If I remember correctly, the spherical design was mainly created to resemble a baseball. Since most US citizens knew how to throw a baseball at the time it would mean they didn't have to train soldiers as much
this post was submitted on 31 May 2025
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That is a myth. The spherical form is to maximize surface area to volume for shrapnel, ensuring that no matter how it lands. Shrapnel will go in all directions.
So... what were the Germans so used to throwing that theirs had a handle?
Dildos
The reason is logistics (as usually the reason for most things military related). You can fit a hell of a lot more conventionally shaped grenades in a crate than you can with stick grenades. Even on a person, conventional grenades weigh less, are less cumbersome, and you can carry more compared to stick grenades. Stick grenades really only have their ease of throwing over a conventional grenade
I wonder if anyone in the military has used a sling to launch a grenade.
You'd want a longer fuse though...
Or a cistera 😀
Dungeon Crawler Carl Style
According to wikipedia, the International Brigades used slings to hurl grenades during the Spanish American War. I've heard tell of Ethiopian troops using slings to launch grenades, but can't find a source.
And I know people have launched molotovs from slings, which are larger and more unwieldy, unless we're talking about the German example above with a handle.