Twinkie (projectile)

The Twinkie is a hand-thrown nonlethal weapon mass-produced under the Hostess brand and distributed in units of two, three or ten. Each unit contains about 607 kilojoules of chemical energy (equivalent to 150 grams of TNT) and a creamy white filling that can be unpredictably released on impact, increasing the psychological effect of the device. Twinkies are valued for their long storage time (unlike many explosives, which degrade over time, Twinkies are believed to have an indefinite shelf life) and their perfect size, shape and balance for throwing.

Technique

Properly a Twinkie should be thrown at the target with maximal velocity, accompanied by a shout of "TWINKIE!!" and any other available means of inducing appropriate shock and awe in the target. The object is to leave the target too shaken to launch a counterattack in kind.

Nutritional value

While they are allegedly usable as emergency rations, it has never been conclusively proven that Twinkies are actually edible. The primary value of eating Twinkies may be in denying them to the enemy.