Model: 7-PrG (Proton Grenade)
By: L.J. Boswell
aka Flynn 'Fly' Taggart
Finished: April 09, 1999
Created in AutoCAD 14 and exported as 3DS, no textures were used for this model

This object was modeled from:
SW-  The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
"Merr-Sonn Munitions 7-PrG (Proton Grenade)

	Proton grenades are high-powered handheld explosives that contain a proton core, a greatly reduced version of the warheads used in proton torpedoes.  Originally Developed for breaching ships' hull during boarding actions, proton grenades such as Merr-Sonn's 7-PrG also are used for large demolitions projects, such as when a Rebel commando team led my General Han Solo blew up the second Death Star's shield generator on the planet Endor.
	Twisting the grenade's arming mechanism primes the battery to deliver a small electrical charge to the proton core; pressing the activation plunger starts the timer.  This two-step process offers a fail-safe to prevent accidental detonations; this is very helpful, since the proton core is almost as powerful as a thermal detonator.  The timer can be set for up to twenty minutes, and the weapon can be disarmed at any time by pressing the twist plunger release.
	A proton grenade is much more effective than a standard detonite charge.  The prestressed metal casing and shaped proton charge channel the explosion's force toward the magnetic plate that holds it to its target, and the blast can punch through a meter and a half of permacite.  Electromagnetic pulses disrupt any computers, droids, blasters, and other electronic devices within twenty meters.
	When the grenade is used in boarding actions, the explosive instantly blasts away armor plating; this is much quicker than carving through the hull with fusion cutters.  The explosion exposes the ship's outer corridors to vacuum, eliminating any opposition in the explosive decompression, while attacking troops are free to board with minimal resistance.  Unless the defenders don space suits, their only choice is to fall back as the attackers advance, cutting through bulkheads and exposing more and more of the ship's interior to space.  Teams of troops boarding from multiple locations often can secure a vessel within minutes.  Attackers also can use proton grenades to damage a ship's sublight drives, shield generators, and weapons.
	Proton grenades are favored by Imperial spacetroopers (also know as zero-g troops), who are often called upon to board pirate and New Republic ships.  Each armored space suit holds a multitude of weapons, including laser cannons and a mini-proton-torpedo launcher.
	Some starships use proton grenade launchers to counteract boarding actions.  From close range, launchers pepper the enemy vessel with proton grenades, setting off a series of explosions that sow confusion aboard the attacking ship, granting the victimized vessel the precious seconds needed to escape.  These launchers also hamper boarding parties themselves, since the shrapnel from a proton grenade explosion easily punctures most space suits.  More than a few smugglers use these launchers to ward off Imperial and New Republic boarding teams."