the stockinette bag. Detonation of a Gammon grenade was instantaneous on impact with the target, i.e. there was no time-delay. Gammon bombs were primarily issued to special forces such as paratroopers who were issued plastic explosive routinely. These units found the Gammon bomb to be particularly useful due to its small size and weight when unfilled, as well as its adaptability. It was even effective against armoured vehicles, and paratroopers called it their "hand artillery". It was also popular as a small amount of the C2 fast-burning explosive could heat a mug of coffee or K-rations without giving off any smoke from the bottom of a foxhole. Gammon bombs were declared obsolete in the early 1950s, at which point many stocks were destroyed, though some continued in service up to at least 1957. Typically, most examples encountered today are in the form of drill, inert or UXO. References External links Photo of assorted Gammon Bombs Photos & cross-sectional diagram of the "Allways" fuze used in Gammon bombs Sectioned No 69 grenade (same fuze as Gammon bomb) Another sectional view of a No 69 grenade World War II grenades of the United Kingdom Anti-tank grenades Hand grenades of the United Kingdom Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943