Throwing the 69 77 grenade with 247 fuze

Of all the grenades used by the commonwealth during WW2, the 69 and 77 grenade that used the 247 always fuze with its arming tape, that had to be thrown with a slight spin, while holding the tape in place with a finger, before thrown. I was wondering if it was such an awkward grenade to use and a danger to the user, especially when compared to the simplicity of using a pin and lever grenade like the Mills bomb. I also read on a casualty report that it didn't take much to set of a 69 or 77 blind if accidentally kicked or stepped on, as the cap inside only needs a light strike to set it off. The cap is different to a cartridge primer that needs a much heaver strike. Anyone thrown the 69 or 77 during their time in service back then?

 

No, but if you didn't clean the grease out of the striker tube in a 36 grenade, and as a result it did not go off, it did not need much of a jolt to cause it to go off as the spring was still compressed.
Chris

 

crikey did not know that very awkward

Fuze No