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Gammon Bomb

No. 82 Grenade (Gammon)

demolition chargeBritish SOE / ordnance production · 1943–1945

OVERVIEW

British special-purpose charge usable against vehicles, fortifications, and sabotage targets.

HISTORIAN'S COMMENTARY

Before the Storm

Introduced between 1943 and 1945, Gammon Bomb was fielded by United Kingdom forces as a demolition charge instrument for close combat and battlefield shaping.

In the Field

Loaded with Flexible demolition grenade filling and impact fuze fuzing, this 1 kg munition depended on nerve and timing more than machinery. Its effective use envelope reached about 20 meters, with effects spreading near 8 meters.

Historian's Note

On the ground, it was an engineer's instrument for breaching and sabotage under fire. Its historical value came from practical battlefield utility rather than dramatic technical scale.

SPECIFICATIONS

TypeFlexible demolition grenade
FuzingImpact fuze
FillingPlastic explosive (variable load)
Weight1 kg
Effective Range20 m
Blast Radius8 m

DEVELOPMENT

The Gammon Bomb was designed as a flexible demolition charge with adjustable filler for mission-specific effects. It was favored for irregular and special-operation tasks where adaptability mattered.

COMBAT HISTORY

Commandos and specialized troops employed it against vehicles, structures, and materiel in short-notice actions. Utility came from configurable charge size and compact carry profile.

NOTABLE USES

  • [01]British special operations and commando raids. - Gammon Bomb employment here depended on timing, distance, and unit coordination more than raw charge size.
  • [02]Sabotage and demolition tasks against infrastructure and transport. - This use case shows how engineers and infantry turned explosive tools into tactical advantage in constrained terrain.
  • [03]Close-range anti-vehicle and bunker-target applications. - Field application in this context illustrates why placement and doctrine governed real effect.

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