What type of grenade is the MK1 Illumination?

The MK1 Illumination grenade is specifically designed to provide light in a tactical environment, making it an illumination grenade. Its primary function is to enhance visibility during nighttime operations or in low-light conditions. This type of grenade contains a pyrotechnic charge that produces a bright light when deployed, helping illuminate an area for a certain duration, which is vital for reconnaissance, signaling, or simply increasing safety in nocturnal maneuvers.

In contrast to fragmentation grenades, which are designed to disperse shrapnel and cause injury to personnel, and smoke grenades that are intended for creating visual cover, the MK1 does not have these destructive or obscuring qualities. Concussion grenades focus on producing a shock wave to incapacitate enemy combatants, but they also do not serve the purpose of providing illumination. Thus, the MK1's unique function as a source of light distinctly categorizes it as an illumination grenade.