FSTC 381..

4012

I
. I

i
TYPICAL FOREIGN
I

.. ··i

·, UNCONVENTIONAL
�J
·:�.}i· ·. WARFARE
•.,,
WEAPONS

8 LBS. TNT . ..4TtME FUSES

FLAP

55-GAL. DRUM
 Prajecl Eh:-580

TYPICAL FOREIGN UNCONVENTIONAL

WARFARE WEAPONS (U)

Prepared by

U.S. Ntny fo.-el9f> Sdu,u and T.chnolce1 C•nt•

MvnitlonJ Bvllclng
Wo.hfngton, 0. C. 203l5

A Cot.vc,ry II Int.JIle-• DocuMilnl. Tt.h docom•nt waa CQtllf)Iled ond

p,aduced by lhe U.S. Am,y Foreign Science and Technoloe)' Cent9r of
t+.e U. S. Ar/fl'/ Materiel c-nc1. It ha. been cipptovecl by th•
Aulatant Chief of Sloff fo, lnt•IH'1•�•, Oepartm•nt of the /vmy, ond
lh.,efore conlal,.. qffd Deport,11e111 of the Army lntelll"ence.
( .
 UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012

TYflCAL FOREIGN UNCONI/ENflONo'\L

WARFARE WEAPONS (U}

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
S.J;;CTION 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE-----·--·----•-·---------------
l

11. co::-ic 1x;s10:-1 -----------------·-· ···--------------- 1

Ill SMALL AnMs AMMUNITION ----------------------· 2

IV. SMALL ARMS ---------·-·-----·-------------------· 3

V. RECOILLl::SS AND ROCKET WEA PONS ------------- 12

VI LAND MINES---·----------------·------------------ 14

VU FHUNG DEVICES----·----------------------------· 20
•
vm. CALTROFS AND BOOBYTRAI'S------------------- 35

IX DISGUISED DEVICES -·--···-···-------·-····· -· • --- 4 2

APPENDiX ----·----------------------------------· ·-·-------·-···· 53

iii

UNCLASSIFIED
 FSlC 381-5012

TYPICAL FOREIGN UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE WfAPONS

w (U)

Section I. (U) PURPOSE ANO SC0P£

1. (U) The purpose of Uds study ia to present a deacripUon of typical foreign

weapons which have been, or are being, ui;ed by insurgents or guerrillas involved
ln unconventional warfare. In this context, the term "unconventional warfare"
means revolt or insurrection by predominantly indigenous persoMel agamst a
constituted government.

2. (UI Thb study ia limited primarily to those weapons which have been impro­
• hand, or modified from standard military items. [n ad­
vised from materialt:I at
• though they do not fall within these limits, certain factory-made items
dition, even
have been included because their nature ma"kes them especially useful to the in­
surgent. The latter class al equipment includes most of the incendiary devices
and camouflaged explosives, aa well as a few firing devices.

3. (U) The period of lune covered by this study is from World War II to the
present. The materiel described ia .i representative sample, raU\er than an ex­
haustive listing at such equipment. All of the items shown herein could be useful
to the various guerril1a operations currently 1.IJlder way. Some of the factory­
made pieces are no longer avaiable because stocks are exhausted.

4. (U) Thia study is pre;;ented !or its technical value; it does not analyze any
guerrilla force's operational, tactical, or logistical strengths or "-eaknf:.ll.st.s.
The materiel described in this study 1·epresents, to a largt, f:xtent, expedient so­
lutions. The risks involved in manufacturing, storing, and handling equipment u(
the type covered in this study are relatively large, and must be accepted knowingly
by both maker and user. ln no case are any inferences warranted conc..!rnlng its
effectiveness by U.S. standards, or its availability in quantity, or the training
status of the users. FSTC doei; not recommend any attempt by ll. S. personnel to
manufacture or use this materiel.

Section II. (U) CONCLUSION

5, (U) The guerrilla normally arms him!lclf with standai•d, faclory-made, mili�
tary weapons, ammunition, explosiv.:s, in1:cndi:?.ries, and firing dcV1ccs. He manu­
facturea this materiel only when he must. When so driven, he often dii:1play.s a con­
siderable amount of ingenuity in design anJ iu the adaptation of ;,v;.ilabl.e materials
to serve his purposes.
 UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012

8. (U} The comple:dty of the weaponry produced by a guerrilla munitions ind\lstry heads for primers, grated nonsafety photographic film !or propellant, and cast
vartee conelderably. In the field of small a.rms, for instance.. the ranie of com- le:.d bullets. The Chlnese Nationalists have converted caliber . 30 carbine cart­
...
plexUy ntende froru a 1tandard military rillo which has merely been liihtened by ridges into . 32 automatic pistol rounds on a relatively large scale by cutting tl:e
ahoMe ntnir the ba rr el and rtimovlng excess wood, to a pi11tol or rifle made from 11cratch. c�artridge case 10 length. reducing the oody diamete.r and propellant charge,
The fa ctors controlling the quality and complexity of i..n item appear lo be the in• cutting off the bas<: of the bullet to redace weight, and assembling lbese pieces.
genuity or the people, the m.lt4:riala a nd tools a vail.able, =d the presence or ab-
sence of outside support. 11. {C) The J 2-gauge ghot shell shov,n in figure 1 .•,:as obtained in V letnam, Orig­
inally it was a U.S. calil,er. 50 machinegun cartridge. The transformation or the
1. (U) The guerrilla not·mally obtains his weapons, ao1muni.tlon, and exploalvea one into the other, which is not too complica ted a job, was accomplished by tlls­
either by capturing them from an organi,zed mil11&ry force which oppo&tea him, or aai:einbling a loaded rou,-.tl, cutting the cartridge case to length, peening the ex­
by recetvtng them from friendly forces outaide his operational area. ln either tractor flange ir.to a rim, and filing the rim to the correct diame te r. The finiahed
cue, thle m.ate.riel almosi always consistld of standard, factory-made military case was U1en loa de d with propella nt, wadding, shot for misce 11aneQU5 scrap
equipment. A notable exception to this generality occurs when \he supplier wiahes metal). more wadding, s.1.nd lastly the end was sealed with some substance such
lo conceal hie connection with the euerrilla. In this case, manufacturers' markill&'S as paraffin or candlewax.
and eerial numbers are often obliterated from --apons, and ammunition is manu­
ractured ellber with nonsensical or with counterfeit headstamps, color codes, and
other markings.

e. (U) When the total of the supplies captured from the enemy, plus those furn­
l11htd by Irlende, is inaaequate to satisfy the local. need, a guerrilla muniUons in­
duetry comes Into bein11. This industry can tl.oqrtsh only when a secure area
exletl! so lha t plants can be established oo a more or less permanent baaie, but,
since lhe techrucal skills and facilities for .such basic manufacturing technlques .,
ae turning, milling, and heat treating are generally lacking, the materlel pl'Oduced ...
�· .._.. � � --· � .. .. . �---=-�:.:-- __--:.-:-�--:;:.-_ � - ... .
la uaually small and simple. The va•t majority ol these munitic>r1$ exist only be­
c:auae they are the best available. Bows, a:rrowii, aru:1 apeare··t.he tools of ille
. -- --- ..,.� -- - ·-�--� . . . ,.

in a _primitive aoclety-•are turned to warlike ends_. but aa &OOn as better or

more eflecUve weapons become available, the homemade ones either are aban·
doned or are returned to more peaceful uses.

Sadlon Ill. (U) SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION

9. (U) By tar the major portion··probably 99+%--ot all small arms ammuniUon Figure l (UNCLASSIFIED). Vi e t Cong 12-gouge $fiot sl,ell (U).
consumed by ln11urgent or guerrilla forces engaged in W1Conventional warfare is
tactory made, and thu11 falls outaide the acope at this atud!· However, once in a
great while 11- need a rl,u for a cartridge which is not a"ailable. In ibis aituaUOQ, Section IV, (C} SMALL ARMS
the guerrilla will hand fabricate them.
12. (t;) CENEHAL
10. (Ul All known casee..of Cield manufacture ot small arms cartrldge11 tnvolve
one cl two basic proceue.s--reloadinr a fired cartrldge case or the appropriate Whilt: probably over 90% of the sma l l arms used by guerrilla forces are stand·
caliber, ar altering an existing cartridge to lit a weapon for which it ,,., not ard military as ·l.i;isued items, inclulilng a smaU percentage or una lt ered sportl:lg wea­
originally intended. For instance, during World War II, resistance forces in the pons, the remaining JO% are of some intere.i;t. The la tter group includes arms
Philippine Islands reloaded fired caliber , 30 cartridge caees, uslnf k.Hcben match rauging from those which are completely homemade, with barrels and receivers
made from gas pipe, to those adapted from standard military arms to mee t the
gue1·rilla'.s Idea of a .suitable weapon. This last category covers lactory-made

2 3

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012

8. (U} The comple:dty of the weaponry produced by a guerrilla munitions ind\lstry heads for primers, grated nonsafety photographic film !or propellant, and cast
vartee conelderably. In the field of small a.rms, for instance.. the ranie of com- le:.d bullets. The Chlnese Nationalists have converted caliber . 30 carbine cart­
plexUy ntende froru a 1tandard military rillo which has merely been liihtened by ridges into . 32 automatic pistol rounds on a relatively large scale by cutting tl:e
ahoMe ntnir the ba rr el and rtimovlng excess wood, to a pi11tol or rifle made from 11cratch. c�artridge case 10 length. reducing the oody diamete.r and propellant charge,
The fa ctors controlling the quality and complexity of i..n item appear lo be the in• cutting off the bas<: of the bullet to redace weight, and assembling lbese pieces.
genuity or the people, the m.lt4:riala a nd tools a vail.able, =d the presence or ab-
sence of outside support. 11. {C) The J 2-gauge ghot shell shov,n in figure 1 .•,:as obtained in V letnam, Orig­
inally it was a U.S. calil,er. 50 machinegun cartridge. The transformation or the
1. (U) The guerrilla not·mally obtains his weapons, ao1muni.tlon, and exploalvea one into the other, which is not too complica ted a job, was accomplished by tlls­
either by capturing them from an organi,zed mil11&ry force which oppo&tea him, or aai:einbling a loaded rou,-.tl, cutting the cartridge case to length, peening the ex­
by recetvtng them from friendly forces outaide his operational area. ln either tractor flange ir.to a rim, and filing the rim to the correct diame te r. The finiahed
cue, thle m.ate.riel almosi always consistld of standard, factory-made military case was U1en loa de d with propella nt, wadding, shot for misce 11aneQU5 scrap
equipment. A notable exception to this generality occurs when \he supplier wiahes metal). more wadding, s.1.nd lastly the end was sealed with some substance such
lo conceal hie connection with the euerrilla. In this case, manufacturers' markill&'S as paraffin or candlewax.
and eerial numbers are often obliterated from --apons, and ammunition is manu­
ractured ellber with nonsensical or with counterfeit headstamps, color codes, and
other markings.

e. (U) When the total of the supplies captured from the enemy, plus those furn­
. .
l11htd by Irlende, is inaaequate to satisfy the local. need, a guerrilla muniUons in­ . - . ,--.
duetry comes Into bein11. This industry can tl.oqrtsh only when a secure area
exletl! so lha t plants can be established oo a more or less permanent baaie, but,
since lhe techrucal skills and facilities for .such basic manufacturing technlques .,
ae turning, milling, and heat treating are generally lacking, the materlel pl'Oduced ...
�· .._.. � � --· � .. .. . �---=-�:.:-- __--:.-:-�--:;:.-_ � - ... .
la uaually small and simple. The va•t majority ol these munitic>r1$ exist only be­
c:auae they are the best available. Bows, a:rrowii, aru:1 apeare··t.he tools of ille
. -- --- ..,.� -- - ·-�--� . . . ,.

in a _primitive aoclety-•are turned to warlike ends_. but aa &OOn as better or

more eflecUve weapons become available, the homemade ones either are aban·
doned or are returned to more peaceful uses.

Sadlon Ill. (U) SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION

9. (U) By tar the major portion··probably 99+%--ot all small arms ammuniUon Figure l (UNCLASSIFIED). Vi e t Cong 12-gouge $fiot sl,ell (U).
consumed by ln11urgent or guerrilla forces engaged in W1Conventional warfare is
tactory made, and thu11 falls outaide the acope at this atud!· However, once in a
great while 11- need a rl,u for a cartridge which is not a"ailable. In ibis aituaUOQ, Section IV, (C} SMALL ARMS
the guerrilla will hand fabricate them.
12. (t;) CENEHAL
10. (Ul All known casee..of Cield manufacture ot small arms cartrldge11 tnvolve
one cl two basic proceue.s--reloadinr a fired cartrldge case or the appropriate Whilt: probably over 90% of the sma l l arms used by guerrilla forces are stand·
caliber, ar altering an existing cartridge to lit a weapon for which it ,,., not ard military as ·l.i;isued items, inclulilng a smaU percentage or una lt ered sportl:lg wea­
originally intended. For instance, during World War II, resistance forces in the pons, the remaining JO% are of some intere.i;t. The la tter group includes arms
Philippine Islands reloaded fired caliber , 30 cartridge caees, uslnf k.Hcben match rauging from those which are completely homemade, with barrels and receivers
made from gas pipe, to those adapted from standard military arms to mee t the
gue1·rilla'.s Idea of a .suitable weapon. This last category covers lactory-made

2 3

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-S012 FSTC 381-5012

c. Tc· load the pi1,tol, retract the bolt handle ano.l engage it in the arnall vertical
bare-els anti actions fitted •.vith hornemade stocks of varyiug 11hapes and sh.el:!. ,;lot at the ngllt of tlie long horizontal slot; then drop a cartridge into the chan�her
Because tliese homcma<te arm:; normally se,..�e th" guerrilla only ur.til he obtains tt.rouglt the kadin!l port loc:ate::l in u,e right side of the receiver . To fire, point the
a Letter weupon, their shoct service lift is not a great dt·awback. w,:;r,pvi; witl, th"' rigt·,\ l,ar,d and, tlise11g.<ging the bolt handle from the s m all slot,
allow (lie cornprcssi::ci driving s1,ring to force the boll forward uniil the ri:ce:.1
13. (V) PISTOLS
firing pin su•ikcs the primt:r,

,
"· The 9-,nm pistol picti:red in figure '.? is esser.tially a blowback-operated
t,(jbmacliinegun minus tho: ,nag;nine. Its receiv,n, barrel, and chamber-reinforcinir
piece arc made either of pipe or of thick-walled lubing, and fastened to the wooden

-·--· :_.. ...

grip assembly by means of two sheet-metal straps. To operate the pistol, retract
the bolt by pulling back on U:e machine screw until the bolt latches to the rear;
then drop a cartridge through the loading port in the right side of th e i,ecei ver and
into the cha m ber. The weapon fire11 from the open-bolt position. S�?1ce it ha!! ,...... �·-.....'- ·- ·· ·\· .
��(·

ndther extractor nor ejector. cxtra�tion anJ ejection mi.1st be accomplh1hed by

retracting the bolt. and tlien shaking or prying the fired cartridge case out of the
chamber an:i through the loading port.

Figure 3 (UNCLASSIFIED), Viet Cong metol-stock pistol (U}.

d. The weapons described up to this point di!iplay a relati vely low level of in­
genuity o1m.t e(fort in their structure and manufact11re. The caliber . 32 semiauto­
matic pistol shown in figure 4, ho wever, although its design is con ventional in all
r1espectl:I, exhibits considerable ingenuity on the part of its creo1tor beca·..ise of the
difficultit!;; overcome in bringi:1g it into existence--it is completely ha:1Jmade,

e. If he does not have desig11 talent, the guerrilla artisan doe0s not heaitate to
pr:iJuce a copy 0f a proven pa ttern. t!S?ecially when a spt!ci:ne:1 is available.

r. Ouring the lime of the Fr �nch Wa,· in Indochina (1945-1954), a nurnher of

un:lergr:i;:inJ factori;,s pruducc:l weapo:u; a:lCl allied materiel fo r the va rio-.is irreg­
Figure 2 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong wooden-stock pi$lol (U), ul.Jr fo1·ces fighting there. The 9-m m Tirowning !Ii-Power pist:11 illustrated by
fi1prc "> wa.;;, accordill!l to th;, markia;is on the slide, 1m.,1UfactureJ at the Allieu
b. The barrt!l and receiver of the homemade single-shot pistol shown in National Army Military Manu!actory :-fumber 5, whkil wa.,. loe;,ted near Tay )1'111h,
figure 3 a1·e ma�e of two piece::i of pipe held together by pins, while the gflp is J\ ceport states that tiui.s plant produced r.p,:,ro,o.:uatcly a, 001, of these pistols. The
t. le1:gth o f fairly heavy wire bt:nt to sh:,pe and either welded or riveted to woricmanship exinl,it�d in this wea;,on Hi surprisrng--the fit.;; are r.;asouablc, .;.ntl
I.he receiver, The service life of thh; weapon is probably only a few round !i. foe finish is qui:e good.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-S012 FSTC 381-5012

c. Tc· load the pi1,tol, retract the bolt handle ano.l engage it in the arnall vertical
bare-els anti actions fitted •.vith hornemade stocks of varyiug 11hapes and sh.el:!. ,;lot at the ngllt of tlie long horizontal slot; then drop a cartridge into the chan�her
Because tliese homcma<te arm:; normally se,..�e th" guerrilla only ur.til he obtains tt.rouglt the kadin!l port loc:ate::l in u,e right side of the receiver . To fire, point the
a Letter weupon, their shoct service lift is not a great dt·awback. w,:;r,pvi; witl, th"' rigt·,\ l,ar,d and, tlise11g.<ging the bolt handle from the s m all slot,
allow (lie cornprcssi::ci driving s1,ring to force the boll forward uniil the ri:ce:.1
13. (V) PISTOLS
firing pin su•ikcs the primt:r,

,
"· The 9-,nm pistol picti:red in figure '.? is esser.tially a blowback-operated
t,(jbmacliinegun minus tho: ,nag;nine. Its receiv,n, barrel, and chamber-reinforcinir
piece arc made either of pipe or of thick-walled lubing, and fastened to the wooden

-·--· :_.. ...

grip assembly by means of two sheet-metal straps. To operate the pistol, retract
the bolt by pulling back on U:e machine screw until the bolt latches to the rear;
then drop a cartridge through the loading port in the right side of th e i,ecei ver and
into the cha m ber. The weapon fire11 from the open-bolt position. S�?1ce it ha!! ,......
• �·-.....'- ·- ·· ·\· .
��(·

ndther extractor nor ejector. cxtra�tion anJ ejection mi.1st be accomplh1hed by

retracting the bolt. and tlien shaking or prying the fired cartridge case out of the
chamber an:i through the loading port.

