The Sticky Bomb

[cyberia]

Developed in 1940 by the Americans and used mostly by the British, one weapon the Allies would rather forget fielding has to the 74 ST grenade. AKA, the Sticky bomb.

The 74 ST Grenade

Even as it was first introduced, the Sticky Bomb was considered as dangerous to the solider using it as it was to the enemy. Designed as a portable anti-tank device, the Sticky Bomb was an explosive charge, separated from a thick, sticky glue by a thin glass sphere, and all contained in a slightly thicker glass casing with a milled handle containing a five second fuse.
The idea was that when confronted by a tank, a solider could either pull two attached rings and toss the bomb at the tank. Or for insured adhesion, pull a safety ring first then and by holding the handle, smash the outer casing against the tank, then pull the fuse pin.

A British instructor demonstrates for recruits how to use a Sticky Bomb

Although to designers it all somehow sounded fine in theory, actual use of the device proved otherwise. In the rough and tumble arena of combat the intentionally fragile glass outer casing would often shatter, resulting the Sticky Bomb sticking to the solider, and on a few occasions, exploding.
Those who did succeed in getting close enough to strike an enemy tank, often found the glass casing shattered only after bouncing back on the user.

Regardless, the 74 ST Grenade continued to be issued throughout the war. There are no statistics on just how many were discarded rather than used.

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Regardless, the 74 ST Grenade continued to be issued throughout the war. There are no statistics on just how many were discarded rather than used.

I have never read an account of anyone actually destroying anything with one of these grenades. Getting up close and personal with a tank is a rather dangerous past time. The situation required for effective deployment would be rare at best, in my opinion.

[Pirate-Drakk]

Gammon made a much better grenade then the sticky bomb called the "Gammon Grenade". See:
The Grenade with Instant Fame - South African Military History Society - Journal

The Germans also had some wacky grenades, such as this AT grenade with a parachute. I'm sure it was equally ineffective as the sticky bomb. See:
RKG-3 / UPG-8 H.E.A.T. Hand Grenade (Modern) - Inert-Ord.net
Lone Sentry: How to Throw the Panzerwurfmine (U.S. WWII Intelligence Bulletin, March 1945, WWII)

Here's some related info as well:
Hand Grenade Handgranate

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

I have never read an account of anyone actually destroying anything with one of these grenades. Getting up close and personal with a tank is a rather dangerous past time. The situation required for effective deployment would be rare at best, in my opinion.

Of the very serious drawbacks of the Sticky Bomb, aside from the fact that the explosive used in the fragile glass ball was nitroglycerin, were that the delay mechanism and fuse often malfunctioned.

In response, the British developed a magnetic anti-tank mine based on the German hollow charge type. Field trials showed the weapon stuck firmly to the target, was safe to operate and detonated reliably. Only problem was it failed to do any damage to armor.

This all led to an interesting and heated exchange between D.O.D. and MD1 in now declassified reports on the weapons.

MD1 complained that Americans invented and issued fuses and weapons, then spent a decade trying to make them safe.
D.O.D countered stating the British would develop fuses or weapons that were safe, then took ten years trying to make them work.

[Tom Houlihan]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

I have never read an account of anyone actually destroying anything with one of these grenades. Getting up close and personal with a tank is a rather dangerous past time. The situation required for effective deployment would be rare at best, in my opinion.

Your last great act of defiance???

[Commander Waffle]

Anything on the "Poor Man Sticky"? Basically the idea from Tom Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan" with the TNT/C2 in a sock coated in axel grease and a fuse shoved in it? It sounds to me that it would(or did) yield the same results as the T-87.