# What Powers a Claymore Mine?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 3, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446 "2007-03-03T18:55:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/21 "2007-03-05T14:05:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> But grenades these days aren’t cut into the pineapple shapes anymore, though the reason why escapes me. Inhumane? Maybe. However, it’s not like getting blasted to pieces by a “normal” grenade is any more humane.
Modern grenades are filled with ball bearings, to get a more even spread of shrapnel.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/22 "2007-03-05T17:36:57Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe]
Scottish pride and hatred of imperial rule.
[/QUOTE]
C4 or U2?
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### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/23 "2007-03-05T17:42:39Z")
[QUOTE=indierock82]
But grenades these days aren’t cut into the pineapple shapes anymore, though the reason why escapes me. Inhumane? Maybe. However, it’s not like getting blasted to pieces by a “normal” grenade is any more humane.
[/QUOTE]
All the grenades I’ve tested, instead of using pineapple shapes, instead used what looked like the reverse image of reptile skin on their insides. It works alot better than the pineapple shapes used in the past, as **mks57** notes had some problems.
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### Author:  [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/24 "2007-03-05T18:59:46Z")
The grenades we used in the military were [this kind](http://www.soldf.com/images/t_hgr56_1.jpg). From what I remember, they did not have ball bearings but a 3 mm thick metal hull that becomes the deadly shrapnel. We try and kill our enemy as humanely as possible here in Sweden. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/25 "2007-03-05T19:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=indierock82]
The grenades we used in the military were [this kind](http://www.soldf.com/images/t_hgr56_1.jpg). From what I remember, they did not have ball bearings but a 3 mm thick metal hull that becomes the deadly shrapnel. We try and kill our enemy as humanely as possible here in Sweden. :rolleyes:
[/QUOTE]
Ooh, I’m really scared. No! Don’t! There’s a- a peck here with an acorn pointed at me!
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### Author:  [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/26 "2007-03-05T22:00:55Z")
[QUOTE=Pygmy Rugger]
Most damage caused by detonations are cause by shrapnel, and not from the actual pressure wave. That’s why grenades have the pineapple cuts, to ensure maximum fragmentation.
[/QUOTE]
Although my books on WWI weaponry are in storage, I’m pretty sure the Mills grenade (the first “pineapple”) was ridged to make it less slippery to handle in the WWI mud, not to facilitate fragmentation - but I can’t find a reputable cite.
(A slippery grenade can make for bad day - although, come to think of it, a sticky grenade is probably worse…)
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### Author:  [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/27 "2007-03-05T22:05:10Z")
I remember reading something like that as well, **Spiny Norman**.
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### Author:  [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/28 "2007-03-06T01:38:56Z")
[QUOTE=Throatwarbler Mangrove]
Modern grenades are filled with ball bearings, to get a more even spread of shrapnel.
[/QUOTE]
Which modern grenade?
> [@indierock82](#):
>
> But grenades these days aren’t cut into the pineapple shapes anymore, though the reason why escapes me. Inhumane? Maybe. However, it’s not like getting blasted to pieces by a “normal” grenade is any more humane.
Speaking out of my ass, I’d say the shape was changed to a ball because it’s easier to throw and more accurate. It’s pretty much like a baseball. In fact, it leaves my hand just like a baseball. I know the manual says to hold it a certain way, but if I need to really throw that fucker, I hold it with my thumb and two fingers. I’ve put a grenade into a second story window at like 35 meters away. A lopsided pineapply grenade probably wouldn’t be as accurate. It definitely looks more awkward to throw.
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### Author:  [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/29 "2007-03-06T02:09:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Which modern grenade?
Apparently, the one in my foetid imagination, because for some reason I thought the M67 had ball bearings in it! I’m sure they must exist somewhere though. :smack:
I should really lay off the acid before posting.
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### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/30 "2007-03-06T03:51:43Z")
[QUOTE=Spiny Norman]
Although my books on WWI weaponry are in storage, I’m pretty sure the Mills grenade (the first “pineapple”) was ridged to make it less slippery to handle in the WWI mud, not to facilitate fragmentation - but I can’t find a reputable cite.
(A slippery grenade can make for bad day - although, come to think of it, a sticky grenade is probably worse…)
[/QUOTE]
Perhaps it’s both. The cuts on the Mills are pretty deep, so I can see how it’d provide a “seam”, like a baseball’s, to make the throw more accurate.
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### Author:  [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/31 "2007-03-06T04:38:20Z")
The grenades I threw were in aluminum jackets, with a ten meter copper spring coiled around the charge. The spring was notched every half inch or so. That’s a lot of shrapnel.
Tris
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2007, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/32 "2007-03-06T06:25:39Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno]
I’ve put a grenade into a second story window at like 35 meters away. A lopsided pineapply grenade probably wouldn’t be as accurate. It definitely looks more awkward to throw.
[/QUOTE]
Heh, I think they featured you in Blackhawk Down. A number of reviews highlighted the Delta Force guy who put a hand grenade (which I’m told isn’t all that light) through a third story window across the street to take out a machine gunner, saying that either that was a goof on the part of the people making the movie, or else that particular soldier was some kind of a hoss. 😃
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### Author:  [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/33 "2007-03-07T03:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader]
Heh, I think they featured you in Blackhawk Down. A number of reviews highlighted the Delta Force guy who put a hand grenade (which I’m told isn’t all that light) through a third story window across the street to take out a machine gunner, saying that either that was a goof on the part of the people making the movie, or else that particular soldier was some kind of a hoss. 😃
[/QUOTE]
In the movie, that looked like a freakin 100 yard throw though. I can toss a grenade pretty well, but that scene had Hollywood written all over it. If the original story inspiring that scene was a third story 35m -45m throw, then I could believe it. But 100 meters acoss a field (which is how I remember the scene, but I could be wrong) is not happening.
Here, watch this loser throw. Can you tell he played baseball for like 10 years? can you guess what position?
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNdgvJ9TSCc)
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### Author:  [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/34 "2007-03-07T17:28:18Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno]
Here, watch this loser throw. Can you tell he played baseball for like 10 years? can you guess what position?
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNdgvJ9TSCc)
[/QUOTE]
Wow, that guy _is_ a loser! My guess? Left Bench?
😉
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### Author:  [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/35 "2007-03-07T17:42:49Z")
Just so you know: a fragmentation hand grenade is a lot closer to the weight of a Football (NFL), than a baseball(MLB). You don’t throw it like a baseball. And no, you don’t throw it a hundred yards. You throw it fifteen, to thirty yards, and get the hell down behind something. Thirty yards is long distance. (See NFL stats, and keep in mind no one is going to catch it and run.)
Tris
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-a-claymore-mine/394446/36 "2007-03-07T19:50:54Z")
[QUOTE=Loach]
Nope never saw any smoke. Just dust kicked up from the explosion. Not much snow in Texas so I can’t say if it left the snow black.
[/QUOTE]
I was watching the same episode of “Mail Call” a week or so ago, and the Marines that R. Lee was out with were detonating Claymores that definitely did create some thick black smoke.
According to [Globalsecurity.org](http://Globalsecurity.org), the original M18 Claymore used C3, but the M18A1 version uses C4.
> **[M18 Claymore](https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m18-claymore.htm)**
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