Figure 3 (UNCLASSIFIED), Viet Cong metol-stock pistol (U}.

d. The weapons described up to this point di!iplay a relati vely low level of in­
genuity o1m.t e(fort in their structure and manufact11re. The caliber . 32 semiauto­
matic pistol shown in figure 4, ho wever, although its design is con ventional in all
r1espectl:I, exhibits considerable ingenuity on the part of its creo1tor beca·..ise of the
difficultit!;; overcome in bringi:1g it into existence--it is completely ha:1Jmade,

e. If he does not have desig11 talent, the guerrilla artisan doe0s not heaitate to
pr:iJuce a copy 0f a proven pa ttern. t!S?ecially when a spt!ci:ne:1 is available.

r. Ouring the lime of the Fr �nch Wa,· in Indochina (1945-1954), a nurnher of

un:lergr:i;:inJ factori;,s pruducc:l weapo:u; a:lCl allied materiel fo r the va rio-.is irreg­
Figure 2 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong wooden-stock pi$lol (U), ul.Jr fo1·ces fighting there. The 9-m m Tirowning !Ii-Power pist:11 illustrated by
fi1prc "> wa.;;, accordill!l to th;, markia;is on the slide, 1m.,1UfactureJ at the Allieu
b. The barrt!l and receiver of the homemade single-shot pistol shown in National Army Military Manu!actory :-fumber 5, whkil wa.,. loe;,ted near Tay )1'111h,
figure 3 a1·e ma�e of two piece::i of pipe held together by pins, while the gflp is J\ ceport states that tiui.s plant produced r.p,:,ro,o.:uatcly a, 001, of these pistols. The
t. le1:gth o f fairly heavy wire bt:nt to sh:,pe and either welded or riveted to woricmanship exinl,it�d in this wea;,on Hi surprisrng--the fit.;; are r.;asouablc, .;.ntl
I.he receiver, The service life of thh; weapon is probably only a few round !i. foe finish is qui:e good.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
fS TC 38 '-5012 FSTC 381-5012

-- . -· .. . ..... -
H. (U) FUFLES

a. Homemade rifles run the gamut of design sophistic'1tion aml :nunu!acturing

complexities, !ram crude to well done. Oddly enough, the cruder the design, the
more effort is requfred in manufacture. 1'he re...son for lhis apparent anomaly i£
that as the de;:;igns become mare aophisticated, the HkellhooJ increases that the rifle
will incorporate major parts of a factory-made rifle.

b. The "rifle" shown in figure 6, actually a smoothbore "capvn, t.as a Larrel

made from a piece of pipe. Its breechblock pivots trar,svcrsely, and is al'lh:ulah!d
or, a common door hinge. The hammet' arrar:.gement strongly suggests that the
gun e1nploys pinfire ciu·tridges. and the absenci: of a triggel' ini.lica1es that tile !.!Ser
fire:; the piece by pressing down on tt>e hammer spur with his thumb to compress
the hammer spring, then releasei; the hammer spur to allow 11:e hammer to fly
foni.ard to fire the cartridge.

c. The buttstock apparently has been made of two miscellaneous pieces of woad
mitered together, but the forestock, as evidenced by the ffi(·tal fitting at its front
,md, was salvaged from a fact ory·madc weaJ>Or,,

fi91.1re 4 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong caliber . 32 pi.to! (U) •

. ,_ Fig·.>re 6 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vietnamue pin!ire (?) •holgun (U).

d. The .single-shot small arm seen in figure 7, alth ough be;,i·ing some l'esen.­
blance to a short-barrelled rifle, is actually a shotgun. Its method of operation
i.s unknown. Both the barrel and the receiver are made from a piece of pipe, and
are fastened lo the stock at the rear by mt.ans of a m.etal stt·ap, and at the front
I.Jy a metal block. whicb also .serves as a recoil shoulder. The trigget· pivots about
a screw which pas.sea; transvei·sely through the stock. and ir, this respect the ti·igger
mechanism 1-esemblc.s ti.at of the British Lee-Metford and Lee-tr.lield l'ifles. The
vertical finger-grip ribs an the cocking piece emphasize tt:is resemblance.

e. The remaining small arms iu this sec:tlan illustr&te same of the ws.y11 in
whkh the guerrilla will modify standard military weapons, either to return them
to u;;eable contlitioll or ta adapt them to his individual ideas of the weapon he wishes
ta be armed witil. A case in point is the modified French 8-mm Model 1907 / 15
Mannlicher-Rert!lier rifle silow:i i:l figure�.

Fi!;,ire 5 {UNCLA5S1FlfD). Vietnomese copy of 9-mm 8rownir,g pistol (U).

6 7

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
fS TC 38 '-5012 FSTC 381-5012

-- . -· .. . ..... -
H. (U) FUFLES

a. Homemade rifles run the gamut of design sophistic'1tion aml :nunu!acturing

complexities, !ram crude to well done. Oddly enough, the cruder the design, the
more effort is requfred in manufacture. 1'he re...son for lhis apparent anomaly i£
that as the de;:;igns become mare aophisticated, the HkellhooJ increases that the rifle
will incorporate major parts of a factory-made rifle.

b. The "rifle" shown in figure 6, actually a smoothbore "capvn, t.as a Larrel

made from a piece of pipe. Its breechblock pivots trar,svcrsely, and is al'lh:ulah!d
or, a common door hinge. The hammet' arrar:.gement strongly suggests that the
gun e1nploys pinfire ciu·tridges. and the absenci: of a triggel' ini.lica1es that tile !.!Ser
fire:; the piece by pressing down on tt>e hammer spur with his thumb to compress
the hammer spring, then releasei; the hammer spur to allow 11:e hammer to fly
foni.ard to fire the cartridge.

c. The buttstock apparently has been made of two miscellaneous pieces of woad
mitered together, but the forestock, as evidenced by the ffi(·tal fitting at its front
,md, was salvaged from a fact ory·madc weaJ>Or,,

fi91.1re 4 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong caliber . 32 pi.to! (U) •

. ,_ Fig·.>re 6 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vietnamue pin!ire (?) •holgun (U).

d. The .single-shot small arm seen in figure 7, alth ough be;,i·ing some l'esen.­
blance to a short-barrelled rifle, is actually a shotgun. Its method of operation
i.s unknown. Both the barrel and the receiver are made from a piece of pipe, and
are fastened lo the stock at the rear by mt.ans of a m.etal stt·ap, and at the front
I.Jy a metal block. whicb also .serves as a recoil shoulder. The trigget· pivots about
a screw which pas.sea; transvei·sely through the stock. and ir, this respect the ti·igger
mechanism 1-esemblc.s ti.at of the British Lee-Metford and Lee-tr.lield l'ifles. The
vertical finger-grip ribs an the cocking piece emphasize tt:is resemblance.

e. The remaining small arms iu this sec:tlan illustr&te same of the ws.y11 in
whkh the guerrilla will modify standard military weapons, either to return them
to u;;eable contlitioll or ta adapt them to his individual ideas of the weapon he wishes
ta be armed witil. A case in point is the modified French 8-mm Model 1907 / 15
Mannlicher-Rert!lier rifle silow:i i:l figure�.

Fi!;,ire 5 {UNCLA5S1FlfD). Vietnomese copy of 9-mm 8rownir,g pistol (U).

6 7

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381•5012

·-···- ··-----
·-·
��c:
fl
1
(•
=::::i'.'- r-c;---
,

f
.. dtle (U).
Figure 9 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Viet Cong modHied G,c

h. An even .simpler modification is shown in figure 10. The barrel and stock
of this C. S. cali�r . ::JO Ml917 Enfield rifle have been cut, and the front sight has
been remounted. The object oi such a conversion is to pL'Oduce a lighter rifl,:
which can be swung into firing position more rapidly, especially in the presence
of th,: dense undergrowth found in Vietnam.

\_.........
-= -d-1-c:..:. -�-::··:· · . · r·�- .. · - )-',:.: d�
.::...::..:, ----·.J..-
!

Figu,e 7 (UNClASSIFIED). Viot Cong $ho ti;iun (U).

figure 10 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cor19 modified M 1917 Enfie lcJ rifle (U).

;]'I ., 15. (C) SUB.\tACHlNEGUNS

a. (U) '!'he sul.imachinegi.m, 80 long .:.st.he ummun ition supply is adequate, is

a ()Opular gu,:r::-il.l.a we.:.pou, probably because of its compactne:;is, light weight,
and short-range effe.::tiveae,;s. Since the Vietnamese terrain lends itself to cover
antl conceal:nent, il i., not surprising 10 find ,he Viet Cong going to co:1siderable
!engrhs to supply tht:!nseh•es with this class oi individual weapon. The !ot1r item;;
Figure 8 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viot Cong modified Mannlid,or-Se,thier ,i£1 e (U). shown in this ;;tudy, all of wnich were ust:d in Vietn am, 11lu.itrate variou;; types
of dfort put inco the m.;nu!act11re of sulim«chineguns.
g. Another type of conversion has been perfanne<:J on lhe weapon shown in
figure 9, formerly a French 11-m:n .Model 1874 Gras l'iOe !n this case, sinc e b. (C) The 'Nc�,pon shown in figure 11, .:.ike some of the ;Ji.3tola and rifle., dis­
ammunition for t!iis wea;ion i.s almo.3t nonexistent, the barrel wa.:1 cut off to make cussed /H·e,·iously, has a barr.:�-and-rt:cei':cr a.Ssembly made of pipe, with tho var··
the weap.::m easier to handle.. and the cha:nuer wa;; alterer1 ;;lightly ..o th,n 410- ious pi,! c;es held togetJ,�r by pins. The grip frame has been made from i,·on s�rap,
gaugc shotgun i:;helis could be fired A homemade stock complete;; the pidure. .;.nd is wchlcu to the i·ccc:1:cr. The tr-ig�er-group and maga7.ine-housing a;;;;em­
hlies, also wc:l<leu io ihe receive1·, e·,idently !,�ve l>een salvaged from a standard
submachincgw, of u11J;11own origin.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381•5012

._.
=::::i'.'- r-c;---
·----·=er-
· -·. .._;..;::::
1
·-···- ··-----
��c:
·-· fl (• ,

.. dtle (U).
Figure 9 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Viet Cong modHied G,c

h. An even .simpler modification is shown in figure 10. The barrel and stock
of this C. S. cali�r . ::JO Ml917 Enfield rifle have been cut, and the front sight has
been remounted. The object oi such a conversion is to pL'Oduce a lighter rifl,:
which can be swung into firing position more rapidly, especially in the presence
of th,: dense undergrowth found in Vietnam.

\_.........
-= -d-1-c:..:.- -�-·--::··:· · .
-.
· r·�- .. · - )-',:.: d�
.::...::..:, ----·.J..-
!

Figu,e 7 (UNClASSIFIED). Viot Cong $ho ti;iun (U).

figure 10 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cor19 modified M 1917 Enfie lcJ rifle (U).

;]'I ., 15. (C) SUB.\tACHlNEGUNS

a. (U) '!'he sul.imachinegi.m, 80 long .:.st.he ummun ition supply is adequate, is

a ()Opular gu,:r::-il.l.a we.:.pou, probably because of its compactne:;is, light weight,
and short-range effe.::tiveae,;s. Since the Vietnamese terrain lends itself to cover
antl conceal:nent, il i., not surprising 10 find ,he Viet Cong going to co:1siderable
!engrhs to supply tht:!nseh•es with this class oi individual weapon. The !ot1r item;;
Figure 8 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viot Cong modified Mannlid,or-Se,thier ,i£1 e (U). shown in this ;;tudy, all of wnich were ust:d in Vietn am, 11lu.itrate variou;; types
of dfort put inco the m.;nu!act11re of sulim«chineguns.
g. Another type of conversion has been perfanne<:J on lhe weapon shown in
figure 9, formerly a French 11-m:n .Model 1874 Gras l'iOe !n this case, sinc e b. (C) The 'Nc�,pon shown in figure 11, .:.ike some of the ;Ji.3tola and rifle., dis­
ammunition for t!iis wea;ion i.s almo.3t nonexistent, the barrel wa.:1 cut off to make cussed /H·e,·iously, has a barr.:�-and-rt:cei':cr a.Ssembly made of pipe, with tho var··
the weap.::m easier to handle.. and the cha:nuer wa;; alterer1 ;;lightly ..o th,n 410- ious pi,! c;es held togetJ,�r by pins. The grip frame has been made from i,·on s�rap,
gaugc shotgun i:;helis could be fired A homemade stock complete;; the pidure. .;.nd is wchlcu to the i·ccc:1:cr. The tr-ig�er-group and maga7.ine-housing a;;;;em­
hlies, also wc:l<leu io ihe receive1·, e·,idently !,�ve l>een salvaged from a standard
submachincgw, of u11J;11own origin.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED FSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

fi91.1ro 11 (Ut-lCLASSIFIEO). Viel Cong $vbmochinegv n {U).

c. (U) Geographically speaking, the United Kingdom's Sten-eede11 submachine­

gun ls one of the most widespread we apons or its type ln the world, and it has been Fi9uu, 13 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong Steo-l)'P• $ubm ochl nog·Jn (vor iotion 2) (Ul.
copied by a number of countries with varying degrees of fidelity to the ot·iginal
form. Tl,e two weapo ns shown in figures 12 and 13 were made In Vietnam, and c'I, (Cl The last oi the .submachinegu.ns prez:lented heri:in illustrate,$ the result
are based on the Mk.ll Sten gun. In fact, the pistol grips of each of them were of a falling ammunition supply and outside aid to guerrilla forces. Baaically the
probably moillfied from Bl·iti:;h-manufac:tured recoil ;;pring car- -.nd buUstock as­ weilpan, seen in figure 14, iii a French 9-mm �.'lAT-49 chambered for the 9-rrun
eeniblies. On the other hand, both nceivers are definitely not Sten pal'ts because P-arabellum cartridge. Wllen the 11upply of 9-mm ammunition ran low, and pt·os­
the magazine hou,;ings are attached to thti bottoms of tl,e re<:eivers, whereas thi>1 pects ot resupplr
: appeared dim, the North Vietnamese Army workshops, rather
housing h; fastened on th e left side of a Sten receiver. than scrap the weapon, rebarrelled it with a Chinese 1. 62-mm submachinegu.n
barrel and made new maga:dnes eo that the gun would fire the Soviet 7. 62-ro.m Type P
pistol and submachinegun cartridge and the various copies thereof. The only other
modification involved was the salvaging of the MAT-49 original front sights and the
mounting o( Chem on the new barrel.

�----
:i

I \,
j

,I r.!:!!!) •
.

figu,e 12 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viel Co� Sten-type svbmochineg"n (vori o lion I) (lJJ.

F; 9•.>1e 14 (UNCLASS lfl ED) . North Vietnomr.e modified MAT-49 (U).

11
10

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED FSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

fi91.1ro 11 (Ut-lCLASSIFIEO). Viel Cong $vbmochinegv n {U).

c. (U) Geographically speaking, the United Kingdom's Sten-eede11 submachine­

gun ls one of the most widespread we apons or its type ln the world, and it has been Fi9uu, 13 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cong Steo-l)'P• $ubm ochl nog·Jn (vor iotion 2) (Ul.
copied by a number of countries with varying degrees of fidelity to the ot·iginal
form. Tl,e two weapo ns shown in figures 12 and 13 were made In Vietnam, and
are based on the Mk.ll Sten gun. In fact, the pistol grips of each of them were
• the result
c'I, (Cl The last oi the .submachinegu.ns prez:lented heri:in illustrate,$
of a falling ammunition supply and outside aid to guerrilla forces. Baaically the
probably moillfied from Bl·iti:;h-manufac:tured recoil ;;pring car- -.nd buUstock as­ weilpan, seen in figure 14, iii a French 9-mm �.'lAT-49 chambered for the 9-rrun
eeniblies. On the other hand, both nceivers are definitely not Sten pal'ts because P-arabellum cartridge. Wllen the 11upply of 9-mm ammunition ran low, and pt·os­
the magazine hou,;ings are attached to thti bottoms of tl,e re<:eivers, whereas thi>1 pects ot resupplr
: appeared dim, the North Vietnamese Army workshops, rather
housing h; fastened on th e left side of a Sten receiver. than scrap the weapon, rebarrelled it with a Chinese 1. 62-mm submachinegu.n

-
barrel and made new maga:dnes eo that the gun would fire the Soviet 7. 62-ro.m Type P
pistol and submachinegun cartridge and the various copies thereof. The only other
modification involved was the salvaging of the MAT-49 original front sights and the
mounting o( Chem on the new barrel.

�----
:i

I \,
,I r.!:!!!) •
.

figu,e 12 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viel Co� Sten-type svbmochineg"n (vori o lion I) (lJJ.

F; 9•.>1e 14 (UNCLASS lfl ED) . North Vietnomr.e modified MAT-49 (U).

11
10

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
fSTC 381-501:l
16 (U) �1AC.:!IlNEGVNS
Ia. (U) The tube of the smoothbore Model S.S.A. is a p,ece o! pipe a?proximately
H.elat·�t:ly few machinegun;; have apptared in �crrilla n.ovt:ments, and only 4 i I 2 feel long. having an extra section shri.utk around its center Ior reinforcement.
om: of them ha;; 1,eeu >10 modified aa to medl inclusion in this !Hudy. TIie wt:apon f
' wo sighting devices are provided, One device consists of a bliocle front sight and
pi.ctU!'Cd iu figu!·t: 15 originally wai. a f,'rt:nch 7. 5 • mff. Model AV -34 flexible air­ a V -notch rear sight, both mounted on the reinforcing .sleeve; tho other consists of
e raft n,ach.incgun. 'l'lie guerrilla who reworked the l,a;;i<; gun added a haudguard, a tube sight containing an apert1Jl'e and croashai.r mountcJ on the left aide of the
a ,ihoulder SlO<;k �alvuged from a .Freuch Chatt:llt:ruult Model 24/2:1 automatic t11be. The tripod mount is made of pieces of angled metal joined to a hub which
,•in.,, and a rt:ar sight which ai,vear,1 to be a eur�ivor of (he !o'ranco-Prussiar, War. contains a tapered bushing. A circular clamp surrounding the barrel has a tapered
pia pivoted to its bottom for 'lttaching the tube to the t,·ipod. 'rhe weapon traverses
freely, but elevation i;; accomplished by means oi a threaded shaft extending from

·-··--4·,.
a dam? around the rear of the tube to an arm attached to the mounting clamp.

. • '- • -
·• .._. } •· "·'�i-=-_,
r--
·
•.;;=... . --· ..
'. :
J
.
-: .
•-: \
·
- _.:::.; -
19. (UI 'l'he total weight of the weapon is approximately 72 powtds. The specimen
illustratacl has a nominal bore diameter of 60 mm; a 66-mm version alt10 exists.

20. {UI A variant of the last weapon it1 illu.it:rated in figure 17. 'l'he variant differ,;
A
:::>"
in thi<t it i::i a ro::kct launcher, and in that its mount embodiea a aector plate and a
wingnut to p,·ovide e,evation adjustment. The latter weapon fa breech loaded, where­
! as the former ii. muzzle loaded. Both weapons nre electrically initiated am!nunitiuu.

figure 15 (UNCLASSIFIED). Modifi ed AV-34 oiruoft moc:t..ir.egtJn (U).

Sect1cn 'I. (U) RECOILLESS AND ROCKET WEAPONS

l 7 (Ul Homt::madc recoilless and rocket weapons arc almost as scarce among
guerrilla forces as are machineguus. The Model s. S. A. recoilles,i gun shown in

-
flg•.u·e 16 was made either in !'forth Vietnam or in a Vit:t Cong safe area, aa it
anJ its ammunition req,1ire fairly exten;;ive shop facilities for manufacture.

' (
1L
. ,.�

...
'
Figvn! 17 (UNClASSIFIEO). Viel Cong rocker launcher (U).

•
Fi9ure 16 (UNCLASSIFlfD}. Mod�I S. S.A. recoilless gun (U).

