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    U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps
    U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps
    U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps
    Ebook193 pages1 hour

    U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps

    By U.S. Department of the Army

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    About this ebook

    Little is more dangerous to U.S. forces fighting insurgents in hot spots around the world than improvised explosive devices. It’s the weapon of choice for under-funded forces aimed to attack American soldiers with low risk to themselves. This official U.S. manual is the complete guide to using and dismantling boobytraps.

    Here you can learn how to assemble, use, detect, and remove boobytraps and demolition items in almost any situation. With intricate and detailed diagrams, you’ll discover how army troops can disguise boobytraps in household items such as irons, teapots, and televisions; in structures such as window frames, stairways, and wooden beams; and in outdoor areas, in bushes and underground. Find out how boobytraps work, why they are used in the army, and the tactics behind their set-up. Learn the mechanics of the various types of firing devices, detonators, fuses, cords, adapters, blasting caps, and lighters. Also included are detailed instructions for detecting and removing boobytraps. The U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps explains the responsibilities and safety issues that should be thoroughly understood by anyone using any weapon. Any military enthusiast will appreciate the level of detail this field manual offers.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkyhorse
    Release dateFeb 4, 2010
    ISBN9781510720558
    U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps
    Author

    U.S. Department of the Army

    The  Department of the Army  (DA) is one of the three military departments within the  Department of Defense of the United States of America. Its mission is to fight and win our Nation’ s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders.

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      Book preview

      U.S. Army Guide to Boobytraps - U.S. Department of the Army

      CHAPTER 1

      CHARACTERISTICS OF BOOBYTRAPS

      Section I.INTRODUCTION

      1.Purpose and Scope

      a. This manual contains procedures, techniques, and expedients for the instruction of the soldier in the assembly, use, detection, and removal of boobytraps in combat.

      b. Included are descriptions and discussions of the design and functioning characteristics of standard demolition items — firing devices, explosives, and accessories — and missiles, such as hand grenades, mortar ammunition, artillery ammunition, and bombs.

      c. This manual also contains information on a variety of items and indigenous materials useful for improvising firing devices, explosives, and pyrotechnic mixtures for guerrilla warfare applications.

      d. Factory-produced boobytraps (dirty trick devices) are described. Most of these have been developed and used in the field by foreign armies.

      e. Safety measures pertinent to boobytrapping operations are provided for the protection of troops from casualty.

      f. The contents of this manual are applicable to nuclear and non-nuclear warfare.

      2.Comments

      Users of this manual are encouraged to forward comments or recommendations for changes for improvement. Comments should be referenced to the page, paragraph, and line of text. The reason for each comment should be given to insure proper interpretation and evaluation. Forward all comments directly to the Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060.

      Section II.PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

      3.Types of Boobytraps

      A boobytrap is an explosive charge cunningly contrived to be fired by an unsuspecting person who disturbs an apparently harmless object or performs a presumably safe act. Two types are in use —improvised and manufactured. Improvised boobytraps are assembled from specially provided material or constructed from materials generally used for other purposes. Manufactured boobytraps are dirty trick devices made at a factory for issue to troops. They usually imitate some object or article that has souvenir appeal or that may be used by the target to advantage.

      4.Assembling Boobytraps

      A boobytrap consists of a main charge, firing device, standard base (not always used), and detonator. Another item, the universal destructor, is an adapter for installing a firing device assembly in a loaded projectile or bomb to make an improvised boobytrap. Also, firing device assemblies are often attached to the main charge by means of a length of detonating cord.

      5.Boobytrap Firing Chain

      THE FIRING CHAIN IS A SERIES OF

      INITIATIONS BEGINNING WITH A SMALL

      QUANTITY OF HIGHLY SENSITIVE EXPLOSIVE

      AND ENDING WITH A COMPARATIVELY

      LARGE QUANTITY

      OF INSENSITIVE EXPLOSIVE.

