IMPROVISED MUNITIONS HANDBOOK
TM 31-210 Department of the army technical manual
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAR OFFICE
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
CHAPTER I
---------
EXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS (Includind Igniters)
For further information or additional inserts, contact:
Commanding Officer
Frankford Arsenal
ATTN: SMUF A-U3100, Special Products Division
Small Caliber Engineering Directorate
Philadelphia, PA. 19137
Additional inserts will be made available as evaluation tests are completed. Please notify the above agency of any change of address so that you may receive them.
INTRODUCTION
1.Purpose and Scope
In Unconventional Warfare operations it may be impossible or unwise to use conventional military munitions as tools in the conduct of certain missions. it may be necessary instead to fabricate the required munitions from locally available or unassuming materials. The purpose of this Manual is to increase
the potential of Special Forces and guerrilla troops by describing in detail the manufacture of munitions from seemingly innocuous locally available mate-rials.
Manufactured, precision devices almost always will be more effective, more reliable, and easier to use
than improvised ones, but shelf items will just not be available for certain operations for security or logistical reasons. There-fore the operater will have to rely on materials he can buy in a drug or paint store, find in a junk pile, or scrounge from military stocks. Also, many of the ingredients and materials used in fabricating homemade items are so commonplace or innocuous they can be carried without arousing suspicion. The completed item itself often is more easily concealed or camouflaged. In addition, the field expedient item can be tailored for the intended target, thereby providing an advantage over the standard item in flexibility and versatility.
The Manual contains simple explanations and illustrations to permit const-ruction of the items by personnel not normally familiar with making and hand-ling munitions. These items were conceived in-house or, obtained from other publications or personnel engaged in munitions or special warfare work. This Manual includes methods for fabricating explosives, detonators, propellants, shaped charges, small arms, mortats, incendiaries, delays, switches, and simi-lar items from indigenous materials.
2.Safety and Reliability
Each item was evaluated both theoretically and experimentally to assure
safety
and reliability. A large number of items were descarded because of inherent hazards or unreliable performance. Safety warnings are prominently inserted in the procedures where they apply but it is emphasized that safety is a matter of attitude. It is a proven fact that men who are alert, who think out a situa-tion, and who take correct precautions have fewer accidents than the careless and indifferent. It is important that work be planned and that instructions be followed to the letter; all work should be done in a neat and orderly manner.
In the manufacture explosives, detonators, propellants and incendiaries, equip-ment must be kept clean and such energy concentrations as sparks, friction, im-pact, hot objects, flame, chemical reactions, and excessive pressure should be avoided.
These items were found to be effective in most environments; however, samples should be made and tested remotely prior to actual use of assure proper per-formance. Chemical items should be used as soon as possible after preparation and kept free of moisture, dirt, and the above energy concentrations. Special care should be taken in any attempt at substitution or use of items for pur-poses other than that specified or intended.
3.User Comments
It is anticipated that this manual will be revised or changed from time to time. In this way it will be possible to update present material and add new items as they become available. Users are encouraged to submit recommended changes or comments to improve this manual. Comments should be keyed to the specific page, paragraph, and line of the text in which changes are recom-mended. Reasons should be provided for each comment to insure understanding
and complete evaluation. Comments should be forwarded directly to Commandant, United States Army, Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28307
and Commanding Officer, United States Army, Frankford Arsenal, SMUFA-J8000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19137.
Section I
No. 1
PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE FILLER
A plastic explosive filler can be made from potassium chlorate and petroleum jelly. This explosive can be detonaed with commercial #8 or military blasting cap.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:HOW USED:
----------------------------
Potassium chlorate Medicine
Manufacture of matches
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)Medicine
Lubricant
Piece of round stick
Wide bowl or other container
for mixing ingredients.
PROCEDURE:
----------
1. Spread potassium chlorate crystals thinly on a hard surface. Roll the round stick over crystals to crush into a very fine powder until it looks like face powder or wheat flour.
sort of army2. Place 9 parts powdered potassium chlorate and 1 part petroleum jelly in a wide bowl or similar container. Mix ingredients with hands (knead) until a uni-form paste is obtained.
NOTE: Store explosive in a waterproof container until ready to use.