12
13

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
fSTC 381-501:l
16 (U) �1AC.:!IlNEGVNS
Ia. (U) The tube of the smoothbore Model S.S.A. is a p,ece o! pipe a?proximately
H.elat·�t:ly few machinegun;; have apptared in �crrilla n.ovt:ments, and only 4 i I 2 feel long. having an extra section shri.utk around its center Ior reinforcement.
om: of them ha;; 1,eeu >10 modified aa to medl inclusion in this !Hudy. TIie wt:apon f
' wo sighting devices are provided, One device consists of a bliocle front sight and
pi.ctU!'Cd iu figu!·t: 15 originally wai. a f,'rt:nch 7. 5 • mff. Model AV -34 flexible air­ a V -notch rear sight, both mounted on the reinforcing .sleeve; tho other consists of
e raft n,ach.incgun. 'l'lie guerrilla who reworked the l,a;;i<; gun added a haudguard, a tube sight containing an apert1Jl'e and croashai.r mountcJ on the left aide of the
a ,ihoulder SlO<;k �alvuged from a .Freuch Chatt:llt:ruult Model 24/2:1 automatic t11be. The tripod mount is made of pieces of angled metal joined to a hub which
,•in.,, and a rt:ar sight which ai,vear,1 to be a eur�ivor of (he !o'ranco-Prussiar, War. contains a tapered bushing. A circular clamp surrounding the barrel has a tapered
pia pivoted to its bottom for 'lttaching the tube to the t,·ipod. 'rhe weapon traverses
freely, but elevation i;; accomplished by means oi a threaded shaft extending from

·-··--4·,.
a dam? around the rear of the tube to an arm attached to the mounting clamp.

19. (UI 'l'he total weight of the weapon is approximately 72 powtds. The specimen
. • '- • illustratacl has a nominal bore diameter of 60 mm; a 66-mm version alt10 exists.
·• .._. } •· "·'�i-=-_,
r--

•.;;=... . --· ..
· .
·
J -: . - _.:::.; -
'. : •-: \
20. {UI A variant of the last weapon it1 illu.it:rated in figure 17. 'l'he variant differ,;
A
:::>"
in thi<t it i::i a ro::kct launcher, and in that its mount embodiea a aector plate and a
wingnut to p,·ovide e,evation adjustment. The latter weapon fa breech loaded, where­ •
! as the former ii. muzzle loaded. Both weapons nre electrically initiated am!nunitiuu.

figure 15 (UNCLASSIFIED). Modifi ed AV-34 oiruoft moc:t..ir.egtJn (U).

Sect1cn 'I. (U) RECOILLESS AND ROCKET WEAPONS

l 7 (Ul Homt::madc recoilless and rocket weapons arc almost as scarce among
guerrilla forces as are machineguus. The Model s. S. A. recoilles,i gun shown in

-
flg•.u·e 16 was made either in !'forth Vietnam or in a Vit:t Cong safe area, aa it
anJ its ammunition req,1ire fairly exten;;ive shop facilities for manufacture.

. ,.�

...
'
Figvn! 17 (UNClASSIFIEO). Viel Cong rocker launcher (U).

Fi9ure 16 (UNCLASSIFlfD}. Mod�I S. S.A. recoilless gun (U).

12
13

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UMCLAS!ilFIED
fSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

S ection VI. (U� LAND MINES

23, (U) Durir.g the Koreion W;; r, North Korean Forces occrisionally m3;Je goad
i I. (Li) The guerrilla operation, being essentially a hit-and-t·un affair, lenda use of the oil-Jrum mine which consists of a 55-gallon dr-.im-- a lOO-poa:-.d wooden
ia;df especially wt:11 to the imarinative use of land mines as a means of creating nail keg w oul:l serve ju s,t aa well--filled with rock. a charge of e xplo sive , and a
an atmosphere of terror amongst tbe populace and of harassing opposing militar y n umber of time fu ses. The uaer of this. de·,rke place1:1 i: .!phill from the anticipated
,1nd .,;ccurity force,;, Siuce factory-made firir:g devices are often in sl,ort supi:,ly, route of his target. At the appropriate moment he light.s the f u ses, and then rolls
on.a natural solution ii. to u.;e an item which contains its own firing de.-ice--the fae dru;u do·..vn the hill where, if the fuse.s have been cut to the correct lengtl;, It
J,;;,n<J grtnao.J.e. explodes among the enemy. Multiple fuses should al ways be used ',l,ith such devices
to in�ure that at lea>1t one of them >1urvives tt,e downl1ill roll to initiate lbe explosive
2'.!. (U) There a,·e many w;,ys in which a hand grenade can be used as a ruiue-­ charge.
it can be lied iu a bush and a wire ::an be led from the safety r ing across il t rail:
Ol' it can Le inserted into a bag coulaining a chal'(�e of explosive, anr.l th us serve
� .. a fuz;,. The application :,iilo wn in figu re 18 wa!l devised by the British d uri ng

It/'
Wa1•ld Wai· II an:l cunsisls of a hand gre:1ade, a tin can which is j11st lar 1re enough e LBS. TNT r:;,--4 TIME FUSES
to fit over the gninade and its safety lever, and t wo lengths of string or w · ire.
1
One len5lh vl wire is [astenec1 to the can, and then tied to a stake, bush, or :Cence­ ,,,
JJOst, The othe r length of wire 1s fa.otened to the grenade in such a way that it can·
not interfe,·e with the fu1,ction of the iu�e. and is then atretched a(!roaa a road or
pathway. The grenade ii. then inserted into the till can, and the aafety rlng and
pin.are Witiidrawn. A pull on the wire stret.:hed acrosa the path will separate the
g1·enade iro m the ca11, allowing the grenade fu�e to iunction in the normal manner,

55-GAL. DAUM

Figure 19 (UNCLASSIFIED). NDfth Koreon oil-drvm mi ne (U}.

24. (l') 'l'he adveni of World War II found the Soviet Union unprepared to wage
mine warfare an an ext<lnsive scu.le and, as a result, both infantry a11d engineer
troovs were trained to improvise mines in the fidd from available materials.
,' Mi:les i mprovised by the infantry were generally much simple r than those impro­
vised by the engineers, especial ly in terms of the facil itiei.i used in their fabri­
cation . However, the former were by no means less ingenious in their i1tructure.
Figv,e 18 (UN( LASSlFIE D). Bri tisn grem:iclc,-in-c:on mi ne (U).

�5. {U) Prol>ably the ai:nplest of all thes� mines consist,; <>fa convemem charge
ol expl osive wired to a stake, a pull-actuated fu::";, and a tripwil'e anchored to a
�ecor,ti stake (tov panel of figure 20). Wht:r. the wire is pulle<l, the fuze ir.it-
14 1atei; lt.c cl,arg�. If the te1Tair. is ouitable, th.is in:stallaticm can Le improveci by

15
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 \
UNCLASSIFIED UMCLAS!ilFIED
fSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

S ection VI. (U� LAND MINES

23, (U) Durir.g the Koreion W;; r, North Korean Forces occrisionally m3;Je goad
i I. (Li) The guerrilla operation, being essentially a hit-and-t·un affair, lenda use of the oil-Jrum mine which consists of a 55-gallon dr-.im-- a lOO-poa:-.d wooden
ia;df especially wt:11 to the imarinative use of land mines as a means of creating nail keg w oul:l serve ju s,t aa well--filled with rock. a charge of e xplo sive , and a
an atmosphere of terror amongst tbe populace and of harassing opposing militar y n umber of time fu ses. The uaer of this. de·,rke place1:1 i: .!phill from the anticipated
,1nd .,;ccurity force,;, Siuce factory-made firir:g devices are often in sl,ort supi:,ly, route of his target. At the appropriate moment he light.s the f u ses, and then rolls
on.a natural solution ii. to u.;e an item which contains its own firing de.-ice--the fae dru;u do·..vn the hill where, if the fuse.s have been cut to the correct lengtl;, It
J,;;,n<J grtnao.J.e. explodes among the enemy. Multiple fuses should al ways be used ',l,ith such devices
to in�ure that at lea>1t one of them >1urvives tt,e downl1ill roll to initiate lbe explosive
2'.!. (U) There a,·e many w;,ys in which a hand grenade can be used as a ruiue-­ charge.
it can be lied iu a bush and a wire ::an be led from the safety r ing across il t rail:
Ol' it can Le inserted into a bag coulaining a chal'(�e of explosive, anr.l th us serve
� .. a fuz;,. The application :,iilo wn in figu re 18 wa!l devised by the British d uri ng

It/'
Wa1•ld Wai· II an:l cunsisls of a hand gre:1ade, a tin can which is j11st lar 1re enough e LBS. TNT r:;,--4 TIME FUSES
to fit over the gninade and its safety lever, and t wo lengths of string or w · ire.
1
One len5lh vl wire is [astenec1 to the can, and then tied to a stake, bush, or :Cence­ ,,,
JJOst, The othe r length of wire 1s fa.otened to the grenade in such a way that it can·
not interfe,·e with the fu1,ction of the iu�e. and is then atretched a(!roaa a road or
pathway. The grenade ii. then inserted into the till can, and the aafety rlng and
pin.are Witiidrawn. A pull on the wire stret.:hed acrosa the path will separate the
g1·enade iro m the ca11, allowing the grenade fu�e to iunction in the normal manner,

55-GAL. DAUM

Figure 19 (UNCLASSIFIED). NDfth Koreon oil-drvm mi ne (U}.

24. (l') 'l'he adveni of World War II found the Soviet Union unprepared to wage
mine warfare an an ext<lnsive scu.le and, as a result, both infantry a11d engineer
troovs were trained to improvise mines in the fidd from available materials.
Mi:les i mprovised by the infantry were generally much simple r than those impro­
vised by the engineers, especial ly in terms of the facil itiei.i used in their fabri­
cation . However, the former were by no means less ingenious in their i1tructure.
Figv,e 18 (UN( LASSlFIE D). Bri tisn grem:iclc,-in-c:on mi ne (U).

�5. {U) Prol>ably the ai:nplest of all thes� mines consist,; <>fa convemem charge
ol expl osive wired to a stake, a pull-actuated fu::";, and a tripwil'e anchored to a
�ecor,ti stake (tov panel of figure 20). Wht:r. the wire is pulle<l, the fuze ir.it-
14 1atei; lt.c cl,arg�. If the te1Tair. is ouitable, th.is in:stallaticm can Le improveci by

15
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLJ.\SSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

/�=.��.: ' ,.
FSTC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012
26. (11} A somewhat 11: orc corr.plex mine, i;hown in figur-e 20 (center paneH, con ·
sh,ts of a charge of ei<pl osive, a puU-,<clu ated fu ze, and a pi...-oted pressure t.o;.1•c.l.
A wire :::onnects the fu.:e 's striker ret:lining pin with one enc.I of the l,o.,,rd, a flimsy

· ·-
pi1�ng rocks around the charge .!\lthough
. this device has the advantage of l,eing
s;,ipµort s·..iclt as ,, lal'ge twig preve nts the c;ther em: of the board from rr.ovir.g tlovm­
:nade and ins!alled very ea1:1ily. it c an be detected ju,st a .. easily.
ward while the device ls being l;,id and camouflaged. A s with the last mir.e, r ocks
• ca.r. be piled a.r ound Hie explosive charge to provide s ome fragmeot�tion tCfect.

n
21. (U} 1.'be two mines ju.st de scribe::c.l are de::finit�ly infantry mine,;--simple in
concept, ma nufacture, ar.d Installation. The third mine in this series, al:.o pie·
lured in figure 20 (bottom panel}, is more complicated in that the ortlinarily prud'<)nt
person sent to install it would not do so until he had assurtcd himself that the elec­
tl'ic contact was in fact open by c:heckbg this pcint with a circuit tester· - an equip·
i� ment not normally included in infantry s-ipplle!i. Except for this point, the mine
.
• .' ',, ',,
is relatively simple in both manufacture and in stallation, consfating ot a cha1·11e
of explosive, some stones or miscellaneous metal scraps, a few boards, a battery,
'.: i " . ,,t:'•.. l ::11 t1 .:., ,(r1f �! \t/,t. I
a doorbell-type contaci. and an electric detonator. When either miln or bea,;t :.teps
:. : . f' · ..I ",:i
on the pressure bo ard, the circa! t is closed an<! the mine detonates.

lB. (U} The th ree mines just Jesc ribed, prim�rily l>ec.:.use of their simplicity
of mam.:.f acture, h ave l,e::en categorized a,s inf antry items. The ne)(t two are not so

,r•
easy to make, and therefore are clas;;ified a,; en gineer items.

2&. (U} 1'he device kr.own as tt:.e lever tread mine, illu:.tr ated in figure 21, con ­
afat.s of a wooden box contllin.ing a charge of explosive, a pull-actuated fuze, and a
tilting lid which is free to rotate about a fulc1·um. A wfre il:l attache::d to the striker
1·etaining pin in the fuie, and to a screw or nail in oue ccge of the lid. This mi�
. , ii; normally l aid below the surface of the ground. Whe n the upper end of tt:e lid
\ · : .; ;( ) .'.,\ . ~ 111 I • . t
is forced down, tbe wire attached to the lower end of the lid pulls the stl'il<e,· re­
t aining pin out of the fuze to initiate the charge of explosive.

30. (U) Tl,e sees aw mine :;hown ii; figuro; 22 is a n:orc corr.pl.icat,:,J ·:e:·sion of
the leYer trca:·I mine just discussul. Althougt. tbeir :;tr,:ctt:r <os ar(; notictabJ:,.
diffe1·e:1t, tbc pr·inciple o[ opention is the sr,mc--;, wire att.,cheu t o u ph o ti1;g
l>o;, r cl withclraw:.1 the striker 1·daini111i pin fr·-.a:i a pull·o1ctuat.-ci f,;ze:. Thi,; 1Jesi1;r,
is somcwh�,t ws.slt:fui of fuzo,s, as lw o :; re ,·.,quit-eel fo r er.ch :n:ne, «s c o n,parc<I
to or:tc for the lever t1·ci;.d mine On the othe r h an<I. :, foot JJIBc ,;,d 011 ci 1h,;,1· end
of the tiltbo ani will �ct\JatE: the see:. aw miJ;c where a:;, with the h:ve!" tread mi11e.
~IC:t,l CR >I IRJ\ Pl~tl
)[i(
IIIE' foot mi::;t be plc\c+e,t o n the upper end fu r achJ:otjon .

31. (U} In .Algel'ia, the 11a.tivo, ?r ont dE: Libct·ation N<it:oualc (:'{atlc.mal l.ilJet· al.�o:s
.fi r ont) (1'' 1,1\} n: ade thtir owu speci.il c ou1.r-ibuti on t<• t:he lore oi i ,Hp ro.,,i.:;,ed :nines.
j.AAU .. (. • ~ RC,L'

llnwevo,r, because the i-'i·e nch fo rce:; were to a grei; t extent :n echaniz cd, Irie .FL�
mir.cs lean mo1·c he avily towar<l l>cic,g antjvcJ,icular r·.athe:· ih;;.H rrn�ip.; rsunncl :te!n.5.

t. 32. (U) A ver y co m:n o,1 r'L:,.i anti·.-ehiclc · ;nine· is shown iu figure 23 i n the sec­
1 1

tiou .:!:-,wing of;;. roa<l. The de·�ic<? is "ctually an u1\case:J cnarge of c1q:lo;.;:..vc
Figure 20 (UNCLASSIFIED). Soviel improvi$ed infonlry mines {U).
which fills a loole scooped from the ,.;enter of tJ1c roaJbed. 'l'he road ;;·.u·f ace j.";

11
16

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLJ.\SSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

/�=.��.: ' ,.
FSTC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012
26. (11} A somewhat 11: orc corr.plex mine, i;hown in figur-e 20 (center paneH, con ·
sh,ts of a charge of ei<pl osive, a puU-,<clu ated fu ze, and a pi...-oted pressure t.o;.1•c.l.
A wire :::onnects the fu.:e 's striker ret:lining pin with one enc.I of the l,o.,,rd, a flimsy

· ·-
pi1�ng rocks around the charge .!\lthough
. this device has the advantage of l,eing
s;,ipµort s·..iclt as ,, lal'ge twig preve nts the c;ther em: of the board from rr.ovir.g tlovm­
:nade and ins!alled very ea1:1ily. it c an be detected ju,st a .. easily.
ward while the device ls being l;,id and camouflaged. A s with the last mir.e, r ocks
ca.r. be piled a.r ound Hie explosive charge to provide s ome fragmeot�tion tCfect.

n
21. (U} 1.'be two mines ju.st de scribe::c.l are de::finit�ly infantry mine,;--simple in
concept, ma nufacture, ar.d Installation. The third mine in this series, al:.o pie·
lured in figure 20 (bottom panel}, is more complicated in that the ortlinarily prud'<)nt
person sent to install it would not do so until he had assurtcd himself that the elec­
tl'ic contact was in fact open by c:heckbg this pcint with a circuit tester· - an equip·
i� ment not normally included in infantry s-ipplle!i. Except for this point, the mine
.
• .' ',, ',,
is relatively simple in both manufacture and in stallation, consfating ot a cha1·11e
of explosive, some stones or miscellaneous metal scraps, a few boards, a battery,
'.: i " . ,,t:'•.. l ::11 t1 .:., ,(r1f �! \t/,t. I
a doorbell-type contaci. and an electric detonator. When either miln or bea,;t :.teps
:. : . f' · ..I ",:i
on the pressure bo ard, the circa! t is closed an<! the mine detonates.

lB. (U} The th ree mines just Jesc ribed, prim�rily l>ec.:.use of their simplicity
of mam.:.f acture, h ave l,e::en categorized a,s inf antry items. The ne)(t two are not so

,r•
easy to make, and therefore are clas;;ified a,; en gineer items.

2&. (U} 1'he device kr.own as tt:.e lever tread mine, illu:.tr ated in figure 21, con ­
afat.s of a wooden box contllin.ing a charge of explosive, a pull-actuated fuze, and a
tilting lid which is free to rotate about a fulc1·um. A wfre il:l attache::d to the striker
1·etaining pin in the fuie, and to a screw or nail in oue ccge of the lid. This mi�
. , ii; normally l aid below the surface of the ground. Whe n the upper end of tt:e lid
is forced down, tbe wire attached to the lower end of the lid pulls the stl'il<e,· re­
;(
,
t aining pin out of the fuze to initiate the charge of explosive.

30. (U) Tl,e sees aw mine :;hown ii; figuro; 22 is a n:orc corr.pl.icat,:,J ·:e:·sion of
the leYer trca:·I mine just discussul. Althougt. tbeir :;tr,:ctt:r <os ar(; notictabJ:,.
•
diffe1·e:1t, tbc pr·inciple o[ opention is the sr,mc--;, wire att.,cheu t o u ph o ti1;g
l>o;, r cl withclraw:.1 the striker 1·daini111i pin fr·-.a:i a pull·o1ctuat.-ci f,;ze:. Thi,; 1Jesi1;r,
is somcwh�,t ws.slt:fui of fuzo,s, as lw o :; re ,·.,quit-eel fo r er.ch :n:ne, «s c o n,parc<I
to or:tc for the lever t1·ci;.d mine On the othe r h an<I. :, foot JJIBc ,;,d 011 ci 1h,;,1· end
of the tiltbo ani will �ct\JatE: the see:. aw miJ;c where a:;, with the h:ve!" tread mi11e.
IIIE' foot mi::;t be plc\c+e,t o n the upper end fu r achJ:otjon .

