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Nerf Football Grenades In The Cold War

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In 1968, a toy developer named Reyn Guyer came up with sports balls for indoor use. This concept would help not damage furniture in the house or strain the players’ hands. He sold the idea to the Parker Brothers, an American toy and game manufacturer, and from there, Nerf products went worldwide. Which would be used as Nerf football grenades in the Cold War.

Soviet Aggression During The Cold War

The Cold War is known for the many years of tension between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR. There were many concerns about a possible all-out war with the Soviet Union. Therefore, The Land Warfare Laboratory (LWL) explored countless options on how the military could defeat the massed armies of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. An idea popped up for a small, anti-tank grenade to equip army men to immobilize enemy tanks and vehicles effectively.

The Upbringing Of Nerf Football Grenades

Through fierce brainstorming, engineers imagined that a football-shaped grenade would be best in immobilizing enemy vehicles at close quarters because “most US troops are familiar with throwing footballs.” 

Therefore, the hollowed-out Nerf football filled with explosive charges and a detonator was created. One would think that the Nerf-bomb football would perfectly spiral onto a tank, explode, and damage it beyond repair.

However, the Nerf-bomb would spin wildly and sometimes land close to the thrower, making it dangerous for the wrong guy. This was due to the uneven weight distribution that made the flight path entirely unpredictable.

The concept of the Nerf football grenade was fumbled in 1973. The military used its more traditional anti-tank weapons like the M47 Dragon light ATGM, M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon rocket launcher, and the M67 90mm recoilless rifle. None of which were hand-thrown weapons.

Veteran Disability Rating Support

If you or anyone you know served in the military, you may need help obtaining a fair disability rating and compensation. Contact Veteran Ratings. Veteran Ratings has a 95% chance of success in acquiring the rating and benefits you deserve.

Have a question? On the fence? Then contact us for more information. We are here for you — we proudly serve those who served. Veterans are our only priority because they made this the land of the free through their bravery and sacrifice.

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James Cooper
James Cooper
James Cooper comes from a long line of Veterans and decided to enlist for the Marine Corps at the ripe age of 18-years-old following in his father's footsteps. Shortly after being medically discharged from the service, James decided to pursue a career in journalism. Having battled with the VA for years himself, he began to study the system and commit his career to help fellow disabled veterans.

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Nerf Football Grenades In The Cold War

In 1968, a toy developer named Reyn Guyer came up with sports balls for indoor use. This concept would help not damage furniture in the house or strain the players’ hands. He sold the idea to the Parker Brothers, an American toy and game manufacturer, and from there, Nerf products went worldwide. Which would be used as Nerf football grenades in the Cold War.

Soviet Aggression During The Cold War

The Cold War is known for the many years of tension between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR. There were many concerns about a possible all-out war with the Soviet Union. Therefore, The Land Warfare Laboratory (LWL) explored countless options on how the military could defeat the massed armies of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. An idea popped up for a small, anti-tank grenade to equip army men to immobilize enemy tanks and vehicles effectively.

The Upbringing Of Nerf Football Grenades

Through fierce brainstorming, engineers imagined that a football-shaped grenade would be best in immobilizing enemy vehicles at close quarters because “most US troops are familiar with throwing footballs.” 

Therefore, the hollowed-out Nerf football filled with explosive charges and a detonator was created. One would think that the Nerf-bomb football would perfectly spiral onto a tank, explode, and damage it beyond repair.

However, the Nerf-bomb would spin wildly and sometimes land close to the thrower, making it dangerous for the wrong guy. This was due to the uneven weight distribution that made the flight path entirely unpredictable.

The concept of the Nerf football grenade was fumbled in 1973. The military used its more traditional anti-tank weapons like the M47 Dragon light ATGM, M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon rocket launcher, and the M67 90mm recoilless rifle. None of which were hand-thrown weapons.

Veteran Disability Rating Support

If you or anyone you know served in the military, you may need help obtaining a fair disability rating and compensation. Contact Veteran Ratings. Veteran Ratings has a 95% chance of success in acquiring the rating and benefits you deserve.

Have a question? On the fence? Then contact us for more information. We are here for you — we proudly serve those who served. Veterans are our only priority because they made this the land of the free through their bravery and sacrifice.

Get The Benefits You Deserve

contact one of our consultants today for a free evaluation of your VA claim

learn more
James Cooper
James Cooper
James Cooper comes from a long line of Veterans and decided to enlist for the Marine Corps at the ripe age of 18-years-old following in his father's footsteps. Shortly after being medically discharged from the service, James decided to pursue a career in journalism. Having battled with the VA for years himself, he began to study the system and commit his career to help fellow disabled veterans.

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