# How much damage can a hand grenade do?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-damage-can-a-hand-grenade-do/530604
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 27, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-damage-can-a-hand-grenade-do/530604 "2010-02-27T03:05:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-damage-can-a-hand-grenade-do/530604/1 "2010-02-27T03:05:45Z")
I am watching Criminal Minds (groan) against my will, and some guy just blew his car up with a hand grenade, on the show, that is. I mean, ball of explosion, roof goes up like a convertible that got stuck halfway, like the bomb that killed Michael Corleone’s wife.
So, can a hand grenade do this kind of damage?
Thanks,
hh
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### Author:  [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-damage-can-a-hand-grenade-do/530604/2 "2010-02-27T03:15:26Z")
A typical hand grenade alone has a very small visible blast, damage is from concussion (shock wave) or shrapnel, depending on the type. Great big gasoline fueled explosions from grenades are a Hollywood creation.
There is more dust than flame when they go off.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-damage-can-a-hand-grenade-do/530604/3 "2010-02-27T03:16:17Z")
Most hand grenades are fragment grenades, primarily used for anti-personnel. They do not produce giant fireballs. A car would be heavily damaged, but it would not be destroyed. The damage would be from shrapnel and the blast wave; the windows would all shatter, the upholstery would be annihilated, the radio would probably not work, but Hollywood-style explosion? Not remotely.