31. (U} In .Algel'ia, the 11a.tivo, ?r ont dE: Libct·ation N<it:oualc (:'{atlc.mal l.ilJet· al.�o:s
.fi r ont) (1'' 1,1\} n: ade thtir owu speci.il c ou1.r-ibuti on t<• t:he lore oi i ,Hp ro.,,i.:;,ed :nines.
llnwevo,r, because the i-'i·e nch fo rce:; were to a grei; t extent :n echaniz cd, Irie .FL�
mir.cs lean mo1·c he avily towar<l l>cic,g antjvcJ,icular r·.athe:· ih;;.H rrn�ip.; rsunncl :te!n.5.

t. 32. (U) A ver y co m:n o,1 r'L:,.i anti·.-ehiclc · ;nine· is shown iu figure 23 i n the sec­
1 1

tiou .:!:-,wing of;;. roa<l. The de·�ic<? is "ctually an u1\case:J cnarge of c1q:lo;.;:..vc
Figure 20 (UNCLASSIFIED). Soviel improvi$ed infonlry mines {U).
which fills a loole scooped from the ,.;enter of tJ1c roaJbed. 'l'he road ;;·.u·f ace j.";

11
16

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 i
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED I
!
FSTC 381-5012 i' !.
FSTC 3il1-50l2

carefully cut, lifted, &nd then replliced to minimize the signs tha� it haa been di::1 -
krbed. The explo::1ive is fired when the wheel of .. vehicle passes over an electric

•
firing devjc,e or contact placed on the edge of the road or in a wheel track. At
fir-st glance. the fiat stonEs placed on top of the explosive clui.rge might appear to
t:r,,ve been put tt,ere to make this mine perform as a plate charge mine. However,
since &1ny reasonable <ellploslve charge will sh atter thei;e stones, thefr tn:e function
1:iore probably Is to llupp:irt the replaced road sudace.

HPlolCeD ROAD
SIIU�CINC.

D£l0Pl4T0l

Fiqure 21 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Soviet lever tread min• {U),

Figure 23 {UNCLASSIFIED). FLN ontivehicle mine (U).

<I
I
33. {U) An antilift mine can be made from an artillery shell, aa figure 24 shows.

4..A�-· ··1/: r-
~ ii. . The uppe1· detonato r is connected to a pressure-operated firing device which is

i t .
I ' .,
not shown. The lower detonator· is co:inected to batteries witbin the shell body,
and to a contact box also within the shell body. The box consists of a tubular in­
.sulator having a metal end plate which i.i connected to the detonator . A sliding
metal block within the insulator tube is connected to th e batteries,

34. (U) lf the external contact is closed, the mine detonate;;, destroying all pos­
sibility of determining its structure, On the other hand, if the mine is discovered,
the pet·son attempting to neutralize it will cut the external le�ds in the prescribed
't, - J'ashion--one at a tinie--thus disconnecting only the upper dcton...tor. When the
nose of the shell i:o li(ted, tbe .sliding block contacts the metal end plate, completillg
the circuit through tbe lower detonator, and ll;e mine explod�8.
Figt1re 22 (UNCLASSIFIED). Sc,iel $eesow mine (U).
..
t8 19

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
 i
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED I
!
FSTC 381-5012 i' !.
FSTC 3il1-50l2

carefully cut, lifted, &nd then replliced to minimize the signs tha� it haa been di::1 -
krbed. The explo::1ive is fired when the wheel of .. vehicle passes over an electric

•
firing devjc,e or contact placed on the edge of the road or in a wheel track. At
fir-st glance. the fiat stonEs placed on top of the explosive clui.rge might appear to
t:r,,ve been put tt,ere to make this mine perform as a plate charge mine. However,
since &1ny reasonable <ellploslve charge will sh atter thei;e stones, thefr tn:e function
1:iore probably Is to llupp:irt the replaced road sudace.

HPlolCeD ROAD
SIIU�CINC.

D£l0Pl4T0l

Fiqure 21 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Soviet lever tread min• {U),

Figure 23 {UNCLASSIFIED). FLN ontivehicle mine (U).

<I
I
33. {U) An antilift mine can be made from an artillery shell, aa figure 24 shows.

4..A�-· ··1/: r-
The uppe1· detonato r is connected to a pressure-operated firing device which is
not shown. The lower detonator· is co:inected to batteries witbin the shell body,
and to a contact box also within the shell body. The box consists of a tubular in­
.sulator having a metal end plate which i.i connected to the detonator . A sliding
metal block within the insulator tube is connected to th e batteries,

34. (U) lf the external contact is closed, the mine detonate;;, destroying all pos­
sibility of determining its structure, On the other hand, if the mine is discovered,
the pet·son attempting to neutralize it will cut the external le�ds in the prescribed
't, - J'ashion--one at a tinie--thus disconnecting only the upper dcton...tor. When the
nose of the shell i:o li(ted, tbe .sliding block contacts the metal end plate, completillg
the circuit through tbe lower detonator, and ll;e mine explod�8.
Figt1re 22 (UNCLASSIFIED). Sc,iel $eesow mine (U).
..
t8 19

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
 '!

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381•5012

DETONAtOU

WOOOE!i �lUG

fOUGASSE

MET.Al PlAU

Figvre 24 (UNCLASSIFIED). flN ontilift mine (U).

SCRAP METAL WA.OD:NG
8LA(K POWOH
:l5. (U) The FLN ln Algr.ria were 9lso par'tial to the fougessu. an ancient devlcoe,
which resemble;; nothl11g so much as an overgrown shot6un. Tht: fougas�e is most
C,)n1111only «tr.-,ed Across a road, aad, when properly loaded, will damage thlu­
siinnetl vehicle;; as wdl as kill troops. The top panel of figure 25 shows the entire
iru:1tallation, iuc ludlng the electric contact which is place d across the road from the
exploding part, while the bo,,om panel shows in deta:l the struct1.11·e o f the charge
purt:on of the foug:,sse emphasf:z;ing its rellemblance to a shotgun. The maker of
this dev�ce cx�rc:sed h:s imag:nation when he chose to use the filament of a light
bu�b to Jn:t:ate the propellant cha:::-ge.
WADDING
Section VIL (C) FIRING OfVICES
DITA.IL Of U\f'lACEO EXPLOSIVE CHARGE

36. (11) GENlsttAL

Figure 25 (UNCLA>SIFIED). FLN fov90$Se (U).
a. A mine or bonhytr::.p it1 essentially ;;. concca�ed charge of explo;;ive equi;.,;:-ed
with a device to iniliate the explo;;ive either at scrue predetermined lime or upon
the occarrence of ;;o.:ne ;;;.,ecific event. The g·..1errilla•s c:.;,pability to manufacture b, The distinction between a firing device and a fuze. although somewhat
the explo�ive portion of these de\l'ice.:1 is generallj limited, by the complexity of academic , i!I thia--a firing device l!i a fuze without a detonator.
the processe3 involved, to µackaging factory-made material. However, tile mam.1-
fa�tu,·e or iirin� device;; and fu zea is not nearly so difiicult a task. As a res·..11t.
t•
considerable attention ha;; been paid to ihe subject, resulting in the d evelopment
of a variety of deVicea

Zl
20

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 '!

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381•5012

DETONAtOU

WOOOE!i �lUG

fOUGASSE

MET.Al PlAU

Figvre 24 (UNCLASSIFIED). flN ontilift mine (U).

SCRAP METAL WA.OD:NG
8LA(K POWOH
:l5. (U) The FLN ln Algr.ria were 9lso par'tial to the fougessu. an ancient devlcoe,
which resemble;; nothl11g so much as an overgrown shot6un. Tht: fougas�e is most
C,)n1111only «tr.-,ed Across a road, aad, when properly loaded, will damage thlu­
siinnetl vehicle;; as wdl as kill troops. The top panel of figure 25 shows the entire
iru:1tallation, iuc ludlng the electric contact which is place d across the road from the
exploding part, while the bo,,om panel shows in deta:l the struct1.11·e o f the charge
purt:on of the foug:,sse emphasf:z;ing its rellemblance to a shotgun. The maker of
this dev�ce cx�rc:sed h:s imag:nation when he chose to use the filament of a light
bu�b to Jn:t:ate the propellant cha:::-ge.
WADDING
Section VIL (C) FIRING OfVICES
DITA.IL Of U\f'lACEO EXPLOSIVE CHARGE

36. (11) GENlsttAL

Figure 25 (UNCLA>SIFIED). FLN fov90$Se (U).
a. A mine or bonhytr::.p it1 essentially ;;. concca�ed charge of explo;;ive equi;.,;:-ed
with a device to iniliate the explo;;ive either at scrue predetermined lime or upon
the occarrence of ;;o.:ne ;;;.,ecific event. The g·..1errilla•s c:.;,pability to manufacture b, The distinction between a firing device and a fuze. although somewhat
the explo�ive portion of these de\l'ice.:1 is generallj limited, by the complexity of academic , i!I thia--a firing device l!i a fuze without a detonator.
the processe3 involved, to µackaging factory-made material. However, tile mam.1-
fa�tu,·e or iirin� device;; and fu zea is not nearly so difiicult a task. As a res·..11t.
t•
considerable attention ha;; been paid to ihe subject, resulting in the d evelopment
of a variety of deVicea

Zl

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSlC 381-5012 FSK 381-5012

wired that when either pair is touched by the ::an, a circuit is completed. A bat­
37. (U) NONDELAY DEVICES te1·y then fires an electric i.leton.ator and the cl<plosive charge. If the tl'ipwire is
pulled, the can rides up within the frame and closes the top ,:,air of contac:ts; Ii the
a Probably the :nost widely used type of firing tltvice embodies a spring­ wire is cut or broken, gravity causes the ::an to drop ;i.nd close the bottom pair
loaded striker ,vhich i>1 htld U\ the cocked position by a retaining pm, and actuated
of contacts.
by the pull oi a ·.virc atu.cheu to tlus pin. Ii the pin is formed in the shape of the
letter T, the device also can be a1·ranged to operate by pressure. Almo.st eve1·y ' l
country whlch manufacture!! these devices i.si;ue.s tl,em with the T-shaped pin.s
in.stalled, thus eliminating a ,;epa1·ate, pressure-operatec device from its logi.s tic
s:;stcn:.

b. The fuze shov.T. in figure 26 is a nondelay device. and was made in Algeria
by rebel (FLN) persor..nel, probably in a basement workshop. The t:out!ing is a
piece of tt.ir.-walled tubing, one end of which has been closed by hammering It over
a mandrel, The striker- has been turned from a piece of steel rod, and the spring
was probably pl'Ocured by midnight req-.lisilio:i from a junkyard. To complete the
pict'.lre, th"' maker has palled apart a round of !lmaU arms amm·J1ti.tio:1 and fastened
•
the empty cartridge case to the housing so tilat the striker can ffre the primer,
with the ,·es-.1lti!lg flasli initiating the detoaatur.

/OHOHATOII

I
=
J � - .·,mGIHfD :AN

\
SfltllCElt SPRING
\... ,o mH�G• <AU

Figure 26 (UNCLASSIFIED). FlN improvised lu:te (U).

c. Another variety of firing device operates either by tension (pull) or by

tension release. These devices are, cliaracteri.stically, installed with a taut trip­
wi:-e, an,l the :-<i:ease of tenoion occuri; when tl;e wire either is unwittingly bi·oken
or 1s delibcrate:y cut In e,ther case tlie cevice operates. and the charge of ex­
plosive to which it is conn,;cte,i explodes.

d. During World War II the British designed several devices of this type, and
tuined their troops to make them In the field.

e. One of the British devices employed a weighted can to keep the tripwire in
t 10 clfCHIC O;IONATO,

tension as shown in figure 27. The frame which hou11es the can includes two pairs
of electric cuntacts .. 011e at the top of the fra:ne and the other at the bottom, so figur.t 27 (UNCLASSIFIED). �rifoh wei9hted-con firing device (U).

22 23

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSlC 381-5012 FSK 381-5012

wired that when either pair is touched by the ::an, a circuit is completed. A bat­
37. (U) NONDELAY DEVICES te1·y then fires an electric i.leton.ator and the cl<plosive charge. If the tl'ipwire is
pulled, the can rides up within the frame and closes the top ,:,air of contac:ts; Ii the
a Probably the :nost widely used type of firing tltvice embodies a spring­ wire is cut or broken, gravity causes the ::an to drop ;i.nd close the bottom pair
loaded striker ,vhich i>1 htld U\ the cocked position by a retaining pm, and actuated
of contacts.
by the pull oi a ·.virc atu.cheu to tlus pin. Ii the pin is formed in the shape of the
letter T, the device also can be a1·ranged to operate by pressure. Almo.st eve1·y ' l
country whlch manufacture!! these devices i.si;ue.s tl,em with the T-shaped pin.s
in.stalled, thus eliminating a ,;epa1·ate, pressure-operatec device from its logi.s tic
s:;stcn:.

b. The fuze shov.T. in figure 26 is a nondelay device. and was made in Algeria
by rebel (FLN) persor..nel, probably in a basement workshop. The t:out!ing is a
piece of tt.ir.-walled tubing, one end of which has been closed by hammering It over
a mandrel, The striker- has been turned from a piece of steel rod, and the spring
was probably pl'Ocured by midnight req-.lisilio:i from a junkyard. To complete the
pict'.lre, th"' maker has palled apart a round of !lmaU arms amm·J1ti.tio:1 and fastened
the empty cartridge case to the housing so tilat the striker can ffre the primer,
with the ,·es-.1lti!lg flasli initiating the detoaatur.

/OHOHATOII

J � - .·,mGIHfD :AN

\
SfltllCElt SPRING
\... ,o mH�G• <AU

Figure 26 (UNCLASSIFIED). FlN improvised lu:te (U).

c. Another variety of firing device operates either by tension (pull) or by

tension release. These devices are, cliaracteri.stically, installed with a taut trip­
wi:-e, an,l the :-<i:ease of tenoion occuri; when tl;e wire either is unwittingly bi·oken
or 1s delibcrate:y cut In e,ther case tlie cevice operates. and the charge of ex­
plosive to which it is conn,;cte,i explodes.

d. During World War II the British designed several devices of this type, and
tuined their troops to make them In the field.

e. One of the British devices employed a weighted can to keep the tripwire in
t 10 clfCHIC O;IONATO,

tension as shown in figure 27. The frame which hou11es the can includes two pairs
of electric cuntacts .. 011e at the top of the fra:ne and the other at the bottom, so figur.t 27 (UNCLASSIFIED). �rifoh wei9hted-con firing device (U).

22 23

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 ,,
';
:1
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

f. A variation on the weighted-can tlevice car. be made '1'1lh an ordinary knife

arranged as shown in rigure 28. Two paire of nails driven into a board hold tt,e
knife in place by Hs handle, while a thir:J pair is placetl near ll;e point of tl.e knife HECIRIC WIRE
and wire<l together, forming a double-pole e!ei.:trkal contact. The blade or tt.c
kuife. lying between \he two poles of this contact, ia bent and held away from the
far pole uy a tripwire in tension. When the wire lit puUed, the blade deflectti fur­
ther, an<l contacts the near pole; when the wiri, hi cut or broken, the bent blade
is released, uncl contact.. the far l)l)le. In either case the electric cir:!uit is c:lo::ied,
and a Jetonator fir�a the explosive charge.

TIIPWIU

BATTERY - - - .,..,,. ..-- ro DETONATOR

. ,~~......... ~ figure 29 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN clolhespii, firins device (pvlf-oper;,ted) (U).

i. If a ,mfficient number of fir'ing devices are laid wilh slack ti-ipwire::i, the
g-.Jerrilla can reasonably hope that the pet·sons .responsibh: for clearing them may
relaK their vigilance somewhat, become a bit careles!:! fu examining individ1.1al
installations, and po9sibly cut every tripwire they find. This provides a good
psychological atmo;;phere fat· a chaage ol tactic11, which is now clearly ir.dkated.
_ _ _.- fR!PwlRE It,.: TthSION
.b..�---------------.:;..... j. This change occ-...rs when a clotilespin is rigged 1,w that th2 tripwires hold
the jaws open, as .shown in fig-..ire 30. The wedge is no longer needed, as the air­
FIXf;) CCNTACTS gap iasulates '.h"' two co:1tacts from each other. When the firing device is installei.l
in thi» way, the unwary wirecutter s·.Jcceed;; only in exflloding the charge connected
to the device.

k . In adJition to being madu by the Ali,iedan FI.N, this type of device was
Figure 28 (UNCLASSIFIED). 8ri li$h ki,ife switch (U). .;.lso used by Svv:ict n·oop,; ,iuriug World War II.

1. Anoth"'r variety of Oriti!ih firing device con shit,; cf a metal tube and a ball
g. A common· spring-loaded clothespin can be made into a very good electric bearing, arranged as shown in figure 31. So long as the left eml of the tube is
firing device by the wrapping of a 8DU!ll piece of sheet metal--that from a tin lower than the right end, the ball bearing does not contatt the nail which passes
can will Jo--aro11nd each jaw. Small nail& through each of these bit,; of n,etal will through the center of the ins·.1lating cork to complete tl,e electric circuit. l!ow­
fasten them to �he Jaws of the clothcspm, and will al;;o function as hin ding posts. cvcr, when the tube is rotated clockwise until its left en<l is higher than its right,
When tl,e jaws of the pin are separated by a n iniilulator such as a wooden wedge, gl."avity 1·olh �he bearing into contact with this nail. and the circ1.1it is complete:
an electric firing device is obtai•1e<l. . _
Rec�use af it;; particular «claptability tu installation on <loorknob;;, Hus device ts
coinruonly knl)wn ,lo the ''doorkoou device."
h. Th« device shov;r. ir. figu1·e 29 was rr.a<le by members o! the the Algerian
FLN reliel forces to be opt:ratcd l>y a p1.oll on the trip·wire. This pull .111 .... dislodge
tl:e insulato1· from between the jaws of the clott.e8pin, anrl the llpring will bring
the ..wo metal C()ntar.:t::: together 111nd close the circuit to fil'e an electric detonator.
Since tlae insulator stays in placu t:ecause lt:e jaws grip it, the trip wire is slack
anJ can be Cl.II a;, :;con as it is discovered.
25
24

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 ,,
';
:1
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

f. A variation on the weighted-can tlevice car. be made '1'1lh an ordinary knife

arranged as shown in rigure 28. Two paire of nails driven into a board hold tt,e
knife in place by Hs handle, while a thir:J pair is placetl near ll;e point of tl.e knife HECIRIC WIRE
and wire<l together, forming a double-pole e!ei.:trkal contact. The blade or tt.c
kuife. lying between \he two poles of this contact, ia bent and held away from the
far pole uy a tripwire in tension. When the wire lit puUed, the blade deflectti fur­
ther, an<l contacts the near pole; when the wiri, hi cut or broken, the bent blade
is released, uncl contact.. the far l)l)le. In either case the electric cir:!uit is c:lo::ied,
and a Jetonator fir�a the explosive charge.

