PREVIOUS. Mortars & Grenades P R O C E E D.
* Mortars: First portable models invented during American Civil War, used to protect Union railroad & supply lines.

* During WWI, reduction in mortar size enabled individuals to carry them.

* High angle of fire: could penetrate narrow trenches close by, save lives by making head-on infantry attacks less necessary
WWI Trench Mortar
* Grenades: reintroduced on a large scale in Russo-Japanese War & WWI

* Terrible safety record at first

* "Jam bombs" constructed by soldiers on the battlefield out of tin cans, powder, and rocks

* 1915: Mills Bomb, invented by William Mills (England)- First grenade with safety pin

* French "pineapple grenade" and German "stick grenade" invented during WWI.
<<  Pineapple Grenade
      Stick Grenade >>
German WWI Soldiers throwing a "stick grenade"
P R O C E E D.