Other Names
None
Use
During World War I, certain explosives having nitrostarch as a base were used under the designations "Trojan grenade explosive", "Trojan trench-mortar shell explosive", and "Grenite". These explosives were frequently referred to as "nitrostarch" but it should be noted that pure nitrostarch was not used alone as a military explosive, the nearest approach to it for military purposes being grenite, which was about 95 percent nitrostarch, the balance being a binding material added for the purpose of granulating. The two Trojan explosives which were practically identical in composition contained approximately 25 percent nitrostarch with ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, and small amounts of materials added for the purpose of stabilizing, reducing sensitiveness and hygroscopicity and neutralizing any possible acidity of other ingredients.
Source(s)
TM 9-1300-214, Military Explosives (w/C4, 1990)
TM 9-1904, Ammunition Inspection Guide (1944)