TIIPWIU

figure 29 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN clolhespii, firins device (pvlf-oper;,ted) (U).

i. If a ,mfficient number of fir'ing devices are laid wilh slack ti-ipwire::i, the
g-.Jerrilla can reasonably hope that the pet·sons .responsibh: for clearing them may
relaK their vigilance somewhat, become a bit careles!:! fu examining individ1.1al
installations, and po9sibly cut every tripwire they find. This provides a good
psychological atmo;;phere fat· a chaage ol tactic11, which is now clearly ir.dkated.
_ _ _.- fR!PwlRE It,.: TthSION
.b..�---------------.:;..... j. This change occ-...rs when a clotilespin is rigged 1,w that th2 tripwires hold
the jaws open, as .shown in fig-..ire 30. The wedge is no longer needed, as the air­
FIXf;) CCNTACTS gap iasulates '.h"' two co:1tacts from each other. When the firing device is installei.l
in thi» way, the unwary wirecutter s·.Jcceed;; only in exflloding the charge connected
to the device.

k . In adJition to being madu by the Ali,iedan FI.N, this type of device was
Figure 28 (UNCLASSIFIED). 8ri li$h ki,ife switch (U). .;.lso used by Svv:ict n·oop,; ,iuriug World War II.

1. Anoth"'r variety of Oriti!ih firing device con shit,; cf a metal tube and a ball
g. A common· spring-loaded clothespin can be made into a very good electric bearing, arranged as shown in figure 31. So long as the left eml of the tube is
firing device by the wrapping of a 8DU!ll piece of sheet metal--that from a tin lower than the right end, the ball bearing does not contatt the nail which passes
can will Jo--aro11nd each jaw. Small nail& through each of these bit,; of n,etal will through the center of the ins·.1lating cork to complete tl,e electric circuit. l!ow­
fasten them to �he Jaws of the clothcspm, and will al;;o function as hin ding posts. cvcr, when the tube is rotated clockwise until its left en<l is higher than its right,
When tl,e jaws of the pin are separated by a n iniilulator such as a wooden wedge, gl."avity 1·olh �he bearing into contact with this nail. and the circ1.1it is complete:
an electric firing device is obtai•1e<l. . _
Rec�use af it;; particular «claptability tu installation on <loorknob;;, Hus device ts
coinruonly knl)wn ,lo the ''doorkoou device."
h. Th« device shov;r. ir. figu1·e 29 was rr.a<le by members o! the the Algerian
FLN reliel forces to be opt:ratcd l>y a p1.oll on the trip·wire. This pull .111 .... dislodge
tl:e insulato1· from between the jaws of the clott.e8pin, anrl the llpring will bring
the ..wo metal C()ntar.:t::: together 111nd close the circuit to fil'e an electric detonator.
Since tlae insulator stays in placu t:ecause lt:e jaws grip it, the trip wire is slack
anJ can be Cl.II a;, :;con as it is discovered.
25
24

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
\1
fSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

m. Hellroads and rolling stock arc a µrime target for the guerrillr.. This
is esr,edally so ii, a,i was the ca,ie in he U.S. S. R. during the Second -.Vorlo.i War, l
I
1
he i::s serving as an "advance g-.1ard· !or regular troops. Whether he is performing
this partlc--.ila.r duty or no,, a blow at a railror.d is profitable because the rollinl!
stock and the .;iuppl,e,i it carriu are often Ju'!icuit to repluce.

n. The Algerian device illustrated in figur·e 32 consists of a board ....1th two

flexible electric contacts attached to it. ft i<; laid ...1th
. the contach, on the inside
of a rail ao that the flange o! a locortoth·e wt-.eel can hrin1;t them together to close
the c,rcuit through an electric detonator, Tt-.is device is relatively suu·cy an:! re­
sistant to displacement by shock, but, because it is placed above grour.d, it can
bto detected relatively easily, even when camouflaged v.ith a small bush or leavea.

Figure 30 (UNCLA5S1FIED). FlN clothc,pin fi1ir,9 device (tension-releose-ope,oted) (U).

fXrLOSl\lf
CHAIGE

Figure 32 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN wheel-Flon9e firing de·,ice (U).

,.
....ll 8C,,,1'11Jc; N~ lli o. A varlalion of the Algerian railrolld flrhg device i,i the item setn in figure
33. l'l\ade from two lengths of insulated wire and used by the Germans :luring World
War II. The iosulatlon has been stripped from one end of one wire for a distance
of about 3 inches. and this bare end has been formed into a coil. About 1 inch of
Figcre 31 (UNClAS51FIED). Britiih boll bearing ,witch (dooi:Cnob de·�ice) (U).
I, hsulatl.:>n has :iee:1 stripped Crom the same en,l of the other wire, and thi,; :iare
secthrn has heea placed inside the co:: so t11at \he two bare ,;ection,; do riot touch.
The co:l end is theo la.:'.d on :op o! a ra1iroad track, and, when cru,;hed by a passfng
whee:. cn:nplcu:i; an e:ect:·ic cLrcu.it to fi,,, an e�t'ctric <.lt't011ato:-.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
\1
fSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

m. Hellroads and rolling stock arc a µrime target for the guerrillr.. This
is esr,edally so ii, a,i was the ca,ie in he U.S. S. R. during the Second -.Vorlo.i War, l
I
1
he i::s serving as an "advance g-.1ard· !or regular troops. Whether he is performing
this partlc--.ila.r duty or no,, a blow at a railror.d is profitable because the rollinl!
stock and the .;iuppl,e,i it carriu are often Ju'!icuit to repluce.

n. The Algerian device illustrated in figur·e 32 consists of a board ....1th two

flexible electric contacts attached to it. ft i<; laid ...1th
. the contach, on the inside
of a rail ao that the flange o! a locortoth·e wt-.eel can hrin1;t them together to close
the c,rcuit through an electric detonator, Tt-.is device is relatively suu·cy an:! re­
sistant to displacement by shock, but, because it is placed above grour.d, it can
bto detected relatively easily, even when camouflaged v.ith a small bush or leavea.

Figure 30 (UNCLA5S1FIED). FlN clothc,pin fi1ir,9 device (tension-releose-ope,oted) (U).

fXrLOSl\lf
CHAIGE

Figure 32 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN wheel-Flon9e firing de·,ice (U).

o. A varlalion of the Algerian railrolld flrhg device i,i the item setn in figure
33. l'l\ade from two lengths of insulated wire and used by the Germans :luring World
War II. The iosulatlon has been stripped from one end of one wire for a distance
of about 3 inches. and this bare end has been formed into a coil. About 1 inch of
Figcre 31 (UNClAS51FIED). Britiih boll bearing ,witch (dooi:Cnob de·�ice) (U).
I, hsulatl.:>n has :iee:1 stripped Crom the same en,l of the other wire, and thi,; :iare
secthrn has heea placed inside the co:: so t11at \he two bare ,;ection,; do riot touch.
The co:l end is theo la.:'.d on :op o! a ra1iroad track, and, when cru,;hed by a passfng
whee:. cn:nplcu:i; an e:ect:·ic cLrcu.it to fi,,, an e�t'ctric <.lt't011ato:-.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFlED UNCLASSIFIED
FS TC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012

I>· .;1tt.01Jglt th<: manufacturing of this dcv,ce ii:; extremdy ,n:nple. \O ,;011..:eal s. The device pictured iri figure 3� consisti; or a small light bulb wllh two
th 1: £,n.plac.ad ,Jevice is vt1·y difficult . Fu,·t!i,;,rmorc, lt :1:1 eas,ly Ji8pj&ceo t,y electric v.ires i;oldered to tt.e filameut contacts. A i;mall )>Ortion or the gta1n1
r:.ih:ral forces. er,velope has been cut away, and the empty envelope has beo:n (illed v.ilh black
µow:ler . A noneli::ch·ic dctona101· tape cl to the envelope com1,tctes the as1;embly.
Ttus Heu, 1s also being uae.J by the Viet Cong.

HOHHECTllC 0£10NAT0l
J SCOTCI+ !Art

Fig..re 34 (UNCLASSIFIED). FlN electric detonator (U)

�B. (C) DELAY DEVICES

a, {'t."} F:·(lm time to time the gue.rrilla dealres to place a char'ge which will
detonate after a iixeJ period of time has elapsed. A current example o( this type
Figure 33 (U��CLASSIFIEO). Germon wirrc:oil li,ing de..-i:e {U).
of activity oc:curred in February 191H when a Viet Cong bomb actuated by a delay
firing device explode,! in the bleacher section of Pershtng t'!eld at Saigo!'l, s?11th
.
Vietn.;.m, during a softba;l game. _t1lthough most countries 1ncluJe delay firing
q. All (If the dt,viccs d1;scribcd so fat· act instanumeously; �hat ls, they make ,levices among their families of stan,Ja:·d demul:tion materiel, these de1.>ices are
r,o f.>1'<',vision for a delay in ti 111e between lhE: uppl11:;;.tion of an actuating force and n�•l r,ormall)' accessible to Irlerrillas, and the latter:.' efforts to imitate thei.r
11:t:: t•xplo:slOH of ,l,e cliargt to wUch 11·.ty are co11n1:ctcd l::l,;,fore p&::ssing on to tho t.,nctioo lead to some clever contraptions.
discu:s:;ior. or device:,; ...t;ict. do incoqlorate a tirr:e <.ltlay, a stoort backward look
to c:llnsi cier tbe prepomleranci:: of elcctl'ic firing device1:1 over mechanical ones
'>t::ern:s app,·opriate . · This pattern holds in practicsUy every country in which bat­
b, (U) A case in µoint is th<: German can-and-cork delay aho·..vn in figure 3;>.
tcrif:'3 .:1re readilv obtainal.Jle. This Is a very 1·easonablc ll'encl, because electric
'!'his con�i�ts of a can having a small bole in its bottom, a cork, a11ct two 111;iulat1<d
fi riug dcvi:::ea require a r.1inimu1:1 of tools and materials to make tl'.em.
wires which lead too battery ar.d an electric detonator. The inb-ui.atio11 hi,s been
stripped frorn a portion of one wire. anri this bare<.l se.:tion hlis hP.en bent into a
r. Electric firbg devices re,r.1irc more than batteries. however. They re­
loop, Similarly, insulation has been stripped rrom a pol'lion of the oth<:r ..,.u·e.
quiru electric detonator;; which. <ilthough q:Jite niadily :,vailable in cnlnfng carnps.
b:Jt i:1 this case th e bared section t:as been bent into a 2igz.ag shape. The first
are ...
::most tnT.lr'.ahly ke;lt unJ,?r lock and key H tile illicit demand for electric
wire ia pa31,;;:(I through two holes in the upper ,;i:.les c,f the can, ;).n<l the lowel',
d c tonatu!·1:1 reacheii major proportions, the supplyiag oi them can be ,;trictly raliv:,�J

'
or, ll,n:er y;a,t, ;:,la,;tl:1& ut th·� crn:1hg .sile can be convc,·tf,d lo the u:se of tim,; fu.;e:s i rnsulat<Jd purtle>n of the second wire i3 passed th,·ough the loop. Tl;c bollum er.<!
of the second wire i3 now fixed to the co1·k. When water is pla�ei.l into tl,e can.
Hnd 11,')ndo;,ctric detom,t.n·.,. Wh�•t-:v<!r the ,;;itu:.ti:rn in Algeria v,,1s Ill actu!llit>', lhe
the cork fiO.'.lta, aml only t h e insul.:.tcd portio11 of the aecoa,1 wit'e is in c,Hlt.\ct with
�,,bt:� FL >I : ·vrce s J.,._.i,,,,.1 ..n 1111:cnio,1� rrw.1ns nf circur.iventing the shortage of
,·ic<:t:·,,: cloJt,)n;;wrs by co,wc:·uni;: '"""'lcctric d.:to:>ators to elcctrh;:1! aues. tr.e uniosulaku portion of the first wire. A,; the waler drips out of tbf' hole ia the

2ll 29

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFlED UNCLASSIFIED
FS TC 381-5012 fSTC 381-5012

I>· .;1tt.01Jglt th<: manufacturing of this dcv,ce ii:; extremdy ,n:nple. \O ,;011..:eal s. The device pictured iri figure 3� consisti; or a small light bulb wllh two
th 1: £,n.plac.ad ,Jevice is vt1·y difficult . Fu,·t!i,;,rmorc, lt :1:1 eas,ly Ji8pj&ceo t,y electric v.ires i;oldered to tt.e filameut contacts. A i;mall )>Ortion or the gta1n1
r:.ih:ral forces. er,velope has been cut away, and the empty envelope has beo:n (illed v.ilh black
µow:ler . A noneli::ch·ic dctona101· tape cl to the envelope com1,tctes the as1;embly.
Ttus Heu, 1s also being uae.J by the Viet Cong.

HOHHECTllC 0£10NAT0l
SCOTCI+ !Art

Fig..re 34 (UNCLASSIFIED). FlN electric detonator (U)

�B. (C) DELAY DEVICES

a, {'t."} F:·(lm time to time the gue.rrilla dealres to place a char'ge which will
detonate after a iixeJ period of time has elapsed. A current example o( this type
Figure 33 (U��CLASSIFIEO). Germon wirrc:oil li,ing de..-i:e {U).
of activity oc:curred in February 191H when a Viet Cong bomb actuated by a delay
firing device explode,! in the bleacher section of Pershtng t'!eld at Saigo!'l, s?11th
.
Vietn.;.m, during a softba;l game. _t1lthough most countries 1ncluJe delay firing
q. All (If the dt,viccs d1;scribcd so fat· act instanumeously; �hat ls, they make ,levices among their families of stan,Ja:·d demul:tion materiel, these de1.>ices are
r,o f.>1'<',vision for a delay in ti 111e between lhE: uppl11:;;.tion of an actuating force and n�•l r,ormall)' accessible to Irlerrillas, and the latter:.' efforts to imitate thei.r
11:t:: t•xplo:slOH of ,l,e cliargt to wUch 11·.ty are co11n1:ctcd l::l,;,fore p&::ssing on to tho t.,nctioo lead to some clever contraptions.
discu:s:;ior. or device:,; ...t;ict. do incoqlorate a tirr:e <.ltlay, a stoort backward look
to c:llnsi cier tbe prepomleranci:: of elcctl'ic firing device1:1 over mechanical ones
'>t::ern:s app,·opriate . · This pattern holds in practicsUy every country in which bat­
b, (U) A case in µoint is th<: German can-and-cork delay aho·..vn in figure 3;>.
tcrif:'3 .:1re readilv obtainal.Jle. This Is a very 1·easonablc ll'encl, because electric
'!'his con�i�ts of a can having a small bole in its bottom, a cork, a11ct two 111;iulat1<d
fi riug dcvi:::ea require a r.1inimu1:1 of tools and materials to make tl'.em.
wires which lead too battery ar.d an electric detonator. The inb-ui.atio11 hi,s been
stripped frorn a portion of one wire. anri this bare<.l se.:tion hlis hP.en bent into a
r. Electric firbg devices re,r.1irc more than batteries. however. They re­
loop, Similarly, insulation has been stripped rrom a pol'lion of the oth<:r ..,.u·e.
quiru electric detonator;; which. <ilthough q:Jite niadily :,vailable in cnlnfng carnps.
b:Jt i:1 this case th e bared section t:as been bent into a 2igz.ag shape. The first
are ...
::most tnT.lr'.ahly ke;lt unJ,?r lock and key H tile illicit demand for electric
wire ia pa31,;;:(I through two holes in the upper ,;i:.les c,f the can, ;).n<l the lowel',
d c tonatu!·1:1 reacheii major proportions, the supplyiag oi them can be ,;trictly raliv:,�J

'
or, ll,n:er y;a,t, ;:,la,;tl:1& ut th·� crn:1hg .sile can be convc,·tf,d lo the u:se of tim,; fu.;e:s i rnsulat<Jd purtle>n of the second wire i3 passed th,·ough the loop. Tl;c bollum er.<!
of the second wire i3 now fixed to the co1·k. When water is pla�ei.l into tl,e can.
Hnd 11,')ndo;,ctric detom,t.n·.,. Wh�•t-:v<!r the ,;;itu:.ti:rn in Algeria v,,1s Ill actu!llit>', lhe
the cork fiO.'.lta, aml only t h e insul.:.tcd portio11 of the aecoa,1 wit'e is in c,Hlt.\ct with
�,,bt:� FL >I : ·vrce s J.,._.i,,,,.1 ..n 1111:cnio,1� rrw.1ns nf circur.iventing the shortage of
,·ic<:t:·,,: cloJt,)n;;wrs by co,wc:·uni;: '"""'lcctric d.:to:>ators to elcctrh;:1! aues. tr.e uniosulaku portion of the first wire. A,; the waler drips out of tbf' hole ia the

2ll 29

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 ,I

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
F<;TC 38l-5D12 FSTC 381-S012

t.otturn of the car., th, cork �ir.ks l,,wo::r anc; l<,•,.·ec, car·ryi1:g v.ith it ti.,: wire will,
c ('C) A German variation of the can-and-cork item is the key:-ing
the ·Ligzag bo:1:d. Lventually tl.P. uni11:;ubt1:d wil'e: fonnkg this be1:d cci;ta(·l:; 11·.E-
delay, >ihown in figul'e 36. It consists of a spring-typ,: ktyring ha..,ing its adjacent
1:nir.,;ul::it<:tl loup ir. 11:c otl:E,r wil'e, tt:e electric ci1·ci;it i;; compl1:t€, ar.d 11'.e rieton­
coils held apart by a sm&U lump ot sorue water-soluble .substance such as a lurui:,
ato1· fir·e» a cl:a1·ge of �xplc�i ve.
of suga1· or a salt tablet. Electric leads are connected to the8e coils. One lead
contacts a coil directly, while the other lead ill insulated from the coil. Tl'Jt1 as­
!lembly is then suspended from a hook or a nilil, and a glal;s is placed around it.
When sufficient w;,ter i:J added lo the glass to c over lbe soluble lump but not the
bare ends of the wires, the water begins to dissolve the lump which ev�ntually
lo.se.s its ability to hold the two coils &part. At this time the coils resume their
normal or un::ieparated position, bringiog the two bas-e wires into contact with each
other. Thf! circuit is thus closed, and the detonator is fired.

l
Figure J5 (U�ClA>SIFIED). G.,rmon c;;i;,-ond-�or< dcl<.1� (U).

:l(i
' figure 36 (UNCLASSIFIED). German i<eyring del a y (U).

�I
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 ,I

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
F<;TC 38l-5D12 FSTC 381-S012

t.otturn of the car., th, cork �ir.ks l,,wo::r anc; l<,•,.·ec, car·ryi1:g v.ith it ti.,: wire will,
c ('C) A German variation of the can-and-cork item is the key:-ing
the ·Ligzag bo:1:d. Lventually tl.P. uni11:;ubt1:d wil'e: fonnkg this be1:d cci;ta(·l:; 11·.E-
delay, >ihown in figul'e 36. It consists of a spring-typ,: ktyring ha..,ing its adjacent
1:nir.,;ul::it<:tl loup ir. 11:c otl:E,r wil'e, tt:e electric ci1·ci;it i;; compl1:t€, ar.d 11'.e rieton­
coils held apart by a sm&U lump ot sorue water-soluble .substance such as a lurui:,
ato1· fir·e» a cl:a1·ge of �xplc�i ve.
of suga1· or a salt tablet. Electric leads are connected to the8e coils. One lead
contacts a coil directly, while the other lead ill insulated from the coil. Tl'Jt1 as­
!lembly is then suspended from a hook or a nilil, and a glal;s is placed around it.
When sufficient w;,ter i:J added lo the glass to c over lbe soluble lump but not the
bare ends of the wires, the water begins to dissolve the lump which ev�ntually
lo.se.s its ability to hold the two coils &part. At this time the coils resume their
normal or un::ieparated position, bringiog the two bas-e wires into contact with each
other. Thf! circuit is thus closed, and the detonator is fired.

l
Figure J5 (U�ClA>SIFIED). G.,rmon c;;i;,-ond-�or< dcl<.1� (U).

