Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
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300px-F1 grenade DoD

F1 grenade

The Soviet F1 hand grenade, nicknamed the limonka (little lemon), is an anti-personnel fragmentation defensive grenade. It is based on the French F1 grenade and contains a 60 gram explosive charge (TNT). The total weight of the grenade with the fuze is about 600 grams. the UZRGM fuze is a universal Russian type also used in the RG-41, RG-42, RGO-78, RGN-86, and RGD-5 grenades. The standard time delay for this fuze is 3.5 to 4 seconds. However, UZRGM fuze variants are available which give delays between zero (instantaneous) and 13 seconds, specifically for use in booby traps.

The F1 grenade was introduced during WWII and subsequently redesigned post-war. It has a steel exterior that is notched to facilitate fragmentation upon detonation and to prevent hands from slipping. The distance the grenade can be thrown is estimated at 30-45 meters. The radius of the shrapnel dispersion is up to 200 meters. Hence, the grenade has to be deployed from a defensive position to avoid harm.

The F1 grenade has been supplied to various foreign countries over the years, including Iraq and other Arab nations, and their are different production variations according to country of origin. Though obsolete and no longer in production, it can still be encountered in combat zones.

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