History of the Grenade Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Byzantine Empire

Greek fire was also created by the Byzantines. Greek fire was a flammable liquid that was ignited, and fired at enemy ships. This was a closely guarded war secret of the civilization, so the exact composition isn't known. However, scientists have learned that sulfer mixed with several flammable liquids were used.

The Byzantines soon figured that the mixture could be put into clay containers, and thrown instead of fired.

Answer: Collection of the Most Important Military Techniques

The book describes many other things as well, including information on naval ships and catapults. The book was created in order to extend the knowledge in the Chinese military.

Answer: The French word for pomegranate

The first weapons labeled as "grenades" were cricket ball-sized spheres loaded with gunpowder. They were used by the English against the Jacobites at the battles of Killiecrankie and Glen Shiel. These grenades were rarely used however, because they required a direct hit in order to kill, and they were just not effective enough to be used against advanced single-shot rifles.

Answer: The Crimean War

Sometimes considered the beginning of "modern warfare," the Crimean War deployed many new weapons and tactics, including heavy use of the new grenade, as well as new varieties of musket and bayonet.

Answer: On impact, a plunger on the external body of the grenade would set off the explosion

The grenade isn't mentioned in many American Civil War books, but it was in widespread use throughout the front. The Union Army deployed an experimental grenade called the Ketchum grenade, named after its inventor, William Ketchum. The grenade itself proved to be highly ineffective due to the fact that it had to land a certain way to activate the fuse. Confederate soldiers would sometimes catch the lobbed grenade in a blanket, and throw it back.

Answer: Archduke Franz Ferdinand

On June 28 1914, an assassin from the Serbian "Black Hand" society threw a grenade at the Archduke's car, but the grenade bounced off and injured twenty innocent people. Later that same day, another member of the same group, Gavrilo Princip, was more successful, shooting the Archduke and his wife dead. This action is regarded as the trigger which eventually led to the First World War.

Answer: A golf club designer

The Mills Bomb went through many changes through its colorful history. In its first model, the grenade had a seven-second fuse. It was soon realized that this was too long, because the grenade could be run from within this time period, as well as thrown back to the enemies.

This flaw became particularly clear in the Battle of France in 1940. A reasonably competent soldier could throw the grenade around thirty meters, although he then had to immediately take cover because the exploded fragments could reach considerably further. Soon after, the grenade was applied to the rifle, and it could be shot to a distance of one hundred and fifty meters.

Answer: Intentionally holding on to a grenade after the pin is removed, and handle released to lower the detonation time

The tactic of "cooking off" is considered the "least preferred technique" by the U.S. Marines. It can be very dangerous because of the varying fuse times in grenades. If applied correctly, a target wouldn't have time to take cover, or throw the grenade back.

Answer: The Soviet Union

The RPG-7 was a mix between the German Panzerfaust, and the United States bazooka. Even in the 21st century the weapon has been - and is - used in dozens of conflicts around the world.

Answer: It is a single shot weapon, and must be reloaded after every shot

The M79, sometimes known as the "Thumper" was the result of Project Niblick. It was an effort to increase the firepower of infantrymen and create a more portable weapon than the mortar. The gun first appeared in the Vietnam War. The gun itself has many flaws.

It has to be shoulder fired, it is a single- shot weapon, and the reloading process can be slow, though simple. However, the gun has been used in many modern conflicts, like Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Cambodian Wars.