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TM 31-210 (Improvised Munitions Handbook)

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Book page imagePOOR MAN'S JAMES BOND Vol • 2282IMPROVISED MUNITIONSINDEX TM 31-210Armor materials 160 Battery, short lasting 154,two hour 157 Carbine, 7.62 mm 46 Cartridge, rifle 61 Cone charge, vine bottle 23 Dust explosions 12 Explosions, dust 12 Fertilizer explosive 14 Fire bottle, chemical 84,mechanically initiated Fuse cords, fast burning 118- _ , . slow burning 119 belled flame fuels, alcohol-lye 94alcohol-soap 96 blood 102egg 97 latex 99 lye 93 wax 101 Generator, automobile 152bicycle 150 Grenade, nail 21pipe 19tin can land mine 25 Gun, match 55Igniter, fuse, from book matches 108from book matches 86 delay, cigarette 110 from book matches 36fuse, from book matches 108no flash, fuse 114 Incendiary, acid delay 104 Initiator, electric bulb 106for dust explosions 1288Igniter,Launcher, fire bottle 73grenade, 70, 77 recoilless 63 rope, grenade 148 shotgun, grenade 65six mm mortar projectile 81Mine, mortar, scrap 27Nitric acid 9Pistol, pipe, .45 cal. 529 mm 36 Plastic explosive filler 5 Potassium nitrate 6 Primer, reusable 50 Propellant, red or white powder 16 Recoilles launcher 63 Scale, improvised 146 Shaped charge, coke bottle 30cylindrical cavity 33Shotgun, 12 guage 40Shotshell dispersion control 44 Switch, altimeter 141clothespin 133flexible plate knife 145metal ball 139 mousetrap 135 pull-loop 143 Time delay, can liquiddried seed grenade 122 long term 129 short term 126vatch 112137124116
Book page imagePOOR MAN'S JAMES BOND Vol. 2283IMPROVISED MUNITIONSFOR OFFICIAL USE ONLYIMPROVISED MUNITIONSHANDBOOKTABLE OF CONTENTSSectionspecial warfare work. This Manual includes methods for fabricating explosives, detonators, propellants, shaped charges, small arms, mortars, incendiaries, delays, switches, and similar items from indige- nous materials.2. Safety and ReliabilityEach item was evaluated both theoretically and experimentally to assure safety and reliability. A large number of Items were discarded because of inherent hazards or unreliable performance. Safety warnings are prominently inserted in the procedures where they apply but it is emphasized that safety is a matter of attitude. It is a proven fact that men who are alert, who think out a situation, and who take correct pre- cautions have fewer accidents than the careless and indifferent. It is important that work be planned and that instructions be followed to the letter; all work should be done in a neat and orderly manner. In the manufacture explosives, detonators, propellants and incendiaries, equipment must be kept clean and such energy concentrations as sparks ,I EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS (Including Igniters)II MINES AND GRENADESm SMALL ARMS WEAPONS AND AMMUNITIONIV MORTARS AND ROCKETSV INCENDIARY DEVICESVI FUSES, DETONATORS &t DELAY MECHANISMSVII MISCELLANEOUSFRANKFORD ARSENALPhiladelphia Pennsylvaniafriction, impact, hot objects, flame, chemical reactions, and exces- sive pressure should be avoided.These items were found to be effective in most environments; however, samples should be made and tested remotely prior to actual use of assure proper performance. Chemical items should be used as soon as possible after preparation and kept free of moisture, dirt, and the above energy concentrations. Special care should be taken in any attempt at substitution or use of items for purposes other than that spec- ified or intended. j- Section ID No. i PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE FILLERA plastic expletive filler can be n\adc from potassium chlorite and petroleum jelly. Thia explosive can be detonated with commer- cial #8 or any military blasting cap.INTRODUCTION1 . Purpose and ScopeIn Unconventional Warfare operations it may be impossible or un- wise to use conventional military munitions as tools In the conduct of certain missions. It may be necessary instead to fabricate the required munitions from locally available or unassuming materials. The pur- pose of this Manual is to increase the potential of Special Forces and guerrilla troops by describing in detail the manufacture of munitions from seemingly innocuous locally available materials.Manufactured, precision devices almost always will be more effec- tive, more reliable, and easier to use than improvised ones, but shelf items will just not be available for certain operations