Gammon bombs...how do they work?

i read some stuff on the gammon bomb grenade, but im still not exactly sure how they were used....it said they had an "impact fuse" on them...what exactly does that mean?....does that mean that when the grenade is set (pin pulled?) the grenade will explose when it hits something?....does it get thrown, or does it get placed on or under a vehicle???

all i know is that its packed with Composition C explosive and is reasonably effective against vehicles.

[botman]

I believe it was placed (slapped up against something), then the fuse would be ignited and the person placing the bomb would run like hell. Several seconds later... KA-BOOOM!

You don't "pull the pin" then throw them like grenades, they are "placed charges" sort of like TNT (only different construction).

botman

been diggin up more info and found that it was appeantly thrown...
"An anti-tank grenade filled with plastic explosive. Mk. I was introduced in May 1943. (Lynn, p. 92) Used a No. 247 Igniter. The fuse cap was unscrewed and the tape weight was grasped with the thumb of the throwing hand. When the tape unwound completely and the safety bolt is thereby extracted, the bomb was armed for an impact detonation. Tape came in 4.5" or 11.5" lengths. (Lynn, p. 93) Glenn credits 85% of the armour killed at Arnhem to the Gammon. (Glenn, p.166)"

it looks like the cap was swited off and a tape (like in the german "potato masher" is pullled..it had a 4 secnd fuse...and was the n thrown, it blew up on imact....thats what i got from the readings.

here some more i found

"The basic design was to use a fuze, already available in the 69 Grenade, which was then inserted into the mouth of an elasticized stockingette bag. This bag could then be filled with up to 0,9kg of moulded plastic explosives which was part of the paratrooper's normal equipment. The amount of plastic explosive varied according to the job for which it was designed. Priming of the detonation occurred when a steel ball dropped on the action of the bomb being thrown. Upon impact the bomb exploded. The fuze setting was originally a four second one through a weighted tape unravelling from the fuze after being thrown. Ordnance 'boffins' were appalled at the shortness of fuze, and the quantity of explosive that the bomb could contain, and accordingly ordered a seven seconds delay in order to ensure the thrower's safety. However, most users preferred the shorter tape, irrespective of the danger involved, and cut the tapes back to a four second delay.(3)"

will we be able to throw them in BIA?

[AdriaN]

Gammon bomb.

[AdriaN]

i remember a thread on this A LONG time ago. Gammon bombs are intresting... i want one.

[MP5A49MM]

lol plastic explosive war part of the paratroopers standard kit.

lol I wish it was like that nowadays.

[obersturmfuhrer]

gammon bombs were said to have the explosive power of a 105mm shell, but sometimes they blew up the thrower. i think when you throw it the fuse gets yanked and then you gotta run.