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This feature will conclude in the next edition of Salient, and will be followed with articles from the same sources on communications, civil engineering—in particular road making and building etc., transport, logistics, quarter-mastering—accommodation, catering, stores, clothing etc., field and base medical services, liaison between the different services, intelligence, electrical and mechanical engineering, ordnance, organisational structure and such other matters as may be of interest.

e. Claymore (fig. 12). The improvised claymore approximates the fragmentation effects of the claymore anti-personnel mine (M18 or M18A1). To construct an improvised claymore use a container similar to a 3.785 litter can (## 10). Place assorted metal fragments in the bottom of the container and cover with a buffer made of cardboard, leaves, grass, wood, or felt disk. Press plastic explosive firmly on top of the disk. The explosive-fragment ratio by weight, is I part explosive to 4 parts of metal. The weapon is positioned and aimed similar to a rocket fired without the launcher. For best results, prime the charge at the exact center point.

f. Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer (AN). An explosive with a detonating velocity of three to four thousand meters per second may be made by using oil, gas, kerosene, or diesel fuel, and 33-1/3 per cent ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Pour 2 litres of fuel into into a 23-kilogram bag of prilled (small pellets), ammonium nitrate fertilizer and allow it to stand for at least an hour so that the pellets absorb the oil. Number 2 fuel is preferred and the fertilizer must be 33-1/3 per cent nitrate. A booster charge of 0.45 kilograms of TNT. or equivalent must be used to detonate the charge. An is very hygroscopic (absorbs moisture); therefore, suitable waterproof containers should be used for underwater and for prolonged periods of underground emplacement prior to detonation. Another method is the use of wax. Utilizing a fertilizer with 33-1/3 percent or more nitrogen in the prilled or pellet form, melt the wax and slowly add the fertilizer while stirring. A container (# 10 can) or sack is then filled with the mix and a 0.225 kilogram block of TNT is added before the wax cools. The TNT acts as a booster, and handles may be added to simplify carrying. This charge may be stored for a considerable length of time without a noticeable difference in strength.

Expedient Use of Standard Items

a. Firing Rockets Without a Launcher. When rocket launchers are not available, rockets may be fired using improvised techniques. The rocket must be placed at least 4 meters away from the target to permit discarding of the bore-riding safety pin, and so arming the rocket. For a launcher use any unobstructed V or U-shape trough or pipe. Ensure that boreriding safety pins are in continuous contact with launcher but do not impede rocket movement. Launch should be at least twice as long as rocket for ranges above 45 metres, but may be only as long for lesser ranges (fig 13). A salvo of rockets, fired electrically, provides good area coverage from defensive positions.

b. Electric Firing (fig. 14).

c. Non-electric Firing. (Fig. 15).

d. Aiming the Rocket. The cardboard rocket container may be used as an aiming tube. Place string across the open end of the tube to form a cross (fig. 16). Sight through the aperture of tube and adjust the firing platform until the desired sight picture is obtained. Remove the tube and place the rocket on the firing platform. The metal shipping container may be used as a firing platform.

e. Using the Rocket Head as a Shaped Charge. The rocket head may be separated from the fuse-motor assembly and used as a stationary shaped charge.

f. Bangalore Torpedo. A bangalore torpedo is designed to breach wire barriers and minefields. In an emergency, they may be improvised.

Improvised Incendiaries

a. General. Improvised incendiaries may be used when—

b. Chemical Mixtures. This section discusses chemical mixtures used to fabricate incendiaries of various kinds. Some of the desirable characteristics of incendiaries are—

c. Chemical Formulas. The names of certain chemicals and compounds do not always translate exactly into a foreign language. To eliminate this difficulty, table II chemicals used internationally shows, alphabetical and numerical abbreviations for each chemical. The name of the chemical can be determined by personnel having a knowledge of chemistry using these abbreviations and reference materials such as encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Figure 12. Improvised claymore.

Figure 13. Expedient launching platform.