:l(i
' figure 36 (UNCLASSIFIED). German i<eyring del a y (U).

�I
UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

1t (U) .Although th)t :so cl'=·..�cr or 1n�cuio1.1.s as the two prec�<tng it�n1s, t:1e e. (C) F'igure 311 shows a similar device made Crom a wrh1t watt:h. Tt:e r.le­
.:no,:;: obvioq.-; dl:lay-proU1Jc:.ng �lH!,:h�uis;n is h conunon iJOc�et wa�ch art�a�1g�d c1. 5
\ l&.y dl!vice u11ed in the Perehing Field bomb in South Vietnam, mentioned t:arlie1·,
shown .:n i.1.�uce .J7. 1\ le,d f!·Vrn th� bt..t�l!ry 1s (:Onuected to the winding �te�n, and was a w&.lch of thi11 type. Watches so altered w ere u;ied aho by Germar. force:;
r� :4.-u<l to an <d{�CLr�c tlc tonc.Ho::· 1s connP.c:eJ to <i ticrew thl•ou.gh the g11As.; cryat.il,
Fo�· Jc::iy,, fro,11 o,w Vl t·,a,lve hou:-s, the m;nute hi;.Hd �ii reiHO\'c:d. When the lucnd
l
I
during World War U.
f. (l:) A 11urvey of .standard demolition m:.te!·iel 1'e\'eal11 many Jday f;r'.ug
co11t"'cts the ;;c:·e'J(, thte dctoru;.�or is fit'ed. devices which wou�tl or cou:1.1 be 1.u,eiu: to a gutr!·t�'.n. This class '.nclu,le,;
med1a11ical, chtemical. and rncch:.nical-cicct'!'ica: (t-,ms with .telay t:me.s ranging
f:-on1 3 or 4 minutes to app:·oxunatte:y 2 mo11t111;.

g. (U) The mechanical anJ the chemical devices .trt: usually llimple. Their
function is generally depeml.!nt on temperat.ire, .lnJ their delay times range up to
LEAD TO approximately 3 weeks.
BATTERY

MINUTE HAND
REMOVED
�--

SCREW THROUGH-
GlJ\SS

LEAD TO
DETONATm

i
j
figure 38 (lJNClASSIFltD). Vlei Core wrist w:,td, delay (U).
Figure 37 (UNC LASS1F1ED). Gcrmofl poc�et wotch delay (U).

:l'Z 33

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

1t (U) .Although th)t :so cl'=·..�cr or 1n�cuio1.1.s as the two prec�<tng it�n1s, t:1e e. (C) F'igure 311 shows a similar device made Crom a wrh1t watt:h. Tt:e r.le­
.:no,:;: obvioq.-; dl:lay-proU1Jc:.ng �lH!,:h�uis;n is h conunon iJOc�et wa�ch art�a�1g�d c1. 5 l&.y dl!vice u11ed in the Perehing Field bomb in South Vietnam, mentioned t:arlie1·,
shown .:n i.1.�uce .J7. 1\ le,d f!·Vrn th� bt..t�l!ry 1s (:Onuected to the winding �te�n, and was a w&.lch of thi11 type. Watches so altered w ere u;ied aho by Germar. force:;
r� :4.-u<l to an <d{�CLr�c tlc tonc.Ho::· 1s connP.c:eJ to <i ticrew thl•ou.gh the g11As.; cryat.il, during World War U.
Fo�· Jc::iy,, fro,11 o,w Vl t·,a,lve hou:-s, the m;nute hi;.Hd �ii reiHO\'c:d. When the lucnd f. (l:) A 11urvey of .standard demolition m:.te!·iel 1'e\'eal11 many Jday f;r'.ug
co11t"'cts the ;;c:·e'J(, thte dctoru;.�or is fit'ed. devices which wou�tl or cou:1.1 be 1.u,eiu: to a gutr!·t�'.n. This class '.nclu,le,;
..
med1a11ical, chtemical. and rncch:.nical-cicct'!'ica: (t-,ms with .telay t:me.s ranging
f:-on1 3 or 4 minutes to app:·oxunatte:y 2 mo11t111;.

..
g. (U) The mechanical anJ the chemical devices .trt: usually llimple. Their
function is generally depeml.!nt on temperat.ire, .lnJ their delay times range up to
LEAD TO approximately 3 weeks.
BATTERY

MINUTE HAND
REMOVED
�--

SCREW THROUGH-
GlJ\SS

LEAD TO
DETONATm

i
j
figure 38 (lJNClASSIFltD). Vlei Core wrist w:,td, delay (U).
Figure 37 (UNC LASS1F1ED). Gcrmofl poc�et wotch delay (U).

33

UNCLASSIFIED
fSTC :;a1-.>012 I
I
FS TC 381-5012

I.. It;) A tyi,kol meclu111ic"l devict: is ll:1; Bl"i1ist: No. �,, Mi.rk I cc,1',y fu:,o: Sec rion VIII, (C) CALTROPS AND 9008YTRA?S
•,hid1 cor.t.1ins a :spl"ir1g-loa<.led slrlkr::1· , t;,;tn1inerJ by a JeaJ 1·od. Wl:<.11 the :;;Hr::ty
piu i,; ,..,rno11e:J, the r·c;J ::urncs i:Jto ten:;i:;n and ,;tt·et:;hcs slowly ;;intil it l:re:.ks.
The ,,.·.,aking of l!1e rod allows fac .o;trikc,· spring t:., drive the std:-.er t:llo " i:�r­ .J9. (C) CAl.TIH>P.:l
c·.i.=;::;10:l cap w:•ic:> start:; the iirinet chaitl,
a. (IJ) We'l,,;ter's Intt:rnaUonal Dictionary (:!tl editior.) ciefine,; a caltrojJ a.::1 .,.i
.. lUl The Dr:ti:sh No. 10, ',lark I uc1:;.y fu2e typ:f:e:s the ch1:1mcd devices.
lt.� vp1.::cc.t!On is <1u1tu simil3r to tl,..tt of tltt J\o �. \',at·k I, exco:pt tlu,t the :;p;·111g­
"an instrurncut with fo·�r ii-on points so dit.posed that any tl:ree of ihEclll bE:ing on ,,
.,
tl u.! gro.llld, 11111 other projects upw«nl, used to imped" lb) p1·ogress of a11 e11emy'.::1
load,:;d stdkei· i;; t·tstrait,e�I by tt wire whicl, i� Wc.'.l.ktn.,d L,y a corro:1ivt 11uitl,
cav3lry, etc." This definlllun i:; out:fatcd now, as callrops are no longt:r rt:·
I �trictt:d to havi,1g lour point,;, the poinls are nut necessarily made or Iron, and
(Ui Lc:.r:g-cday deviC(:!; (over 2 weeks) ure gti.t:rally buill .:, roc,:d ll dock·
cavalry nas t,,;,come $Carce. N"verthdess, the idea of cw upwa rd-projecting point
v,ort, rne,;l:adsrn. Alttwug�, tht:ir function is p1·3cticaUy 11:.e same a;, ttat of tte
po:;k.,l and the wri::st wal:;h :Jcvkt,; :le:;cril:c:.l prc11iou:1ly, their <1JE:ch1111i:1r:1s :0-1::
:.ipo:i which the victim imp.i.le" hiruS£o1f is still very much alive.
I

I
·.,,,J.)lly ,�io re :,(a:,µl\cakJ oe;;o1·use tbey must ,:nunt :lays <>S well as tiours.
b, {Cl The caltrop ,;ollt:ction having the largest number of val'iatlons comes
: ,. CU) Tne ltali.'.l.n 5iJ-,1:,y d"ck .;hown in :1i:Ut'c '.HI typifies fa;..; class of fro:n Viemarn where they are 11sed 3,1 antipe r sonr1el weapons. ln ado.lition, a con­
ventiouo.l fou1·-r,oinc ilein ho.� been received from 8 r3zil where it had been placed
dc·�rh:�.
on a street to pw\cturc ...n :.utomol.>ile t'.re.

. c. (C) Figure .;o dcpicl3 a ''new look' caltrop from Vietnam which follows

.. I th e spirit, if not t h e lntent, of Webster',; definition. The device consists uf a

pi(:ce of I.Joa:-cJ ·.vi.th two laq,:e n..a;i (!riven through it, aud H the r.um.l,ol' of points
f'rojecting upward havt: anything to do with it, it t.houl(I ba twice as effective a5
its conventional pt·edecessor. To compound the proulem of rJi1;cngag,ng the ,·1d1m

.,
• I from these points, the maker tu.s ,mpplied them with ba,·I.>.:.. The Viet Cong, who
operato in South Vittnam, lu!ve llUide these ,tesiccs with «nywhere f,·om ont to
.
I seven pomts, each of whkh range.:1 from 2 to 12 incl1e:o long. To comphcate
matttH"S further, tht:y occa.,;ionally smt,a,· the points with fecal matter or any other
I filth which happens to be at hand.

·\ i

1
•
I
I
II

l
• I
!
·�,f£;·.::f_ .•E
~
'

,
I

Fi9<.-re 39 (UNCLA5S1F IED). ltoliat 50-day clock dok,y (U) I Figure -4() (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cor.g do.,bfe-,pike caltrop {U).

34 35
fSTC :;a1-.>012 I
I
FS TC 381-5012

I.. It;) A tyi,kol meclu111ic"l devict: is ll:1; Bl"i1ist: No. �,, Mi.rk I cc,1',y fu:,o:
•,hid1 cor.t.1ins a :spl"ir1g-loa<.led slrlkr::1· , t;,;tn1inerJ by a JeaJ 1·od. Wl:<.11 the :;;Hr::ty
piu i,; ,..,rno11e:J, the r·c;J ::urncs i:Jto ten:;i:;n and ,;tt·et:;hcs slowly ;;intil it l:re:.ks.
The ,,.·.,aking of l!1e rod allows fac .o;trikc,· spring t:., drive the std:-.er t:llo " i:�r­
c·.i.=;::;10:l cap w:•ic:> start:; the iirinet chaitl,

.. lUl The Dr:ti:sh No. 10, ',lark I uc1:;.y fu2e typ:f:e:s the ch1:1mcd devices.
lt.� vp1.::cc.t!On is <1u1tu simil3r to tl,..tt of tltt J\o �. \',at·k I, exco:pt tlu,t the :;p;·111g­
load,:;d stdkei· i;; t·tstrait,e�I by tt wire whicl, i� Wc.'.l.ktn.,d L,y a corro:1ivt 11uitl,
.J9. (C) CAl.TIH>P.:l
--------
Sec rion VIII, (C) CALTROPS AND 9008YTRA?S

a. (IJ) We'l,,;ter's Intt:rnaUonal Dictionary (:!tl editior.) ciefine,; a caltrojJ a.::1

"an instrurncut with fo·�r ii-on points so dit.posed that any tl:ree of ihEclll bE:ing on
tl u.! gro.llld, 11111 other projects upw«nl, used to imped" lb) p1·ogress of a11 e11emy'.::1
.,.i
,,
.,

cav3lry, etc." This definlllun i:; out:fatcd now, as callrops are no longt:r rt:·
I �trictt:d to havi,1g lour point,;, the poinls are nut necessarily made or Iron, and
(Ui Lc:.r:g-cday deviC(:!; (over 2 weeks) ure gti.t:rally buill .:, roc,:d ll dock·
cavalry nas t,,;,come $Carce. N"verthdess, the idea of cw upwa rd-projecting point
v,ort, rne,;l:adsrn. Alttwug�, tht:ir function is p1·3cticaUy 11:.e same a;, ttat of tte
po:;k.,l and the wri::st wal:;h :Jcvkt,; :le:;cril:c:.l prc11iou:1ly, their <1JE:ch1111i:1r:1s :0-1::
:.ipo:i which the victim imp.i.le" hiruS£o1f is still very much alive.
I

I
·.,,,J.)lly ,�io re :,(a:,µl\cakJ oe;;o1·use tbey must ,:nunt :lays <>S well as tiours.
b, {Cl The caltrop ,;ollt:ction having the largest number of val'iatlons comes
: ,. CU) Tne ltali.'.l.n 5iJ-,1:,y d"ck .;hown in :1i:Ut'c '.HI typifies fa;..; class of fro:n Viemarn where they are 11sed 3,1 antipe r sonr1el weapons. ln ado.lition, a con­
ventiouo.l fou1·-r,oinc ilein ho.� been received from 8 r3zil where it had been placed
dc·�rh:�.
on a street to pw\cturc ...n :.utomol.>ile t'.re.

c. (C) Figure .;o dcpicl3 a ''new look' caltrop from Vietnam which follows

.. th e spirit, if not t h e lntent, of Webster',; definition. The device consists uf a

pi(:ce of I.Joa:-cJ ·.vi.th two laq,:e n..a;i (!riven through it, aud H the r.um.l,ol' of points
f'rojecting upward havt: anything to do with it, it t.houl(I ba twice as effective a5
its conventional pt·edecessor. To compound the proulem of rJi1;cngag,ng the ,·1d1m
from these points, the maker tu.s ,mpplied them with ba,·I.>.:.. The Viet Cong, who
operato in South Vittnam, lu!ve llUide these ,tesiccs with «nywhere f,·om ont to
.
seven pomts, each of whkh range.:1 from 2 to 12 incl1e:o long. To comphcate
matttH"S further, tht:y occa.,;ionally smt,a,· the points with fecal matter or any other
filth which happens to be at hand.

1
•
•
/ ·�,f£;·.::f_ .•E
¥ & -9 -::.££. "!" .. !!-

,
Fi9<.-re 39 (UNCLA5S1F IED). ltoliat 50-day clock dok,y (U) I Figure -4() (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cor.g do.,bfe-,pike caltrop {U).

34 35
 UNCLASSIFIED
FHC 31!1-5012
,ST(: 381-5012

----·-
----------
:l. (U) .�.!1 hapt·:lv2rnent o l.' t!li! :lrt�vio·u;.
. . 1tt.an. shown i!l fikr.1re 41� is the .,�ike
poni::n c.f a :·:.lltrvp mi:l'.H foe :;., 1µ,mrt ::ioar·d. 'l':ie improve,Hent con,;;i.�t.:. or a :sec­
lli!ffi.1
«:B', .
l
:::n:l 1,.ln, pointe·:l i:i tns: op,:,o;;ite direc�iou irom that o! t:ls, Iir,n bat·b, and so locate d
tl1J.t hut,i i..,a,•:,,s will lod;;:c ,vi.Ilia tile vktin;°,; foot. This arran�e:11ent increa,;es I .
the att...:1di:1g ,foctm·',; ;Jroblem 1n rc:novin� tile bilrb by ,Jreventing h"n from cutti11g
tne :1;nbur\,;:J, ,;,:1,I o.:iJ ?Ullin,: ilie .spike out wit!I .l pair of iclie,·,;, I\Ot to ::ncntion
,._ _ _ )
'
./
�
fn� eff.,d 011 be patkn:.
I ()00

-· - - --------
- -- �

Fi9u1e 42 ("JNCLASSIFIED). Jof)Qne$e boobytrappi,d radi o (U).

e. Although the1·e have berm vi,ry few true boobytr·aps fount! in Vietnam, au
otherwise prolific source of imp1•oviscd weapoi.s, the same I.as not been tru<: for
Figure 41 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cang Jouble-ba,bea ,pike (U). Algeria, a 1·t:lalively sterile source of improvised w,;apons, Oul'i1ig the Alge.-iun
r�bellion, the native FLN fo1'ces spent a good deal of lime and effort il,vuntir.g
HJ. (U} BOOBYTRAl'S harnlcss-looking device:; to make life difficult for tt.ei1· French opponcr.ts. A
ca:;e in point i:s the 1·eblively st..aigbtforwa,·d l.iook bool,yh·aJ> show1: in figu,·Ec 4·l.
a. Ttlt' buot:ytrap is another o1n :, :i1:<nt Jevice, the fum:.ti,:in of wh!c:i is to lure the Oc:pcnding on the t:ircumstances, Ibis book could l.ie l;ing on the grount.l, on top
l1tr..va1·y Into performing an a,iµarently safe a,:;t that injure;; or destroy:,; nim by of a ;;ped:.lly con:sfructed i.Jookcase, or even on lop of othe,· t.ooks pla(;ed 1.<pl'ighl
r.11: a ns of a �.lrH:eale:J explo,ive (::1ar6 e . h the conte xt of gue:-ri!l& use, the buoby­ in an ordinary bookc;a:;e. When tt.c book is oisplo.ced either by lifting or l.iy sliriing,
trap ha;; i:1u::h an lnstr-11ment of ps;-e,1)logical , warf a re as anytnhg else. Used the w:re .i.tt;,ehed t,> ti>" cov.;,,· mov.;,s, carl·yi11g with il on.:, oi tii.::, batte,·y h:t«is. Ti;,,
Judiclou:sly, it :s e n·e ;; t<> �mp:1a.si z.c the t,lea fa!l.t the guel'rlll a is the ma:1 who other ballt:rv lci.\d is t:or.nccted to an electric u€ton:ito1· which is iu turn attache,!
i
wield., ;,ow e r, and t lll-1 he will not he;;it'\te to u.,f! it. This is especially effective to t11e metal. lube lioui:ing tbo fil'st battery IE'aci. Wb.:n tl,<l first lead contacts the
if a:1 bcidt< ,- ,t is o'\..;k!.:d uµ :·,y fac ;;uggesti,)a that lut�re incldi!:its can be avo:ded 1111,tal tuJ; e the cin:ult i:e complete, and the deto,:.:itol' initiate:, au explo:jive d1a1·g.:,.
by l�O\°>(>�r·ation wlt�) gu� c·c-illa for.:�es.
L In the section dealing v,ith firir.g d1:1,ices, two variations of U,t: Algt:riau
l,, At one tim<; or another durkg World War U, practically everything found clothespin were illuslr'attd. The foe,· parts of fip,ro 4:, :;how fou,· diffc1·cnt wuys
on the battlefield Ii.id b<;er, boohytrapped, ,:ot exclu<.ikg the dead. The Japar,;;sc in wh.id: tl-.ii; device i� us1:d to boobytn1p a bangalore toq,cdo. Needless to ;;ay,
ra,!\o shown in figure; 42 ha;;; o. charge connecterl to the off-on !;'4ilch so that it8 any "h,,ri.:1: of -,xplo,,;,ve will serve th,i purpv30:: ;,.,; wdl a,; will l!h� l·.a·peJu .
curious but incautiol,S c�ptor may c:<,SlJ'oy hirr.st.>lf.