      6.Initiating Actions

      THE INITIATING ACTION STARTS THE

      SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS IN THE BOOBYTRAP

      FIRING CHAIN.

      A.PRESSURE

      WEIGHT OF FOOT

      STARTS EXPLOSIVE

      ACTION.

      B.PULL

      LIFTING THE

      SOUVENIR STARTS

      EXPLOSIVE ACTION.

      C.PRESSURE-RELEASE

      MOVING THE STONE

      STARTS EXPLOSIVE

      ACTION.

      D.TENSION-RELEASE

      RAISING LOWER SASH

      STARTS EXPLOSIVE ACTION.

      7.Firing Device Internal Actions

      A FIRING DEVICE, WHEN ACTUATED MAY

      FUNCTION INTERNALLY IN MANY WAYS TO INITIATE

      THE FIRING CHAIN.

      A.ELECTRIC

      REMOVAL OF WEDGE

      BETWEEN CONTACTS

      CLOSES CIRCUIT AND

      FIRES ELECTRIC CAP.

      B.MECHANICAL

      RELEASED STRIKER, DRIVEN

      BY ITS SPRING, FIRES

      PERCUSSION CAP.

      M1A1

      C.PULL-FRICTION

      PULLING THE CHEMICAL

      PELLET THROUGH THE

      CHEMICAL COMPOUND

      CAUSES PLASH THAT FIRES.

      THE DETONATOR.

      PULL-FRICTION FUZE, WEST WW II GERMANY

      D.PRESSURE-FRICTION

      PRESSURE ON TOP OF THE

      STRIKER FORCES ITS

      CONE-SHAPED END INTO

      THE PHOSPHORUS AND

      GLASS MIXTURE IN THE

      MATING SLEEVE, CAUSING

      A FLASH THAT FIRES THE

      DETONATOR

      MODEL 1952 FRANCE

      E.CHEMICAL

      (1)PRESSURE

      PRESSURE ON THE TOP

      BREAKS THE VIAL, FREEING

      THE SULPHURIC ACID TO MIX

      WITH THE FLASH POWDER,

      PRODUCING A FLAME THAT

      FIRES THE DETONATOR.

      WW II GERMANY BUCK CHEMICAL FUZE

      (2)DELAY

      CRUSHING THE AMPULE RELEASES

      THE CHEMICAL TO CORRODE

      THE RETAINING WIRE, FREEING

      THE STRIKER TO FIRE THE

      DETONATOR. THE DELAY IS

      DETERMINED BY THE TIME

      NEEDED FOR THE CHEMICAL

      TO CORRODE THE RETAINING

      WIRE.

      M1 DELAY

      CHAPTER 2

      USE OF BOOBYTRAPS

      Section I.BASIC DOCTRINE

      8.Tactical Principles

      Boobytraps supplement minefields by increasing their obstacle value. They add to the confusion of the enemy, inflict casualties, destroy material, and lower morale. Boobytraps are usually laid by specialists. All military personnel, however, are trained in handling Explosives and other boobytrapping material, so that they may, if necessary, boobytrap a mine or install a simple boobytrap.

      9.Authority

      a. Army commanders issue special instructions for the use of boobytraps within their command. Supplies are authorized and provided as required to meet boobytrapping needs.

      b. Army and higher commanders may delegate authority to lay boobytraps to as low as division commanders. All higher commanders, however, may revoke this authority for a definite or indefinite period, as the tactical situation may require.

      c. Records of all boobytraps laid are prepared and forwarded to higher headquarters.

      d. Enemy boobytraped areas, as soon as discovered, are reported to higher headquarters to keep all interested troops advised of enemy activities. If possible, all boobytraps are neutralized; otherwise they are properly marked by warning signs.

      Section II.PLANNING

      10.Tactical Effects

      a. The ingenious use of local resources and standard items is important in making effective boobytraps. They must be simple in construction, readily disguised, and deadly. They may produce unexpected results if conceived in sly cunning and built in various forms. Boobytraps

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