Section I
No. 2
POTASSIUM NITRATE
Potassium nitrate (saltpeter) can be extracted from many natural sources and can be used to make nitric acid, black powder and many pyrotechnics. The yield ranges from .1 to 10% by weight, depending on the fertility of the soil. MATERIALS:SOURCES:
------------------
Nitrate bearing earth or other Soil containing old decayed
materials, about 3-1/2 gallons vegetable or animal matter
(13-1/2 liters)
Old cellars and/or farm dirt
floors
Earth from old burial grounds
Decayed stone or mortal build-
ings foundations
Fine wood ashes, about 1/2 cup Totally burned whitish wood
(1/8 liter) ash powder
Bucket or similar container,Totally burned paper (black)
about 5 gallons (19 liters) in
volume (plastic, metal, or
wood)
2 pieces of finely woven cloth,
each slightly larger than bot-
tom of bucket
Shallow pan or dish, at least as
large as bottom of bucket
Shallow heat resistant container
(ceramic, metal, etc.)
Water - 1-1/3 gallons (6-3/4
liters)
Awl, knife, screwdriver, or ot-
her hole producing instrument
Alcohol about 1 gallon (4 lit-
ers) (whiskey, rubbing alcohol,
etc.)
Heat source (fire, electric
heater, etc.)
Paper
Tape
NOTE: Only the rations of the amount of ingredients are important. Thus, for twice as much potassium nitrate, double quantities used.
PROCEDURE:
----------
1. Punch holes in bottom of bucket. Spread one piece of cloth over holes in-side of bucket.
2. Place wood ashes on cloth and spread to make a layer about the thickness of
the cloth. Place second piece of cloth on top of ashes.
3. Place dirt in bucket.
4. Place bucket over shallow container. Bucket may be supported on sticks if necessary.
************
*EEEEEEEEEE*
*EEEEEEEEEE*-----Earth****
*EEEEEEEEEE* / **
*CCCCCCCCCC*-----Cloth Stick-------*********
*WWWWWWWW*------Wood \ **
*AAAAAAAA*------Ashes****
*CCCCCCCC*------Cloth
**********
SSSSSSSSSSSSSS--------Stick
**********
**********------Shallow Container
**********
5. Boil water and pour it over earth in bucket a little at a time. Allow
water to run through holes in bucket into shallow container. Be sure water through all of the earth. Allow drained liquid to cool and settle for 1 to 2 hours.
NOTE: Do not pour all water at once, since this may cause stopage.
6. Carefully drain off liquid into heat resistant container. Discard any
sludge remaining in bottom of the shallow container.
7. Boil mixture over hot fire for at least 2 hours. Small grains of salt will begin to appear in the solution. Scoop these out as they form, using any type of improvised strainer (paper, etc.).
8. When liquid has boiled down to approximately half its original volume, re-move from fire and let sit. After half an hour add an equal volume of alcohol. When mixture is poured through paper, small white crystals will collect on top of it.
9. To purify the potassium nitrate, re-desolve the dry crystals in the small-est possible amount of boiled water. Remove any salt crystals that appear (step 7); pour through an improvised filter made of several pieces of paper and eva-porate or gently heat the concentrated solution to dryness.
10. Spread crystals on flat surface and allow to dry. The potassium nitrate crystals are now ready for use.
Section I
No. 3
IMPROVISED BLACK POWDER
Black Powder can be prepered in a simple, safe manner. It may be used as blasting or gun powder.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
-------------------
Potassium nitrate, granulated, 3 cups (3/4 liter) (see Sect. I, No. 2)
Wood charcoal, powdered, 2 cups (1/2 liter)
Sulfur, powdered, 1/2 cup (1/8 liter)
Alcohol, 5 pints (2-1/2 liters) (whiskey, rubbing alcohol, etc.)
Water, 3 cups (3/4 liter)
Heat source
2 Buckets - each 2 gallon (7-1/2 liters) capacity, at least one of which is
heat resistant (metal, ceramic, etc.)
Flat window screening, at least 1 foot (30 cm) square
Large wooden stick
Cloth, at least 2 feet (60 cm) square
NOTE: The above amounts will yield two pounds (900 grams) of black powder. How-ever, only the ratios of the amounts of ingredients. Thus, for twice as much black powder, double all quantities used.
PROCEDURE:
----------
1. Place alcohol in on3e of the buckets.
2. Place potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in the heat resistant bucket. Add 1 cup water and mix thoroughly with wooden stick until all ingredients are dissolved.
