite a ways up demonstrating why you shouldn't hold one too long. I was really looking forward to grenade training too. :(