American Viven-Bessières WW1 Grenade Launcher

Published on November 26, 2017
Duration: 8:28

The Viven-Bessières (VB) grenade launcher, adopted by French and US forces in WWI, revolutionized rifle grenades with its cup-style muzzle attachment. Unlike earlier rod grenades, the VB used a live ball cartridge where the bullet passed through the grenade to ignite its fuse, propelling it forward. The US adapted the design for the .30-06 cartridge, resulting in the M1917 series, with specific variants for the M1903 Springfield and M1917 Enfield rifles.

Quick Summary

The Viven-Bessières (VB) grenade launcher used a unique 'bullet-through' system where a live ball cartridge's bullet ignited the grenade's fuse. Expanding gases then propelled the grenade from the muzzle cup. The US adapted this for the .30-06 cartridge, creating M1917 variants for both Springfield and Enfield rifles.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Viven-Bessières Launcher
  2. 00:40The Era of Rod Grenades
  3. 01:30Development of the Cup Launcher
  4. 02:08The 'Bullet-Through' Mechanism Explained
  5. 03:01US Adoption and M1917 Variants
  6. 04:41Enfield vs. Springfield Models
  7. 06:21Training Challenges and Wooden Bullets
  8. 07:24Service History and Auction Details

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the Viven-Bessières grenade launcher work?

The Viven-Bessières (VB) launcher used a unique 'bullet-through' system. A live ball cartridge was fired, its bullet passing through a central hole in the VB grenade. The bullet struck a lever to ignite the fuse, and the expanding gases propelled the grenade from the muzzle cup.

What were the main differences between French and US Viven-Bessières launchers?

The US adopted the VB but adapted it for the higher pressure .30-06 cartridge, leading to the M1917 series. They also created specific versions for the M1903 Springfield and M1917 Enfield rifles due to different barrel diameters.

Why were rod grenades problematic before the Viven-Bessières?

Rod grenades featured a long steel rod inserted into the rifle barrel. They caused significant barrel wear and were extremely dangerous if a live cartridge was accidentally used instead of a blank, unlike the safer cup-style VB.

How did the US handle training with the Viven-Bessières launcher?

Training with live ball ammunition at high angles posed safety risks. To address this, the US developed special wooden bullet cartridges for practice in the 1920s, allowing for safer training exercises.

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