Terrorist swimmers: don't go near the
water.
by Williams, Robert H.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The Navy and Kaman Aerospace have developed a
"programmable" grenade that is specifically designed to kill
hostile swimmers who seek to place bombs on the hulls of friendly ships.
The new device is called the anti-swimmer grenade. The research effort
was spurred by the Navy's program executive office for integrated
weapon systems which was looking for a more potent weapon than the MK3A2
concussion grenade that is designed for use on land.
The detonation depth of the anti-swimmer grenade can be set at
10-foot increments, up to 100 feet, and relies on safe-arm technology.
As for its blast potential, the Navy says, it has three times the power
of the currently used concussion grenade. Assuming funding is made
available, the maritime services, including the Coast Guard, could start
acquiring anti-swimmer grenades in less than two years.
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NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.