3. Add remaining water (2 cups) to mixture. Place bucket on heat source and
stir until small bubbles begin to form.
CAUTION: Do not boil mixture. Be sure all mixture stays wet. If any is dry, as on sides of pan, it may ignite.
4. Remove bucket from heat and pour mixture into alcohol while stirring vigo-rously.
5. Let alcohol mixture stand about 5 minutes. Strain mixture through cloth to obtain black powder. Discard liquid. Wrap cloth around black powder and squeeze to remove all excess liquid.
6. Place screening over dry bucket. Place workable amount of damp powder on screen and granulate by rubbing solid through screen.
NOTE: If granulated particles appear to stick together and change shape, re-combine entire batch of powder and repeat steps 5 and 6.
7. Spread granulated black powder on flat dry surface so that layer about 1/2 inch (1-1/4 cm) is formed. Allow to dry. Use radiator, or direct sunlight. This should be dried as soon as possible, perferably in one hour. The longer the drying period, the less effective the black powder.
CAUTION: Remove from heat as soon as granules are dry. Black powder is now
ready for use.
Section I
No. 4
NITRIC ACID
Nitric acid is used in the preparation of many explosives, incendiary mix-tures, and acid delay timers. It may be prepared by distilling a mixture of potassium nitrate and concentrated sulfuric acid.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:SOURCES:
---------------------------
Potassium nitrate (2 parts by Drug Store
volume)Improvised (Section I, No. 2)
Concentrated sulfuric acid (1Motor vehicle batteries
part by volume)Industrial plants
2 bottles of ceramic jugs
(narrow necks are prefectable)
Pot or frying pan
Heat source (wood, coal, or
charcoal)
Tape (paper, elecrtical, mask-
ing, etc, but not cellophane)
Paper or rags
IMPORTANT: If sulfuric acid is obtained from a motor vehicle battery, concent-rate it by boiling it until white fumes appear. DO NOT INHALE FUMES.
NOTE: The amount of nitric acid produced is the same as the amount of potas-sium nitrate. Thus, for 2 tablespoonsful of nitric acid, use 2 tablespoonsful of potassium nitrate and 1 tablespoonsful of concent
rated sulfuric acid.
PROCEDURE:
----------
1. Place dry potassium nitrate in bottle or jug. Add sulfuric acid. Do not
fill bottle more than 1/4 full. Mix until paste is formed.
2. Wrap paper or rags around necks of 2 bottles. Securely tape necks of
bottles together. Be sure bottles are flush against each other and that there are no air spaces.
CAUTION: Sulfuric acid will burn sn\kin and destroy clothing. If any is spill-ed, wash it away with a large quantity of water. Fumes are also dangerous and should not be inhaled.
3. Support bottles on rocks or cans so that empty bottle is slightly lower than bottle containing paste so that nitric acid thet is formed in receiving bottle will not run into other bottle.
4. Build fire in pot or frying pan.
5. Gently heat bottle containing mixture by moving fire in and out. As red fumes begin to appear periodically pour cool water over empty receiving bottle. Nitric acid will begin to form in the receiving bottle.
CAUTION: Do not overheat or wet bottle containing mixture or it may shatter. As an added precaution, place bottle to be heated in heat resistent container
filled with sand or gravel. Heat this outer container to produce nitric acid.
6. Continue the above process until no more red fumes are formed. If the nit-ric acid formed in the receiving bottle is not clear (cloudy) pour it into cleaned bottle and repeat Steps 2-6.
CAUTION: Sulfuric acid will burn skin and destroy clothing. If any is spill-ed, wash it away with a large quantity of water. Fumes are also dangerous and should not be inhaled.
Nitric acid should be kept away from all combustibles and should be kept in a sealed ceramic or glass container.
Section I
No. 5
INITIATOR FOR DUST EXPLOSIONS
An initiator which will initiate common material to produce dust explosions can be rapidly and easily constructed. This type of charge is ideal for the destruction of enclosed areas such as rooms or buildings.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
-------------------
A flat can, 3 in. (8 cm) diameter and 1-1/2 in. (3-3/4 cm) high. A 6-1/2 ounce
版权声明:本站内容均来自互联网,仅供演示用,请勿用于商业和其他非法用途。如果侵犯了您的权益请与我们联系QQ:729038198,我们将在24小时内删除。
发表评论