The M17 (also known as the T2 grenade ) is a rifle grenade that was used by the United States during World War II.

Description

""GRENADE, RIFLE, FRAGMENTATION, IMPACT, Ml7— This grenade consists of a fin stabilizer assembly with impact type fuze similar to that used for Grenade, AT, M9Al. The head consists of a Mk. IIA1 hand grenade fuze body which is screwed in the fuze adapter on the stabilizer assembly. The Ml7 grenade is used in a manner identical with that of the Adapter, Grenade Projection, Ml, however, it offers a unit ready for firing without assembly in the field as is required for the Ml adapter" WAR DEPARTMENT, INFANTRY FIELD MANUAL § WEAPON AND AMMUNITION TECHNICAL MANUAL, INFANTRY REGIMENT, PARACHUTE, June 1944, Page 43"

Firing

Once the warhead is screwed in, the M17 is fitted onto a grenade launcher adapter, such as the M7 grenade launcher. A special blank .30-06 cartridge is inserted into the rifle, then fired. The M17 will not explode if it lands on sand, water or mud; only solid ground will cause it to detonate.

History

Adoption

The M17 was adopted in 1943. It was the United States' primary anti-personnel rifle grenade during the middle part of World War II.

Obsolescence

By the middle of 1944, the M17 had essentially been supplanted by the M1 Grenade Projection Adapter, which allowed a standard grenade to be converted into a rifle grenade.