l
g. ,'art:. one :<t!C. two show two w:iys of installing the pull-operated ·.rcr,;ion,
c. Anotl,<.n' .la,_.anese booby1ro1p uses lh,; ringing har,dle of a telephor.E: to ;;et ai:d pad fnu1· :;l;vv,:; ti,,; t,;r:sion-rcka�,; ir.stallcnion. Pa.1·1 Ll,rce sloo·.�:; a new
off r.,. charge of explosive. In tl:i.:l iu:;tallution, seen ir: fi�re 43, a pu..11-ope,·atec variation in which th1.: clothe.spin has beet: plucc<J s o that tht wdght of the J.,a,.galm·e
fi.2c ii;;;talled in u dur.olitiou block is c<,r.i:et:ted to the har.cile by a v.ire so tt.at, ICJJ'petio l:ol<is th, r.:or:tact:, apai·t. WJ,(:r, tbe toq,uiil i.s liflt:d, the !;pdni; close,, the
•.d,<:n the hanrUe i,; t1,;rr,t:c, the wfre i>i pulkc taut to ir,itiat1; the ruzc. coraac\,;, ar.d tb;; dtcll'ic dttonatoJ· �i:plooes tl,c h>rpcdu.

ti. Bott. of tl:e :;,e "evicc.i v.,ere u:;eJ t.y rci;ular troop,:; (;uring ove1·t cornl.iat h Fl:lf.! l11itH.:B hav._:. lJt.:\:t: ,�hC4.l ior ((t.ite ,, \'v·hiJ(�; the Soviets oc�,;�iou.:;.':if
operatic,,·,;,. llowcvcr, U:ei.- tr;:in;;lation to t11e i,:ue1-rilla ,1,arfa1·e siturition requires
• , iv•� d..1,·g.,., v, n:i,,1, fi«ld H1.il'kt;1· flag,; uu:·i11g ·wo1·l<l w.,,· 11.
:.ttact-.t;,I cx1:.h�
only the :.mallt:»t Etretd: ur U:c inl3.!Jinati<:r:.,

~16

UNCLASSIFIED

:
II
 UNCLASSIFIED
FHC 31!1-5012
,ST(: 381-5012

----·-
----------
:l. (U) .�.!1 hapt·:lv2rnent o l.' t!li! :lrt�vio·u;.
. . 1tt.an. shown i!l fikr.1re 41� is the .,�ike
poni::n c.f a :·:.lltrvp mi:l'.H foe :;., 1µ,mrt ::ioar·d. 'l':ie improve,Hent con,;;i.�t.:. or a :sec­
lli!ffi.1
:::n:l 1,.ln, pointe·:l i:i tns: op,:,o;;ite direc�iou irom that o! t:ls, Iir,n bat·b, and so locate d
tl1J.t hut,i i..,a,•:,,s will lod;;:c ,vi.Ilia tile vktin;°,; foot. This arran�e:11ent increa,;es
the att...:1di:1g ,foctm·',; ;Jroblem 1n rc:novin� tile bilrb by ,Jreventing h"n from cutti11g
tne :1;nbur\,;:J, ,;,:1,I o.:iJ ?Ullin,: ilie .spike out wit!I .l pair of iclie,·,;, I\Ot to ::ncntion
«:B',
I . .
,._ _ _ )
'
./
�
fn� eff.,d 011 be patkn:.
()00 •
(o) (_~~~)
...
,,,.,.....

../
' ..
-· - - --------
- -- �

Fi9u1e 42 ("JNCLASSIFIED). Jof)Qne$e boobytrappi,d radi o (U).

e. Although the1·e have berm vi,ry few true boobytr·aps fount! in Vietnam, au
otherwise prolific source of imp1•oviscd weapoi.s, the same I.as not been tru<: for
Figure 41 (UNCLASSIFIED). Viet Cang Jouble-ba,bea ,pike (U). Algeria, a 1·t:lalively sterile source of improvised w,;apons, Oul'i1ig the Alge.-iun
r�bellion, the native FLN fo1'ces spent a good deal of lime and effort il,vuntir.g
HJ. (U} BOOBYTRAl'S harnlcss-looking device:; to make life difficult for tt.ei1· French opponcr.ts. A
ca:;e in point i:s the 1·eblively st..aigbtforwa,·d l.iook bool,yh·aJ> show1: in figu,·Ec 4·l.
a. Ttlt' buot:ytrap is another o1n :, :i1:<nt Jevice, the fum:.ti,:in of wh!c:i is to lure the Oc:pcnding on the t:ircumstances, Ibis book could l.ie l;ing on the grount.l, on top
l1tr..va1·y Into performing an a,iµarently safe a,:;t that injure;; or destroy:,; nim by of a ;;ped:.lly con:sfructed i.Jookcase, or even on lop of othe,· t.ooks pla(;ed 1.<pl'ighl
r.11: a ns of a �.lrH:eale:J explo,ive (::1ar6 e . h the conte xt of gue:-ri!l& use, the buoby­ in an ordinary bookc;a:;e. When tt.c book is oisplo.ced either by lifting or l.iy sliriing,
trap ha;; i:1u::h an lnstr-11ment of ps;-e,1)logical , warf a re as anytnhg else. Used the w:re .i.tt;,ehed t,> ti>" cov.;,,· mov.;,s, carl·yi11g with il on.:, oi tii.::, batte,·y h:t«is. Ti;,,
Judiclou:sly, it :s e n·e ;; t<> �mp:1a.si z.c the t,lea fa!l.t the guel'rlll a is the ma:1 who other ballt:rv lci.\d is t:or.nccted to an electric u€ton:ito1· which is iu turn attache,!
i
wield., ;,ow e r, and t lll-1 he will not he;;it'\te to u.,f! it. This is especially effective to t11e metal. lube lioui:ing tbo fil'st battery IE'aci. Wb.:n tl,<l first lead contacts the
if a:1 bcidt< ,- ,t is o'\..;k!.:d uµ :·,y fac ;;uggesti,)a that lut�re incldi!:its can be avo:ded 1111,tal tuJ; e the cin:ult i:e complete, and the deto,:.:itol' initiate:, au explo:jive d1a1·g.:,.
by l�O\°>(>�r·ation wlt�) gu� c·c-illa for.:�es.
L In the section dealing v,ith firir.g d1:1,ices, two variations of U,t: Algt:riau
l,, At one tim<; or another durkg World War U, practically everything found clothespin were illuslr'attd. The foe,· parts of fip,ro 4:, :;how fou,· diffc1·cnt wuys
on the battlefield Ii.id b<;er, boohytrapped, ,:ot exclu<.ikg the dead. The Japar,;;sc
ra,!\o shown in figure; 42 ha;;; o. charge connecterl to the off-on !;'4ilch so that it8
curious but incautiol,S c�ptor may c:<,SlJ'oy hirr.st.>lf.
..
in wh.id: tl-.ii; device i� us1:d to boobytn1p a bangalore toq,cdo. Needless to ;;ay,
any "h,,ri.:1: of -,xplo,,;,ve will serve th,i purpv30:: ;,.,; wdl a,; will l!h� l·.a·peJu .

l
g. ,'art:. one :<t!C. two show two w:iys of installing the pull-operated ·.rcr,;ion,
c. Anotl,<.n' .la,_.anese booby1ro1p uses lh,; ringing har,dle of a telephor.E: to ;;et ai:d pad fnu1· :;l;vv,:; ti,,; t,;r:sion-rcka�,; ir.stallcnion. Pa.1·1 Ll,rce sloo·.�:; a new
off r.,. charge of explosive. In tl:i.:l iu:;tallution, seen ir: fi�re 43, a pu..11-ope,·atec variation in which th1.: clothe.spin has beet: plucc<J s o that tht wdght of the J.,a,.galm·e
fi.2c ii;;;talled in u dur.olitiou block is c<,r.i:et:ted to the har.cile by a v.ire so tt.at, ICJJ'petio l:ol<is th, r.:or:tact:, apai·t. WJ,(:r, tbe toq,uiil i.s liflt:d, the !;pdni; close,, the
•.d,<:n the hanrUe i,; t1,;rr,t:c, the wfre i>i pulkc taut to ir,itiat1; the ruzc. coraac\,;, ar.d tb;; dtcll'ic dttonatoJ· �i:plooes tl,c h>rpcdu.

ti. Bott. of tl:e :;,e "evicc.i v.,ere u:;eJ t.y rci;ular troop,:; (;uring ove1·t cornl.iat h Fl:lf.! l11itH.:B hav._:. lJt.:\:t: ,�hC4.l ior ((t.ite ,, \'v·hiJ(�; the Soviets oc�,;�iou.:;.':if
operatic,,·,;,. llowcvcr, U:ei.- tr;:in;;lation to t11e i,:ue1-rilla ,1,arfa1·e siturition requires , iv•� d..1,·g.,., v, n:i,,1, fi«ld H1.il'kt;1· flag,; uu:·i11g ·wo1·l<l w.,,· 11.
:.ttact-.t;,I cx1:.h�
only the :.mallt:»t Etretd: ur U:c inl3.!Jinati<:r:.,

UNCLASSIFIED

:
II
 UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED FSlC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

i
I
I· CAI090AIO
runs
~
;

--- ,· - --- -------------- I

.

/
Ji\UAL TUH

/,�
/.
DlTONATOII / ".
/ /
EXPLOSIVE�-
0

_l_ Fi911re 44 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN book boobylrop (U).

F '�u:·e 43 (lJt-.lC LASSIF I EO). Jo::,(1,-.,,e ':>oc,b·tfrupped tel ephone {U). 39

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED FSlC 381-5012
FSTC 381-5012

CAI090AIO
runs

--- ,· - --- --------------

/
Ji\UAL TUH

/,�
/.
DlTONATOII / ".
/ /
/
EXPLOSIVE�-
0
%: 8ATTERY

:%'
~ .-
CON1A1HU /

Fi911re 44 (UNCLASSIFIED). FLN book boobylrop (U).

F '�u:·e 43 (lJt-.lC LASSIF I EO). Jo::,(1,-.,,e ':>oc,b·tfrupped tel ephone {U). 39

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 38l-5012

L The device sl,own in Cil{UrE: 46 is a box containing a k>atter·y and two contact::1

UNGAtOU
0 IUNGALOIU 0 '
arranged iw tbat the: circ:uit can be closed by raising the Oagstaff. This cievice was
.ised by members of U1e FLN iu Algeria wher.: U is customary for land owner:s to
Jisplay a flag 011 their· p,·opel'ly. The explosive char gc can be placed in any con­
I
/ venient place within a reasonabh; distance of U1f:< flag, and can be aclualed at 11n
cppcrti.mc morne!lt.

j
7'
~ "

Ga OUNO

- --\
BANG.HOME
BANGALORE

fi91.1re 46 (UNClASSIFIED). Flug mine (U)

t
j. A second version of the flag mine exists which would bo more appropri<>tely
�alletl the fia� boobytrap. It differs only in that the exploHlve charge is placed
inside the box. Cf the emblem of the !lag was that oi the 1''LN, diioplaying it pub­
licly was akin to w;;.ving a red flag in front of a bull, at lee.at until the time the
fi9u1e 45 (UNCLASSlfltO). FLN bongolore torpedo boobytraps (U). French withdrew. The gendarme or poilu who atlempted to relllove the flag .suc­
ceeded only in Jestroying himself.

40 41

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 38l-5012

..
L The device sl,own in Cil{UrE: 46 is a box containing a k>atter·y and two contact::1
arranged iw tbat the: circ:uit can be closed by raising the Oagstaff. This cievice was
UNGAtOU IUNGALOIU .ised by members of U1e FLN iu Algeria wher.: U is customary for land owner:s to
Jisplay a flag 011 their· p,·opel'ly.
... The explosive char gc can be placed in any con­
venient place within a reasonabh; distance of U1f:< flag, and can be aclualed at 11n
cppcrti.mc morne!lt.

Ga OUNO

- --\
BANG.HOME
BANGALORE

fi91.1re 46 (UNClASSIFIED). Flug mine (U)

t
j. A second version of the flag mine exists which would bo more appropri<>tely
�alletl the fia� boobytrap. It differs only in that the exploHlve charge is placed
inside the box. Cf the emblem of the !lag was that oi the 1''LN, diioplaying it pub­
licly was akin to w;;.ving a red flag in front of a bull, at lee.at until the time the
fi9u1e 45 (UNCLASSlfltO). FLN bongolore torpedo boobytraps (U). French withdrew. The gendarme or poilu who atlempted to relllove the flag .suc­
ceeded only in Jestroying himself.

40 41

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-S012

Section IX. (U) OISG\.JISED DEVICES

'I I. (UJ All of the m1oteriel itt:rus discu.sHc ir. t�,t: precedir,g sectJons of this ,;tucv
despite tl:1:lr civ.,rsily of fo1'111 and funclion, halve a comr.lon trait; that i;i, rhey ·'
"re what tl:l:y seem to be. This section is devoted to another group of devlee,;-­
ui::,se which are _n�! wllat they a(Jpear to be; they are, in lite wor::ls of the title of
tt,is se;:;tion. disg·.Jised devkes.
~ Fi9vre 48 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vietr1ome1e ci9orelle lighter (oxplcded vie·,.,) (U).
42. (U) Prcviocs sections hr,ve laid consi<lt:r11.blo emphasis on lltms whkh were
either mad� in toto vi- extensively· m.:i,liiit:d from factory-made materiel by the
gue:-riua �n the fieid or i n a br.sement•style workshop. In this context the major
44 (Ul The pen-and-pencll set isbown in the eKploded view seen in fig:ire 49 i"'
problem in design and fabri<:ation is to ob1ain a product which will function lll'ith :i delay fuze which operates by requiring aulpburic acid to eat its way tht·Oui!ll a
rca�onable reliability without ,·egard to its form arnJ appearance. 'I'he ilisg,1ised
«le�-.cc, (Ill the other har,d, n!lti lie one of it!:l maJo,· points its appearance, because
_
11 1s 11:ter,<.Jed to look like somcthir,g which it i.!i not. Tills requiremenl almost
I celbloid dl.:ik before coming into contact with a mixture of potassium chlorate and
::1uga1'. The latter action causes a Hash which £ires a detonator, The Oasii, in
turn, initiates an explosive charge.
p1·eclur.ies tte manulacturing oC uh,guisetl ,levices in U-,e field where the r;ecessary
eqllfpment �nd skill:; are usually lackinll.
!

Ill--
43. (U) The first of these devices to he describted !Jere is, h; all external appe:ar­
a:i.::cs, a Ciiarette Lighter tieadng a 1110Jest resemblance to those made by Ronson.
l! --..:,Ji=
�t l.s .sr,ow:1 In Iig-Jres 47 and 48. In act�ality it Is a fir1:arm that was probably mado
;or an assai;c1ination mi;;;�ion. The boJy' of the lighter ho•Jses a tube containing foe 0 r-
funcnonal pr.rt3, Readmg from left to ri,iht in the exploded view theae are o. bul­
let, a tube C,)ntuning a ch:irge of pro(JCllant and a ;,>rimer, a iiring pin, and a •1,____

,
fil'ing pin �pring. A stud which projects thl'Ouj{h one wall of the lights;r body holds
u,e firing pin apinat its cumpre><sed spring. When this stud is pressed, the we;,.­
µ0n fires. lt is }J<Ltently a short-range device- -the uc1er could probably not hit a
n:.ar.-siz.ed ta1•gel beyood e to IO feel· -ar,d it iti undoubtedly capable of killing at - -
ewe.;
----.
clulSe range.

•
tr,· �
,-·-

Figure -49 (UNCLASSIFIED). GennOl'I pen-and-pencil delay fuze (U}.

!.'
45. (U) A glass an,poule of acid, the ceUuloiJ <lisk, aml a plunge,· for (:i·ushing
!.

�,..\..._, - . IJ
.. ) '
the ampoule are housed in tho body of tl1e p.:n. The potassium ct'.lorate antl sugar
1:1ixtur 1 and the detonator are coutained in the pend!. The device is readied fot·
;,:,� by remo.,,irlg aml discaroing thE- ve11cil poi:it and the pen cap. The pen bo:Jy
i,; then screwed into the pencil body, anti the detonator is screwt:d into the hole
formerly occ·Jpied by the pencil point. TwL;ting the upper er!u of the pen t,otly for­
co::s a plunger to crush the glas3 ampoule, and t!le sulph·Jric add can then begin

i
to react with the celluloid dil:lk. When the acid ha;i eaten its way th1'ougll the Jl.sk
it then dripo down through the 1lib of the pen and onto the mixture o{ potassium
figure 47 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vielnome•• d9orette tighter (utcrnol view) (U).
�2
I chlorate and sugar.

I
<13

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
I
;i
.·1
i'
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381-S012

Section IX. (U) OISG\.JISED DEVICES

'I I. (UJ All of the m1oteriel itt:rus discu.sHc ir. t�,t: precedir,g sectJons of this ,;tucv c.:, . r -~
----.a__-_-__-__·- _ _ ·-,
.r- 6'__..,_____
__(t,
_,,,, ......:y-
(4L~,.-..
~
·~%t - - .. - - - - - 1{)
-(; )'0 -~w- ~ - --0:
. '
~ \
- .. - -
j)
despite tl:1:lr civ.,rsily of fo1'111 and funclion, halve a comr.lon trait; that i;i, rhey ·'
"re what tl:l:y seem to be. This section is devoted to another group of devlee,;-­
,--.JL. .:.._,.
ui::,se which are _n�! wllat they a(Jpear to be; they are, in lite wor::ls of the title of
tt,is se;:;tion. disg·.Jised devkes.

42. (U) Prcviocs sections hr,ve laid consi<lt:r11.blo emphasis on lltms whkh were Fi9vre 48 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vietr1ome1e ci9orelle lighter (oxplcded vie·,.,) (U).
either mad� in toto vi- extensively· m.:i,liiit:d from factory-made materiel by the
gue:-riua �n the fieid or i n a br.sement•style workshop. In this context the major
44 (Ul The pen-and-pencll set isbown in the eKploded view seen in fig:ire 49 i"'
problem in design and fabri<:ation is to ob1ain a product which will function lll'ith :i delay fuze which operates by requiring aulpburic acid to eat its way tht·Oui!ll a
rca�onable reliability without ,·egard to its form arnJ appearance. 'I'he ilisg,1ised celbloid dl.:ik before coming into contact with a mixture of potassium chlorate and
«le�-.cc, (Ill the other har,d, n!lti lie one of it!:l maJo,· points its appearance, because ::1uga1'. The latter action causes a Hash which £ires a detonator, The Oasii, in
_
11 1s 11:ter,<.Jed to look like somcthir,g which it i.!i not. Tills requiremenl almost turn, initiates an explosive charge.
p1·eclur.ies tte manulacturing oC uh,guisetl ,levices in U-,e field where the r;ecessary
eqllfpment �nd skill:; are usually lackinll.

Ill--
43. (U) The first of these devices to he describted !Jere is, h; all external appe:ar­
a:i.::cs, a Ciiarette Lighter tieadng a 1110Jest resemblance to those made by Ronson.
�t l.s .sr,ow:1 In Iig-Jres 47 and 48. In act�ality it Is a fir1:arm that was probably mado
--..:,Ji=
;or an assai;c1ination mi;;;�ion. The boJy' of the lighter ho•Jses a tube containing foe 0 r-
funcnonal pr.rt3, Readmg from left to ri,iht in the exploded view theae are o. bul­
let, a tube C,)ntuning a ch:irge of pro(JCllant and a ;,>rimer, a iiring pin, and a •1,____

-- ,
fil'ing pin �pring. A stud which projects thl'Ouj{h one wall of the lights;r body holds
u,e firing pin apinat its cumpre><sed spring. When this stud is pressed, the we;,.­
µ0n fires. lt is }J<Ltently a short-range device- -the uc1er could probably not hit a
n:.ar.-siz.ed ta1•gel beyood e to IO feel· -ar,d it iti undoubtedly capable of killing at - -
ewe.;
----.
clulSe range.