Figure 14. Electrical firing of 3.5-inch rocket without launcher.

Figure 15. Nonelectric procedure for firing a 3.5-inch rocket.

Figure 16. Crosshair at open end of rocket tube.

Figure 17. Removal of rocket head with, wrenches.

Figure 18. 3.5-ineh rocket head non-ectrically primed with detonating cord.

d. Precautions. The following precautions should be observed when making improvised incendiaries:

First-Fire Mixtures

a. Sugar-Potassium Chlorate Incendiary. A fast-burning, easy-to ignite incendiary may be made by mixing 3 parts potassium chlorate or sodium chlorate with 1 part common household sugar. This mixture may be ignited by applying heat, spark, or sulphuric acid. It may be used as a primer (first-fire mixture) to Ignite other mixtures.

b. Suger-Potassium Permanganate Incendiary. Mix 1 part surgar with 9 parts potassium permanganate. It may be ignited by glycerine, time fuse, or spark.

c. Potassium Nitrate-Sulphur Incendiary. Mix 7 parts potassium nitrate (saltpeter) with 1 part sulphur and 2 parts flour, starch, Coal dust, or sawdust. This may be ignited by flame or time fuse. Either sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate may be substituted for potassium nitrate.

d. Potassium Permangate-Aluminum Incendiary. Mix 2 parts potassium permanganate with 1 part aluminum. This mixture should be ignited with a time fuse.

e. Powder-Aluminum Incendiary. A very hot incendiary may be made by mixing 1 part black powder with 1 part aluminum. Either black powder or smokeless poweder may be used. Smokeless powder may be obtained by pulling the bullets out of cartridges and pouring the powder from them.

Main-Fire Mixture.

The following mixtures of the same quantity will bum longer than the mixture discussed above. Main-burning mixtures are usually primed by one of the incendiaries discussed above.

a. Gelatin GaS. Use 4 parts non-detergent soap to 6 parts gasoline, kerosene, or other petroleum products. Heat the liquid in a double boiler or over a flameless heat source until it begins to boil. Then remove the liquid from the heat and introduce the soap in small chips or powder. Stir this mixture until it becomes a thick putty-like mass. This incendiary may be ignited with any flame.

b. Wax and Sawdust, Mix 5 parts wax and 5 parts sawdust. Any flame may be used to light this mixture.

Improvisation

b. Brick incendiary. An incendiary may be made to look like a building brick. Use 1 part water, 1 part plaster of paris, and 1 part powdered aluminum. The amount of each material must be calculated by weight. Mix the plaster of paris and aluminum. Add the water and stir rapidly. Make a hole for a primer before the brick hardens. The primer may consist of magnesium, or thermite. This incendiary may be made the color of brown or red brick by adding brick dust or iron oxide (Fec ), depending upon the colour desired. A cardboard or wooden form may be used to obtain the proper configuration.

Incendiary Mixtures and Igniters and Delays

a. General. This paragraph contains examples of easily constructed igniters and incendiary mixtures. A low-order explosion may be obtained by placing some of these mixtures in containers and detonating.

b. Cigarette Delay (fig. 20). Inclose the lighted cigarette in the matchbook or box and surround it with inflammable material such as rags, waste, or shredded paper. American cigarettes burn at the rate of 2.54 centimeters per 7 or 8 minutes in the air.

c. Candle Delay. Surround the candle with inflammable material, such as rags, wastes, or shredded paper.

e. Acid Delay. Acid delays may be constructed In various ways depending upon the material available. The pipe incendiary (fig. 21) delay is one example and is constructed as follows:

f. Water Can Delay (fig. 22). This device is improvised as follows:

Figure 19. Improvised thermite grenade.

Figure 20. Cigarette delay.

Tabele I. Dust Initiator, Size of Building vs. Amount and type of Cover Charge.

Figure 21. Incendiary delay in pipe.

Figure 22. Water can delay (electric).

Figure 23. Watch delay device (electric).