U.S. Army Explosives and Demolitions Handbook

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• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9781616080082
• eBook ISBN: 9781628730418
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Military demolitions are the destruction by fire, water, explosive, and mechanical means of areas, structures, facilities, or materials to accomplish a military objective. The U.S. Army Explosives and Demolitions Handbook is a guide to the use of explosives in the destruction of military obstacles from the Department of the U.S. Army. This guide includes information on types, characteristics, and uses of explosives and auxiliary equipment; preparation, placement, and firing of charges; safety precautions; handling, transportation, and storage of explosives; deliberate and hasty demolition methods; and much more. Applicable to nuclear and nonnuclear warfare, and having offensive and defensive uses, the knowledge one will come away with from reading this handbook is invaluable.

CHAPTER 1

DEMOLITION MATERIALS

Section I. INTRODUCTION

1. Purpose and Scope

a. This manual is a guide in the use of explosives in the destruction of military obstacles, and in certain construction projects. The material includes information on—

(1) Types, characteristics, and uses of explosives and auxiliary equipment.

(2) Preparation, placement, and firing of charges.

(3) Charge calculation formulas.

(4) Deliberate and hasty demolition methods for use in the forward zone.

(5) Safety precautions.

(6) Handling, transportation, and storage of explosives.

b. The contents of this manual are applicable to nuclear and nonnuclear warfare.

2. Comments

Users of this manual are encouraged to submit comments or recommendations for improvement. Comments should be referenced to the specific page, paragraph, and line of text. The reasons should be given for each to insure proper understanding and evaluation. Comments should be forwarded directly to the Commandant, U. S. Army Engineer School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 22060.

3. Military Demolitions

Military demolitions are the destruction by fire, water, explosive, and mechanical or other means of areas, structures, facilities, or materials to accomplish a military objective. They have offensive and defensive uses: for example, the removal of enemy barriers to facilitate the advance and the construction of friendly barriers to delay or restrict enemy movement.

Section II. MILITARY EXPLOSIVES AND SPECIAL CHARGES

4. Definitions

a. Explosives. Explosives are substances that, through chemical reaction, violently change and release pressure and heat equally in all directions. Explosives are classified as low or high according to the detonating velocity or speed (in feet per second) at which this change takes place and other pertinent characteristics.

b. Low Explosives. Low explosives deflagrate or change from a solid to a gaseous state relatively slowly over a sustained period (up to 400 meters or 1312 feet per second). This characteristic makes low explosives ideal where pushing or shoving effect is required. Examples are smokeless and black powders.

c. High Explosives. The change in this type explosive to a gaseous state—detonation—occurs almost instantaneously (from 1,000 meters per second (3,280 feet) to 8,500 meters per second (27,888 feet), producing a shattering effect upon the target. High explosives are used where this shattering effect is required—in certain demolition charges and in charges in mines, shells, and bombs.

d. Relative Effectiveness Factor. Explosives vary not only in detonating rate or velocity (feet per second), but also in other characteristics, such as density and heat production, that determine their effectiveness. They vary so much that the amount of explosive used is computed according to a relative effectiveness factor, based on the effectiveness of all high explosives in relation to that of TNT. For example, TNT, with a detonating velocity of 23,000 feet per second, has a relative effectiveness factor of 1, while tetrytol, with the same velocity, has a higher relative effectiveness factor of 1.20 (table VIII).

5. Characteristics of Military Explosives

Explosives used in military operations have certain properties or characteristics essential to their function. These are—

a. Relative insensitivity to shock or friction.

b. Detonating velocity, adequate for the purpose.

c. High power per unit of weight.

d. High density (weight per unit of volume).

e. Stability adequate to retain usefulness for a reasonable time when stored in any climate at temperatures between −80° F and +165° F.

f. Positive detonation by easily prepared primers.

g. Suitability for use under water.

h. Convenient size and shape for packaging, storage, distribution, and handling by troops.

i. Capability of functioning over a wide range of temperatures.

6. Selection of Explosives

The explosives for a particular purpose generally are selected on the basis of velocity of detonation. For example, an explosive having a high detonating velocity generally is used for cutting and breaching; that of a lower velocity, for cratering, ditching, and quarrying. The types of explosives commonly used are described below.

7. TNT (Trinitrotoluene)

a. Characteristics (fig. 1).

b. Use. TNT is used in cutting and breaching and as a main or booster charge for general demolition purposes in combat areas. To form a charge to fit special targets, it is removed from the package and melted in a double boiler. Then it must be immediately cast in the shape needed, because TNT, when melted, becomes fluid and hardens quickly.

Caution: Only those who are well-informed on the characteristics and reaction of molten TNT should attempt this.

If allowed to boil or crystallize, it becomes supersensitive and detonates at a small amount of shock or exposure to flame.

c. Detonation. TNT may be detonated by military electric and nonelectric blasting caps.

8. Tetrytol

a. M1 Chain Demolition Block.

(1) Characteristics (fig. 2).

Figure 1. TNT blocks.

Figure 2. M1 chain demolition block.

Figure 3. M2 demolition block.

(2) Use. The M1 chain demolition block may be used as an alternate to TNT. The complete chain, or any part of the chain, may be laid out in a line, wrapped around a target, or used in the haversack as it is packed. The entire chain will detonate, even though the blocks may not be in contact with each other. If less than eight blocks are needed, the require...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Titlepage
• Copyright
• Contents
• CHAPTER 1: DEMOLITION MATERIALS
• CHAPTER 2: FIRING SYSTEMS
• CHAPTER 3: CALCULATION AND PLACEMENT OF CHARGES
• CHAPTER 4: DEMOLITION PROJECTS
• CHAPTER 5: SAFE HANDLING, TRANSPORTATION, AND STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVES
• APPENDIX A: REFERENCES
• APPENDIX B: METRIC CHARGE CALCULATIONS
• APPENDIX C: USE OF LAND MINES, AERIAL BOMBS, AND SHELLS AS DEMOLITION CHARGES
• APPENDIX D: SUMMARY OF EXPLOSIVE CALCULATION FORMULAS
• APPENDIX E: POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR SERIES FIRING CIRCUIT
• APPENDIX F: SPECIAL DEMOLITION MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES
• INDEX