[Enfield] Grenade Launcher Cup for NO.36 Mills Bomb

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
AFAIK, it was a WW1 derivation used exclusively with the SMLE, even into WW2.

The WW1 "Cups, Discharger, Grenade" was much cruder than the WW2 version and could only be fired on full charge. As Derek has shown, the WW2 version has a sliding port to vary the proportion of full charge that was directed to the gas check fitted to the base of the No36 Grenade. Somewhere I have a manual for the "Cups, discharger" that lists the various ranges that could be acheived with the port fully closed, half open and 3/4 open.

The "Cups, Discharger" was generally used only with a No1, Mk3 EY rifle, which was converted from a standard rifle with a worn barrel by wrapping the woodwork with copper wire to withstand the excessive chamber pressures involved in firing a grenade. The rifle could fire normal Ball ammo, but the accuracy was well off. The "Cups, Discharger" could also be used on a standard service rifle, but chamber pressures were such that it was only recommended with a Heavy Barrel rifle, or the copper wire re-inforced EY. There was a Patt '37 pouch to carry the Cup, but as stated, it was not common to fit it to other than a dedicated EY rifle.