The Soviet F-1 hand grenade (Russian: Фугасный > Fugasnyy 1, "Explosive, Type No. 1") is an anti-personnel fragmentation defensive grenade. It is based on the French F1 grenade and contains a 60 g explosive charge (TNT). The total weight of the grenade with the fuze is about 600 g. Due to its shape and its yellow-green color, it is nicknamed the limonka (fem. 'little lemon'). It is also nicknamed Efka for the letter F. It is similar to the American Mk 2 "pineapple grenade", which was also ultimately modeled on the French F-1. F-1 simulation-training grenade is called (учебная ручная граната), URG (training hand grenade).

Fuse

The Universal'nyi Zapal, Ruchnaya Granata, Modernizirovannyi (UZRGM) (Russian for 'universal igniter, hand grenade, improved') fuse 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 fuse is 3.5 to 4 seconds. There was a myth originating from Peter Kokalis article in Soldier of Fortune (magazine) that implied UZRGM fuze variants are available in versions which give delays between zero (i.e., instantaneous, specifically for use in booby-traps) and 13 seconds. However the UZRGM fuse never had such variants, all UZRGM fuses have delay of 3.2 to 4.2 seconds if working correctly. The myth originated from the author reading the numbers stamped on the fuse body, which are concealed when fuse is inserted into the grenade. This number indicates factory production line not the fuse delay. Having fuses without clear external marking indicating that it is "short fuse" with 0 or 1–2 seconds delay would be dangerous for soldier operating them. It is possible to hear a loud "pop" as the fuse ignites and begins to burn.

History

The F-1 was introduced during World War II 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 m. The radius of the fragment dispersion is up to 200 m (effective radius is about 30 m, ). Hence, the grenade has to be deployed from a defensive position to avoid self-harm. About 60 percent of the grenade body pulverizes during the explosion, only 30 percent of the body splits into 290 high-velocity, sharp-edged splinters each weighing around 1 gram with an initial speed of about 700 m/s. While the F-1 is no longer regarded as a front-line weapon with the former Warsaw Pact countries, it still remain in widespread use specially with insurgent groups.

Foreign copies

Several countries produced copies of the F-1 grenade, including China (as the Type 1), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Poland, and Romania. In 2024, Ukraine started production of an improved F-1 grenade which was approved for military use in September 9, 2024. Several insurgent groups have produced their own grenades based on the F-1. There are different production variations according to country of origin, including fuse and explosive filling. Poland in particular, produced a rifle grenade based on the F-1 known as the F1/N60. This variant have an impact fuse instead of a time delay fuse.

Operators