for security or logistical reasons. Therefore the operator will have to rely on mate- rials he can buy in a drug or paint store, find in a junk pile, or scrounge from military stocks. Also, many of the ingredients and materials used in fabricating homemade items are so commonplace or innocuous they can be carried without arousing suspicion. The completed item itself often is more easily concealed or camouflaged. In addition, the field expedient item can be tailored for the intended target, thereby pro- viding an advantage over the standard item in flexibility and versatility.The Manual contains simple explanations and illustrations to permit construction of the items by personnel not normally familiar with making and handling munitions. These items were conceived in-house or, ob- < talned from other publications or persounel engaged in munitions orMATERIAL REQUIREDPotassium chloratePetroleum jelly (Vaseline)Piece of round stick"sWide bowl or other container for mixing ingredients.PROCEDUREHOW USEDMedicine M&nufacture of mate heMedicine LubricantI. Spread potassium chlorate crystals thinly on a hard surface; Roll the round stick over crystal* to crush into a very fine powder until it looks like face powder or wheat flour.2. Place 9 parte powdered potas- sium chlorate and 1 part petro- leum jelly in a wide bowl or simi- lar container. Mix ingredients with hands (knead) until a uniform paate is obtained.Store explosive in a waterproof container until Veady to use,
Book page imagePOOR MAN'S JAMES BOND Vol, 2284IMPROVISED MUNITIONSSection I6 No, 2POTASSIUM NITRATE Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) can be extracted from many natural sources and can be used to make nitric acid, black powder and many pyrotechnics. The yield ranges from . 1 to 10% by weight, depending on the fertility of the soil.3. Place dirt in bucket,MATERIALSNitrate bearing earth or othermaterial, about 3-1/2 gallons(13-1/2 liters)Fine wood ashes, about 1/2 cup (1/8 liter)SOURCESoil containing old decayedvegetable or animalmatter Old cellars and/or farmdirt floors Earth from old burialgrounds Decayed stone or mortarbuilding foundations Totally burned whitish woodash powder Totally burned paper (black)Bucket or similar container, about 5 gallons <19 liters) in volume(Plastic, metal, or wood) 2 pieces of finely woven cloth, eachslightly larger than bottom ofbucket Shallow pan or dish, at least aslarge as bottom of bucket Shallow heat resistant container(ceramic, metal, etc.) Water - 1-3/4 gallons (6-3/4 liters) Awl, knife, screwdriver, or otherhole producing instrument Alcohol about 1 gallon (4 liters)(whiskey, rubbing alcohol, etc.) Heat source (fire, electric heater, etc.) PaperTapeNOTE: Only the ratios of the amounts of ingredients are important. Thus, for twice as much potassium nitrate, double quantities used.7PROCEDURE :1. Punch holes in bottom of bucket. Spread one piece of cloth over holes inside of bucket.4. Place bucket over shallow container. Bucket may be sup- ported on sticks if necessary.8BucketShallow ContainerCloth5. Boil water and pour it over earth in bucket a little at a time Allow water to run through holes in bucket into shallow container Be sure water goes through all of the earth. Allow drained liquid to cool and settle for 1 to 2 hours .NOTE: Do not pour all of the water at once, since this may cause stoppage.6. Carefully drain off liquid into heat resistant container. Discard any sludge remaining in bottom of the shallow container.Improvised Strainer7, Boil mixture over hotfire for at least 2 hours.Small grains of salt willbegin to appear in the solu- tion. Scoop these out asthey form, using any typeof improvised strainer(paper, etc.).HeatResistantContainerHeat SourceBottom of bucket2. Place wood ashes on cloth and spread to make a layer about the thickness of the cloth. Place second piece of cloth on top of ashes.ClothWood AshesCloth8. When liquid has boiled down to approximately half its original vol- ume, remove from fire and let sit. After half an hour add an equal vol- ume of alcohol. When mixture is poured through paper, small white crystals will collect on top of it.PaperTapethat appear (Sten 7V nn.it- tw ! , Remove any salt crystalspieced »s: p ^™ii~T;: n *zzT mter made ° f —«to dryness. 8 y heat ** con centrated solutionn^tratr^? 8 ^ 8 " ^ ******* *"* aIlW t0 **• The potassium nitrate crystals are now ready for use.
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