The average American could be expected to already know how to throw a baseball, so it was easier to change the equipment to fit the user than to train every fucking soldier how to throw a lopsided stick.
That and all the other reasons. The only stick grenades still around in appreciable numbers are anti-armor grenades where the handle has a parachute inside. For normal fragmentation grenades, essentially everyone has moved to non-stick grenades (except the USMC who want to make stick grenades).
Even in WW2, the Germans produced more of the boring looking Model 39 grenades than they did of the iconic and eye catching stick grenades. People notice what they want to notice.
It’s actually that they’re more expensive when you add the frag jacket to them. There cheaper to produce but logistically more expensive being larger and multi part.
Knife juggler here, so I have a lot of experience throwing off-CG objects…
It’s not really that different from throwing a baseball. It’s a little more difficult to catch, but with very little practice ( like 5 or 10 minutes) you’ll be able to do it. That being said, I think the “baseball” style grenades where adopted because they can fit through smaller openings, you can roll or tumble them towards your target, they’re harder to see, and harder to scoop up and throw back.
I thought it was American football as the design is more shaped to be more closely resembling a hand held size 🏈
American football was simply more popular back then too, but a little less now in terms of ratio, but the crowd has still grown instead of shrinking/stagnantion
A football is WAY bigger than a grenade, and football was way less popular in the 40s because 1. Baseball came first and 2. Baseball is better in person and TVs sucked. Even if more people play football now, it’s still better to design grenades around baseballs because you spend more time practicing with a ball in baseball, and only one person per team knows how to throw a football.
As someone who played football (american), that is incorrect. Most people on the team learn how to throw it properly, with the spiral. You like the game, so you toss around the ol’ pigskin.
The quarterback is chosen for a variety of reasons.
baseball.
The average American could be expected to already know how to throw a baseball, so it was easier to change the equipment to fit the user than to train every fucking soldier how to throw a lopsided stick.
That and all the other reasons. The only stick grenades still around in appreciable numbers are anti-armor grenades where the handle has a parachute inside. For normal fragmentation grenades, essentially everyone has moved to non-stick grenades (except the USMC who want to make stick grenades).
Even in WW2, the Germans produced more of the boring looking Model 39 grenades than they did of the iconic and eye catching stick grenades. People notice what they want to notice.
Hungary made stick grenades until relatively recently, but even there stick part is much shorter (M42)
Why I hedge with “essentially everyone” because I know some obscure Literally Who is always going to be an exception.
Rules are defined by their exceptions, so I tend to welcome the obscure wildcards for a frame of reference.
That’s a reason for then not now.
Better question is then why didn’t Germany stick with the old design instead of switching to more “modern” looking grenades?
And the answer is NOT “baseball”. The answer is that they’re too heavy and cumbersome. And the cons outweighs the pros.
The answer is it simplified NATO logistics
Pray we don’t simplify it further
It’s actually that they’re more expensive when you add the frag jacket to them. There cheaper to produce but logistically more expensive being larger and multi part.
Is this why soldiers in the rest of the world kick their grenades like a soccer ball?
Knife juggler here, so I have a lot of experience throwing off-CG objects…
It’s not really that different from throwing a baseball. It’s a little more difficult to catch, but with very little practice ( like 5 or 10 minutes) you’ll be able to do it. That being said, I think the “baseball” style grenades where adopted because they can fit through smaller openings, you can roll or tumble them towards your target, they’re harder to see, and harder to scoop up and throw back.
And that was when the SAS started recruiting ‘grenade returner’ jugglers.
Uhh, what do you think Wimbledon is?
we are so lucky that basketball wasn’t as popular back then
Balloons full of explosive gas.
I thought it was American football as the design is more shaped to be more closely resembling a hand held size 🏈
American football was simply more popular back then too, but a little less now in terms of ratio, but the crowd has still grown instead of shrinking/stagnantion
Because sometimes you need to take out a tank.
A football is WAY bigger than a grenade, and football was way less popular in the 40s because 1. Baseball came first and 2. Baseball is better in person and TVs sucked. Even if more people play football now, it’s still better to design grenades around baseballs because you spend more time practicing with a ball in baseball, and only one person per team knows how to throw a football.
Oh, they made a football grenade don’t you worry.
Next generation grenades would be kicked ⚽️💥
As someone who played football (american), that is incorrect. Most people on the team learn how to throw it properly, with the spiral. You like the game, so you toss around the ol’ pigskin.
The quarterback is chosen for a variety of reasons.
In my opinion I think it’s more likely for someone to have played baseball then football
Cause football needs alot more prep when baseball can be just a random school activity
Note: I’m not athletic at all and this is just based on my personal experiences
Why aren’t grenades shaped like hacky sacks
The weapon of choice of long haired peaceniks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammon_bomb ?