The following U.S. intelligence report on the Japanese Type 91 grenade was originally printed in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 27, June 17, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR JAPANESE "91" GRENADE Tests recently carried out with a number of captured Japanese type-91 hand grenades show that these weapons, so much in favor with the Japanese, might well cause more harm to the thrower, unless properly handled, than to the intended victims. Although the delay fuze of the grenade is supposed to be 4 to 5 seconds (and is so marked), the delay train has been known to burn in much less time. All our troops, therefore, who capture these grenades and use them, should be informed that they must be thrown immediately after the head of the grenade has been struck. (This grenade is armed by giving the head a sharp tap.) While the delay train is burning, a considerable quantity of black smoke is emitted from the escape hole at the base of the fuze tube. Care should be taken to keep the hand clear of this hole. This smoke emission serves as a feature in recognizing the grenade when in flight.

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