HG 85 (Handgranate 85) - Military Factory

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Infantry Hand Grenade

Switzerland | 1985

"The HG 85 has since been accepted into the inventories of the Swiss, Dutch and British armies."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/11/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content. The HG 85 is a time fuse-detonated fragmentation grenade system packed with 155 grams of TNT. Each unit weighs in at 465 grams and feature a diameter of 65mm. As an anti-personnel weapon system, the HG 85 relies on its detonation mechanism to send thousands of metal shards in all directions, devastating soft targets with relative ease. As such, these types of weapons are useful in clearing out a determined and prepared enemy from fortifications and urban settings. The Swiss Army first began operational service of the HG 85 series in 1985 to which several other European powers have followed suit. The HG 85 is designed conventionally and sports an egg-like body that sits firmly into an adult hand. The pull-ring is fitted to the top along with the safety component. The grenade body casing is of metal. The user actuated the arming process manually and then throws the grenade in the direction of the enemy, taking care to manage a safe distance from the detonation of which individual fragments may reach out to 100 yards or more. The HG 85 series is primarily used by the military forces of Switzerland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The British redesignated the grenade as the L109 in the Royal inventory and features a specially-devised safety clip which the original HG 85 does not. The L110 designates an inert Drill Grenade for grenade throwing training and is noticeably colored in blue (as opposed to the L109's external green scheme. The Dutch designated their HG 85 as the Nr300 and features the same safety clip installation as the British L109. Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted. Physical The physical qualities of the HG 85 (Handgranate 85). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation. 97 mm 3.82 in O/A Length 1,025.15 lb 465.00 kg Weight Timed Fuse Explosive; Thrown Action 65mm Caliber(s) Single Use Feed Not Applicable Sights Variants Notable series variants as part of the HG 85 (Handgranate 85) Infantry Hand Grenade family line. HG 85 - Base Series Designation L109 - British Army Designation; additional safety clip. L110 - British Army Practice Grenade of the L109 series. Nr300 - Dutch Army Designation; similar to British L109. Nr330 - Dutch Army Designation Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the HG 85 (Handgranate 85). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing. Contractor(s): Altdorf; Thun - Switzerland [ Netherlands; Switzerland; United Kingdom ] Design Qualities Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to requirements. FIRE SUPPORT Recognition Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge. Going Further... The HG 85 (Handgranate 85) Infantry Hand Grenade appears in the following collections: HOME SMALL ARMS INDEX SPECIAL FORCES ARMS BY COUNTRY ARMS MANUFACTURERS COMPARE ARMS ARMS BY CONFLICT ARMS BY TYPE ARMS BY DECADE COLD WAR ARMS MODERN SMALL ARMS Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies 2026 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks U.S. DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code WW2 Weapons American War Deaths MilitaryRibbons.Info WorldWarNext.com The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content. Part of a network of sites that includes Global Firepower, WDMMA.org, and WDMMW.org. ©2026 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2026 (23yrs)