Grenades

A grenade is a small explosive device that may be thrown or
fired from a rifle. There are fragmentation grenades,
chemical grendades, or illuminating grenades depending on
their intent. 

A fragmentation grenade contain a notched wire coil that
shattersinto many pieces when the device explodes. Chemical
grenades are filled with gas, smoke, or white phosphrus.
Illunimatin grenades are use during night combat to light
up land areas.
 
Grenades were used as early as the 1400's. In the 1600's
and 1700's , specially trained men called grenadiers used
them. They were French soldiers who were selected for their
strength, nerve, and initiative. Gradually other
Europeanarmies created genadier units. The best soldiers
from other units were selcted and organized intoelite
battalions. 

By 1800, improvements in small arms weapons made grenade
bowling suicidal. Today, they are a common weapon of all
infantry soldiers even though some European armies still
have regiments that carry grenadier titles.