•
tr,· �
,-·-

Figure -49 (UNCLASSIFIED). GennOl'I pen-and-pencil delay fuze (U}.

!.'
45. (U) A glass an,poule of acid, the ceUuloiJ <lisk, aml a plunge,· for (:i·ushing
!. the ampoule are housed in tho body of tl1e p.:n. The potassium ct'.lorate antl sugar
1:1ixtur 1 and the detonator are coutained in the pend!. The device is readied fot·

� \..._, - .
,..
i
l ;,:,� by remo.,,irlg aml discaroing thE- ve11cil poi:it and the pen cap. The pen bo:Jy
i i,; then screwed into the pencil body, anti the detonator is screwt:d into the hole
IJ formerly occ·Jpied by the pencil point. TwL;ting the upper er!u of the pen t,otly for­
•' co::s a plunger to crush the glas3 ampoule, and t!le sulph·Jric add can then begin

i
to react with the celluloid dil:lk. When the acid ha;i eaten its way th1'ougll the Jl.sk
it then dripo down through the 1lib of the pen and onto the mixture o{ potassium
figure 47 (UNCLASSIFIED). Vielnome•• d9orette tighter (utcrnol view) (U).
�2
I chlorate and sugar.

I
<13

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
I
;i
.·1
i'
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 3al-5012 FSTC 381-5012

46. (U) A va.da.tlon of the p<:n•c.nd·p<::nc1l <lt:lay fu,z e i,;; the pe n which conceald may occa;;ionally contain aa amO'tmt of explosive which is just lariie tnough to rup-
a1; il,(;c,n<li:;.i·y de·.1ce, show,1 in fi i,,'\1r.:l 50. The ,)E:n c•ln::1;-,ts of a :na,:nesium c«;;h!l 1·.ire tr,e contain er and acatter the burning contents.
containing« eockc<l ,;tr:ke:·, a primer pdii!t, " delay elesmc1)t, an ignitbg • charge,
and u qu:;.ntity of thennite. When the t,arrel of tile pen i,;; rot�ted HID\ the ,;tdke,· 49 . (!JI �lthough the s;ieciilc mechanism of lhe Gei•man World War JI incendiary
.!iJH'l11g dl':,r"s the .,;\r:kel' mto the p,•:.,. llesr, iJnilhg the clday eleme:1t, the igniting taermos tL..,;k picture<l in figure 52 is not known, it may be tak en as represam1,.tive
.
. entu·e ctass
.. :har·ge, C.JHl f:na.l ly the "!ht:rr,nt..:. 01 it« .

Figure 50 (UNCLA�SIFIED). Germon incendi,;iry pen (U).

47. (U) Tht:: incendiary ci1r1r shown in figure 51 consish; of a h,ad casing con­
taining a glass ampoule of i;uli,llul'ic aciu, a ca,•dboard bal'rier, anc.! a mixture of
potas,;ium dJ.oralc a,�tl sugar. A strong squeeze by the fingers on th€ Uunt er.d
of tt.t ca:sir,g breaks the ampode from which the aci<l ltak:; to contact the l>arri<:r.
Eventt:ally thE: add cats its way through the barriei· and, on conu;.cting the 1>0tas­
.,j1o. m chl orate and i;ui:ar mixture, canses a chemical reaction accomµan:ied by a
stronl{ flash which ignites any ueai-by cornl>ustiblt:: material.

-� =- 7 ...
- _--- -
--··
:.: -----
�·····
�--·­

.....---
.. ·
,,,...._.. . .
_...
� . ...- -·
.....,._. _
,_._. ... .

FigJre 51 (UNClASSIFIED). Germar1 ir,cendiary cigar (U}.

4!l. (L;) The range of cc,wmou co11tah,e1·s •.,hich can bt, or hr,vt been, used to
. €' the larg,;r incendia!'Y do;vices covers almost ever y conceivahle innocent
hOl'::.
�c:l' I · -,nl ,:ans. :ni:;;., ·l,:H, paint l,ucl<ets, and even thermo,; flu:;ks. As med1- t
jI
.
ani:.1ns, lhtlJ have little or nothing about thtm of interest l,ecause 01e rnz.jor p.irt
of ea,!:, is JevokJ to b: :1.1si:lg a ,pa:ltity ul incendiary lll>.tedal, altt:ougl: tl:cy
I Figure .52 (UNCLASSIFIED), Germon incendiar y thermos fl o,� (U).
I 45

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED

L
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 3al-5012 FSTC 381-5012

46. (U) A va.da.tlon of the p<:n•c.nd·p<::nc1l <lt:lay fu,z e i,;; the pe n which conceald may occa;;ionally contain aa amO'tmt of explosive which is just lariie tnough to rup-
a1; il,(;c,n<li:;.i·y de·.1ce, show,1 in fi i,,'\1r.:l 50. The ,)E:n c•ln::1;-,ts of a :na,:nesium c«;;h!l 1·.ire tr,e contain er and acatter the burning contents.
containing« eockc<l ,;tr:ke:·, a primer pdii!t, " delay elesmc1)t, an ignitbg charge,
and u qu:;.ntity of thennite. When the t,arrel of tile pen i,;; rot�ted HID\ the ,;tdke,· 49 . (!JI �lthough the s;ieciilc mechanism of lhe Gei•man World War JI incendiary
.!iJH'l11g dl':,r"s the .,;\r:kel' mto the p,•:.,. llesr, iJnilhg the clday eleme:1t, the igniting taermos tL..,;k picture<l in figure 52 is not known, it may be tak en as represam1,.tive
.
. entu·e ctass
.. :har·ge, C.JHl f:na.l ly the "!ht:rr,nt..:. 01 it« .

I I,,
-·-.:~ - - -=-·.-

Figure 50 (UNCLA�SIFIED). Germon incendi,;iry pen (U).

47. (U) Tht:: incendiary ci1r1r shown in figure 51 consish; of a h,ad casing con­
taining a glass ampoule of i;uli,llul'ic aciu, a ca,•dboard bal'rier, anc.! a mixture of
potas,;ium dJ.oralc a,�tl sugar. A strong squeeze by the fingers on th€ Uunt er.d
of tt.t ca:sir,g breaks the ampode from which the aci<l ltak:; to contact the l>arri<:r.
Eventt:ally thE: add cats its way through the barriei· and, on conu;.cting the 1>0tas­
.,j1o. m chl orate and i;ui:ar mixture, canses a chemical reaction accomµan:ied by a
stronl{ flash which ignites any ueai-by cornl>ustiblt:: material.

-� =- 7 --··
~ ---.
...
- _--- -
:.: -----
�·····
�--·­ -
· :.- -
. ~ .. .:.::.WWW

.....---
.. ·
,,,...._.. . .
_...
� . ...- -· ··· ·.:·..~
.....,._. _
,_._. ... .
· -~
.. ...:..::... _

FigJre 51 (UNClASSIFIED). Germar1 ir,cendiary cigar (U}.

4!l. (L;) The range of cc,wmou co11tah,e1·s •.,hich can bt, or hr,vt been, used to
. €' the larg,;r incendia!'Y do;vices covers almost ever y conceivahle innocent
hOl'::.
�c:l' I · -,nl ,:ans. :ni:;;., ·l,:H, paint l,ucl<ets, and even thermo,; flu:;ks. As med1- t
jI
.
ani:.1ns, lhtlJ have little or nothing about thtm of interest l,ecause 01e rnz.jor p.irt
of ea,!:, is JevokJ to b: :1.1si:lg a ,pa:ltity ul incendiary lll>.tedal, altt:ougl: tl:cy
I Figure .52 (UNCLASSIFIED), Germon incendiar y thermos fl o,� (U).
I 45

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED

L
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

'>0. (CJ) All i:1ceudiary ma:erial.;; do not come no·.Jsed in in11oc1::nt-l oolti ug ::ans.
Both the ''uric�·, il.ml the bac of ·•soap·', respectively shown in Iig-.1res 53 and 54,
are incendiary mixture.,; co:n;:,ounded to closely resemble their pseudomorplt s.

51. (U) The "brkk'' i.3 co:nposed of pota.;;;;bm chlorate, sulph·.1r, ground coal or
au�ar. froa filing.,;, wax, and red coloring matter. Its surface has been waxed t o
1:nitate the �:Z.zc of a common 0!'1<:k. Thi::i item has no hole for the insertion of
an 1guitcr. Howev.,r, either tho:, fo11n1.ain pen or the cigar di;;cui!sec.l previouoily
t
.
win ignite the bric::k if placed in contact wit.h it . The ab.:ience of l'>n igniter pocket

i
\ . ·, ' I
,mgg<:sts �hat this iten, is intended to be fuel for a blaze cstablisheJ by other mean,i,
I
rachec than a;1 a primary fi,·e-starter.
I
\
!
!
\• ·._'
52. (TJ) The "soap" liar is composed of t,,,.rium nitrate, pacaffin, mages1um, al­
uminum, rosi n, and ferrosoferric oxide. Unlike the incendia1·y brick, the ''soap·• \
J
li.;.r has an i!,[1tlter pocket in one side, and is thuil probably intended as a primary ; \
starter of fires.

�.-. . ......
:". (. • 1

Fig,;re 54 (UNCLASSIFIED). Joponese incendiary soap (U),

5:l (r) The Gerrnan incendiary ca!Jsule shown in fig,.Jres 55 ilml 56 is a fact;:,ry-
1natle item which, although notadisguised device, hasueen i:1cluJe:J hcre bcca·.Js.; its
fuuction J>araileis that oi' other materid in this section. The capsule, which is
2.pp:·oximate:y f> inches long by 1-1 I 4 ,nches in diameter, consists of a flammable
casing filled with a mixture of gasoline and paraffiu. The left-h:.n<l end of the
casir.g has been coated ·with a matchhcad composition so that it can be lit on a
.;afety-match box.

�-1. (U} Tt,cre are nuir.crous varieties of disguised explosive;;, including thoae
in toothpa::;te tube::;, paint or oil cans, wooden shocis, and food co11tainel'li. A1·.y of
the larger disguised incendiaries can lie converted by merely substituting an ex­
t plosive substance for the incendiary mixtur·e.

:'>5. (Ul One or tt.e less obviouis ·ways of camoufla;::ng an explosive is to make it
resemble a lump or coal which can be planted at power generating stations, in
Figue 53 (UNCLA>SIFIED). Jop,:,nese ineendi:,ry brick (U). t railroad coal liir.s, or in other l:ltrategic locations. While lhe damage-producing
potential of thfa Item ls open to some question, its harassment potential is unde­
r.iable.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

;.
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

'>0. (CJ) All i:1ceudiary ma:erial.;; do not come no·.Jsed in in11oc1::nt-l oolti ug ::ans.
Both the ''uric�·, il.ml the bac of ·•soap·', respectively shown in Iig-.1res 53 and 54,
are incendiary mixture.,; co:n;:,ounded to closely resemble their pseudomorplt s.

51. (U) The "brkk'' i.3 co:nposed of pota.;;;;bm chlorate, sulph·.1r, ground coal or
au�ar. froa filing.,;, wax, and red coloring matter. Its surface has been waxed t o
1:nitate the �:Z.zc of a common 0!'1<:k. Thi::i item has no hole for the insertion of
an 1guitcr. Howev.,r, either tho:, fo11n1.ain pen or the cigar di;;cui!sec.l previouoily
t
.
win ignite the bric::k if placed in contact wit.h it . The ab.:ience of l'>n igniter pocket

i
\ . ·, ' I
,mgg<:sts �hat this iten, is intended to be fuel for a blaze cstablisheJ by other mean,i,
I
rachec than a;1 a primary fi,·e-starter.
I
\
!
!
\• ·._'
52. (TJ) The "soap" liar is composed of t,,,.rium nitrate, pacaffin, mages1um, al­
uminum, rosi n, and ferrosoferric oxide. Unlike the incendia1·y brick, the ''soap·• \
\ J
li.;.r has an i!,[1tlter pocket in one side, and is thuil probably intended as a primary ; \
starter of fires.

.J

�.-. . ......
:". (. • 1

Fig,;re 54 (UNCLASSIFIED). Joponese incendiary soap (U),

5:l (r) The Gerrnan incendiary ca!Jsule shown in fig,.Jres 55 ilml 56 is a fact;:,ry-
1natle item which, although notadisguised device, hasueen i:1cluJe:J hcre bcca·.Js.; its
fuuction J>araileis that oi' other materid in this section. The capsule, which is
2.pp:·oximate:y f> inches long by 1-1 I 4 ,nches in diameter, consists of a flammable
casing filled with a mixture of gasoline and paraffiu. The left-h:.n<l end of the
casir.g has been coated ·with a matchhcad composition so that it can be lit on a
.;afety-match box.

�-1. (U} Tt,cre are nuir.crous varieties of disguised explosive;;, including thoae
in toothpa::;te tube::;, paint or oil cans, wooden shocis, and food co11tainel'li. A1·.y of
the larger disguised incendiaries can lie converted by merely substituting an ex­
plosive substance for the incendiary mixtur·e.

:'>5. (Ul One or tt.e less obviouis ·ways of camoufla;::ng an explosive is to make it
resemble a lump or coal which can be planted at power generating stations, in
Figue 53 (UNCLA>SIFIED). Jop,:,nese ineendi:,ry brick (U). railroad coal liir.s, or in other l:ltrategic locations. While lhe damage-producing
potential of thfa Item ls open to some question, its harassment potential is unde­
r.iable.

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FHC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

.�

Figw" 55 (U�KLASSIFJEO). Germo n 1, nbLrned i ncendiory <:Df>$ule (U).

Figure 57 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Japon$$e explosive cOQI (U).

Fi9ure 56 (UNCLASSIFlfD). Gi,m1:Jn burr. ed hcendi-,ry capsul e (U).

5i3 (U) Two vat·1c".ies of cx;ilo:si ·,re .;oal. h.iv� been f,Y.rnd l'h'<' fit·,,;t, ;;h:iwn iri
i'16uce }7. '-,:on.:ii.:ils oi a lu:l•p l)! Hf>X l�onta1uing a dt.!to !,at,:.i1·, the wholD cn.;::asrid
rn � :hin <'al'l:1�J1W'1l'C ,;Jw:1. The ,;hell :,a.., hecn s:oated wit:l a ·:,itumen p:,iat tc
f!!Ve :� th� �;>.:>L!hL'flllL�t; •lf � lu:up oi �:. u'J11·,1ci:.e coal. Althoi.tgil close \!Xan1i:1atiun
•)f L\H� o:· tii�oc iu:n�;,; ·�1v·:ll :·c· t, 1..:�: the ih:l=� iJt;,)n, th�y i,re vi�htally i1npos::;iOle to
• ,vhen !H'.X<:,l w.:h ,-�;;.l co;;� Wh,m such:;. J136ui,;i,, d expl,H:v.: j.,; «:tpo:;,.,d tu
<lc:c:ct

!
f. �·c, U1t� h�a-" �\'t'J1:u4.1i.y :ni•.u.: �t::; the ilt):.ou:1tor ·which Ht t:..1rn seto ,:,i·r t:)c HUX.

57. (l.:) lf ,, more realistic a1,pe;;,.ra11ce is neccssal-y, such caa I.Je obtained, but
.it the cx,:,cns<: ,Ji a reduced arr.01.nt of explosivt per lump. Figu::-e 58 shows u
lu11:1,1 of gcnuint: coal, while figure 59 shows thE< alterations to it. The ho:es dril­
led i r . the luu:p a1·t: filleti with c,11,h,:,he an<l a detonator. The holes are then
seale<l \\'ith n-.odcling day or putty that is th,:;n tJ!.;..ckened \!o'ith shoe polish.
•
.;a Fi9ure 59 (UNCLASSIFIED). G erman ""PIO$i"e CQ(ll lei<lernal vi-) (U).
49

UNCLASSIFll:D UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FHC 381-5012 FSTC 381-5012

.�

Figw" 55 (U�KLASSIFJEO). Germo n 1, nbLrned i ncendiory <:Df>$ule (U).

{
Figure 57 (UNCLASSIFIED}. Japon$$e explosive cOQI (U).

Fi9ure 56 (UNCLASSIFlfD). Gi,m1:Jn burr. ed hcendi-,ry capsul e (U).

5i3 (U) Two vat·1c".ies of cx;ilo:si ·,re .;oal. h.iv� been f,Y.rnd l'h'<' fit·,,;t, ;;h:iwn iri
i'16uce }7. ,:on.:ii.:ils oi a lu:l•p l)! Hf>X l�onta1uing a dt.!to !,at,:.i1·, the wholD cn.;::asrid
rn � :hin <'al'l:1�J1W'1l'C ,;Jw:1. The ,;hell :,a.., hecn s:oated wit:l a ·:,itumen p:,iat tc
f!!Ve :� th� �;>.:>L!hL'flllL�t; •lf � lu:up oi �:. u'J11·,1ci:.e coal. Althoi.tgil close \!Xan1i:1atiun
•)f L\H� o:· tii�oc iu:n�;,; ·�1v·:ll :·c· t, 1..:�: the ih:l=� iJt;,)n, th�y i,re vi�htally i1npos::;iOle to
<lc:c:ct ,vhen !H'.X<:,l w.:h ,-�;;.l co;;� Wh,m such:;. J136ui,;i,, d expl,H:v.: j.,; «:tpo:;,.,d tu

!
f. �·c, U1t� h�a-" �\'t'J1:u4.1i.y :ni•.u.: �t::; the ilt):.ou:1tor ·which Ht t:..1rn seto ,:,i·r t:)c HUX.

57. (l.:) lf ,, more realistic a1,pe;;,.ra11ce is neccssal-y, such caa I.Je obtained, but
.it the cx,:,cns<: ,Ji a reduced arr.01.nt of explosivt per lump. Figu::-e 58 shows u
lu11:1,1 of gcnuint: coal, while figure 59 shows thE< alterations to it. The ho:es dril­
led i r . the luu:p a1·t: filleti with c,11,h,:,he an<l a detonator. The holes are then
seale<l \\'ith n-.odcling day or putty that is th,:;n tJ!.;..ckened \!o'ith shoe polish.
.;a Fi9ure 59 (UNCLASSIFIED). G erman ""PIO$i"e CQ(ll lei<lernal vi-) (U).
49

UNCLASSIFll:D UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
FSTC 381-5012
FSTC 381•5012

. · . 1 >'.

].
�

Fivur• 60 (UNCI.ASSIFIED). G«mon nploslve soop (U).

''

•• ·> •• ; ·"-·--···- ....�---

.... " 41 . • .I i l II I; A

figvre 59 (UNCLASSIFIED). German e,cplc,ive ecol (seclion vie...) {U).

58. (C) A cake of Japanese ".soap,'' which is in fact an lr,cend.iary, is shown in

figure 54. On the other side of the world, the Germans devised the cake of soap,
sbown in fig1,1·e 60, which is actually a block of explosive covered with a tl-Jn
layer of real soap.

50

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED