Ranger Odin's Underling, here is my attempt at answering the questions:
1. The M18 Claymore mine is comparable to other antipersonnel mines and can be used in similar situations. It is generally used for defensive capabilities, although it can be used offensively in an ambush. Upon detonation, it projects a fan-shaped pattern of steel balls in a 60-degree horizontal arc, at a maximum height of 2 meters, and covers a casualty radius of 100 meters. The optimum effective range is 50 meters. The forward danger radius for friendly forces is 250 meters.
The mine is a curved, rectangular, plastic case and contains a layer of composition C4 explosive. It has a fragmentation face of rectangular steel fragments. It also can be equipped with a peep-sight. It is 8-1/2 inches long, 1-3/8 inches wide, 3-1/4 inches high, and weighs 3-1/2 pounds. The mine contains 700 steel spheres (10.5 grains) and 1-1/2 pound layer of composition C-4 explosive and is initiated by a No. 2 electric blasting cap.
2. There are a number of different field expedient applications of claymore mines. With remote firing, a series of claymore mines along a street establishes a highly effective ambush zone. Mines can also be employed on the sides of buildings, in abandoned vehicles, or in any other sturdy structure. Claymore mines can also be used to fill the dead space in the FPF of automatic weapons. Another possible use for a claymore mine, in trying to breach an internal wall, one can place the claymore with fragmentation grenades and secure them to the wall with sandbags or another heavy object to make sure the blast is directed towards the wall.
3. Can be used as in a wall-breaching charge (U-shaped or satchel), a chain link ladder charge, and can also be removed from a claymore mine to heat up food.
4. CSM Neal R. Gentry
5. Fort Smith, Arkansas
6. Colonel Darby was killed by a round from a German 88-mm gun in Torbole, Italy, on 30 April 1945, while visiting the front.
7. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target.
8. An ambush can be initiated in two ways- hasty or deliberate. In a hasty ambush, a unit ambushes when they make visual contact with an enemy and has time to establish an ambush without being detected. The platoon waits for the majority of the enemy to get into the kill zone and then surprises them. In a deliberate ambush, a unit conducts an ambush against a specific target at a predetermined location. The platoon ambush's the enemy's main body. Also, in intiating an ambush, it must be decided whether it will be a point ambush-with a single kill zone, or an area ambush-where soldiers are deployed into two or more point ambushes. Also, the decision must be made whether to have a linear or l-shaped formation. On a straight trail, a linear formation is best as the assault and support elements line up parallel to the road or whatever is being ambushed. But if there is a sharp bend in the road, a L-shaped formation should be used, with the support element providing the short leg perpendicular to the assault element.
DEP's ONLY!! WIN ME AS YOUR MENTOR
Moderator: Site Admin
Sounding off. I'm only on once every few days so my apologies Ranger Odin Underling. You're right. I linger in the shadows here far too much and I will get on the ball now during my last month. I've already learned alot here but it should go both ways and I should contribute with my fellow DEP's. No more assignments will escape my eyes. I will start coming on more consistently and daily.
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ChemLightBattery
- Tadpole
- Posts: 57
- Joined: April 21st, 2004, 4:19 pm
Sounding off about wanting the be mentored, and with some information to help Collegepuke.
Correct information on M18:
The M18 antipersonnel mine comes in two versions--with or without a peep-sight; otherwise, both versions are identical. The mine is a curved, rectangular, plastic case and contains a layer of composition C3 explosive. It has a fragmentation face of rectangular steel fragments. The front face containing the steel fragments is designed to produce a fan-shaped spray which can be aimed at a prescribed target area. The arrow marked on top of each mine indicates the direction of aiming. The mine has three folding-type legs and cloth tabs on each side of the mine. The legs of the mine are used to emplace it above the ground; the cloth tabs are used to tie or nail the mine to trees or posts. There is a horizontal cap well on each side of the mine. To reduce detection, the mine is covered in a camouflage pattern of green and brown fleck.
Detailed Description:
(1) Weight. 2 1/2 pounds.
(2) Detonator. Electric blasting cap.
(3) Explosive. 3/4 pound C-3 explosive.
(4) Firing wire. 50 feet (2-strand).
(5) Firing device. Plastic frame with metal flashlight-type electric switch. Frame holds two 1.5-volt BA-30 dry batteries.
The M18 and M18a1 defer in many ways. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, or make you look bad just trying to help you learn, I hope you will do the same for me. If you would like to learn more about the claymore I can PM you a copy of FM 23-23.
Collegepuke wrote: 1. The M18 Claymore mine is comparable to other antipersonnel mines and can be used in similar situations. It is generally used for defensive capabilities, although it can be used offensively in an ambush. Upon detonation, it projects a fan-shaped pattern of steel balls in a 60-degree horizontal arc, at a maximum height of 2 meters, and covers a casualty radius of 100 meters. The optimum effective range is 50 meters. The forward danger radius for friendly forces is 250 meters.
The mine is a curved, rectangular, plastic case and contains a layer of composition C4 explosive. It has a fragmentation face of rectangular steel fragments. It also can be equipped with a peep-sight. It is 8-1/2 inches long, 1-3/8 inches wide, 3-1/4 inches high, and weighs 3-1/2 pounds. The mine contains 700 steel spheres (10.5 grains) and 1-1/2 pound layer of composition C-4 explosive and is initiated by a No. 2 electric blasting cap.
Correct information on M18:
The M18 antipersonnel mine comes in two versions--with or without a peep-sight; otherwise, both versions are identical. The mine is a curved, rectangular, plastic case and contains a layer of composition C3 explosive. It has a fragmentation face of rectangular steel fragments. The front face containing the steel fragments is designed to produce a fan-shaped spray which can be aimed at a prescribed target area. The arrow marked on top of each mine indicates the direction of aiming. The mine has three folding-type legs and cloth tabs on each side of the mine. The legs of the mine are used to emplace it above the ground; the cloth tabs are used to tie or nail the mine to trees or posts. There is a horizontal cap well on each side of the mine. To reduce detection, the mine is covered in a camouflage pattern of green and brown fleck.
Detailed Description:
(1) Weight. 2 1/2 pounds.
(2) Detonator. Electric blasting cap.
(3) Explosive. 3/4 pound C-3 explosive.
(4) Firing wire. 50 feet (2-strand).
(5) Firing device. Plastic frame with metal flashlight-type electric switch. Frame holds two 1.5-volt BA-30 dry batteries.
The M18 and M18a1 defer in many ways. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, or make you look bad just trying to help you learn, I hope you will do the same for me. If you would like to learn more about the claymore I can PM you a copy of FM 23-23.
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ChemLightBattery
- Tadpole
- Posts: 57
- Joined: April 21st, 2004, 4:19 pm
answers.
1. The M18 antipersonnel mine comes in two versions--with or without a peep-sight; otherwise, both versions are identical. The mine is a curved, rectangular, plastic case and contains a layer of composition C3 explosive. It has a fragmentation face of rectangular steel fragments. The front face containing the steel fragments is designed to produce a fan-shaped spray which can be aimed at a prescribed target area. The arrow marked on top of each mine indicates the direction of aiming. The mine has three folding-type legs and cloth tabs on each side of the mine. The legs of the mine are used to emplace it above the ground; the cloth tabs are used to tie or nail the mine to trees or posts. There is a horizontal cap well on each side of the mine. To reduce detection, the mine is covered in a camouflage pattern of green and brown fleck.
Detailed Description:
(1) Weight. 2 1/2 pounds.
(2) Detonator. Electric blasting cap.
(3) Explosive. 3/4 pound C-3 explosive.
(4) Firing wire. 50 feet (2-strand).
(5) Firing device. Plastic frame with metal flashlight-type electric switch. Frame holds two 1.5-volt BA-30 dry batteries.
2. There are several different ways to make field expedient Claymore type anti-personal mines. I will only explain one method as asked. One roll of standard barbwire is placed into position, and one block of C4 is placed in the center of the roll and primed. The barbwire type improvised claymore mine can be made directional by placing the wire against an embankment or a fixed object. This causes the force of the explosion to expel the barbwire fragments in the desired direction. One roll of standard barbwire is placed into position, and one block of C4 is placed in the center of the roll and primed.
3. Uses for C4 explosive are as numerous as the ideas in the operators head; you can use C4 for anything, from breaching charges to destroying enemy equipment as part of a demo team on actions on an objective. Although you can use C4 for some less then lethal uses, you would not want to give up this valuable tool for anything other then destruction, unless you are in the direst or circumstances.
4. CSM Neal R. Gentry
5. Fort Smith, Arkansas
6. Colonel Darby was killed by German indirect fire on the outskirts of Torbole Italy while leading from the front on 30 April 1945.
7. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position, which is designed to produce the maximum enemy casualties vs. friendly casualties in the least time.
8. Ambushes happen in many different ways in many different circumstances, but one thing remains constant, ambushes are always initiated by the firing of the weapon that will produce the most enemy casualties, and intern “shockâ€
Detailed Description:
(1) Weight. 2 1/2 pounds.
(2) Detonator. Electric blasting cap.
(3) Explosive. 3/4 pound C-3 explosive.
(4) Firing wire. 50 feet (2-strand).
(5) Firing device. Plastic frame with metal flashlight-type electric switch. Frame holds two 1.5-volt BA-30 dry batteries.
2. There are several different ways to make field expedient Claymore type anti-personal mines. I will only explain one method as asked. One roll of standard barbwire is placed into position, and one block of C4 is placed in the center of the roll and primed. The barbwire type improvised claymore mine can be made directional by placing the wire against an embankment or a fixed object. This causes the force of the explosion to expel the barbwire fragments in the desired direction. One roll of standard barbwire is placed into position, and one block of C4 is placed in the center of the roll and primed.
3. Uses for C4 explosive are as numerous as the ideas in the operators head; you can use C4 for anything, from breaching charges to destroying enemy equipment as part of a demo team on actions on an objective. Although you can use C4 for some less then lethal uses, you would not want to give up this valuable tool for anything other then destruction, unless you are in the direst or circumstances.
4. CSM Neal R. Gentry
5. Fort Smith, Arkansas
6. Colonel Darby was killed by German indirect fire on the outskirts of Torbole Italy while leading from the front on 30 April 1945.
7. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position, which is designed to produce the maximum enemy casualties vs. friendly casualties in the least time.
8. Ambushes happen in many different ways in many different circumstances, but one thing remains constant, ambushes are always initiated by the firing of the weapon that will produce the most enemy casualties, and intern “shockâ€
Here are my answers, Ranger Odin's Underling.
1. The M18 Claymore mine is an antipersonnel directional fragmentation mine. It is an earlier version of the M18A1. It comes in two versions, with or without a peep sight but other than that the two versions are the same. Its weight is 2.5 pounds. It has an electric blasting cap as detonator and has 50 feet of firing wire. It is curved, rectangular, and plastic. The mine contains a layer of 3/4 pounds of composition C3 explosive. The front face contains steel fragments. The mine is designed to produce a fan-shaped spray of steel fragments that can be aimed at a target area. The electrical firing device on an M18 is not very safe and could cause premature detonation due to its construction. If possible, the battery holder (firing device) issued with the M18 should be replaced by a standard M57 firing device. If the battery holder is used, both firing wires should be connected to one terminal until the desired moment of detonation.
2. For a field expedient claymore mine, attach a layer of plastic explosive to the convex side of a suitably dense, curved base, for example, wood or metal. Create a hole in the exact rear of the base. Place a blasting cap in the hole to prime the device. Fix some shrapnel to the explosive using tape, cloth, mesh screen or whatever works to get it fixed. The device must be command-detonated. Command detonation is best achieved with electrical priming. A blasting device is attached to the electric cap through firing wires laid at least 50 meters from the device.
3. The uses of C4 can be improvised for many situations. C4 can be used to purify water by boiling it, or it can heat one’s food.
4. CSM Neal Gentry
5. Darby trained his Rangers at the Commando Training Center in Achnacarry, Scotland.
6. He was killed in Torbole, Italy by fragments from an 88mm shell on the 30th of April, he was visiting the front.
7. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. Troops lie in wait for the enemy to enter a predetermined killing zone in which they attack the enemy unexpectedly. Hopefully inflicting a maximum number of casualties while receiving the minimum amount.
8. To initiate an ambush, the leader must take into account a few factors. Ambushes are generally classified by category- (hasty or deliberate), type- (point or area), and formation- (linear or L-shaped). A hasty ambush is when the platoon or squad makes visual contact with the enemy but is not detected and so they are able to establish a hasty ambush. A deliberate ambush is conducted on a specific target at the predetermined location. In a point ambush, soldiers set up to attack an enemy in a single kill zone. In an area ambush there are two or more kill zones. A platoon is the smallest unit to conduct an area ambush. In a linear formation, the assault and support elements deploy parallel to enemy’s route. In an L-shaped formation, the assault element deploys parallel to the enemy’s route while the support element is the short leg deployed at one of the ends of the assault element at right angles. The leader must consider and plan on several factors such as: covering the entire kill zone by fire, using claymores and other mines to keep the enemy in the kill zone, protecting the assault and support elements with claymores and other mines, using security elements to isolate the kill zone, assaulting the kill zone to capture prisoners, search the dead and wounded, or collect equipment, and timing the whole ambush as well as communication between the elements. The leader must decide on the best combination of all these factors that best suits his given situation.
1. The M18 Claymore mine is an antipersonnel directional fragmentation mine. It is an earlier version of the M18A1. It comes in two versions, with or without a peep sight but other than that the two versions are the same. Its weight is 2.5 pounds. It has an electric blasting cap as detonator and has 50 feet of firing wire. It is curved, rectangular, and plastic. The mine contains a layer of 3/4 pounds of composition C3 explosive. The front face contains steel fragments. The mine is designed to produce a fan-shaped spray of steel fragments that can be aimed at a target area. The electrical firing device on an M18 is not very safe and could cause premature detonation due to its construction. If possible, the battery holder (firing device) issued with the M18 should be replaced by a standard M57 firing device. If the battery holder is used, both firing wires should be connected to one terminal until the desired moment of detonation.
2. For a field expedient claymore mine, attach a layer of plastic explosive to the convex side of a suitably dense, curved base, for example, wood or metal. Create a hole in the exact rear of the base. Place a blasting cap in the hole to prime the device. Fix some shrapnel to the explosive using tape, cloth, mesh screen or whatever works to get it fixed. The device must be command-detonated. Command detonation is best achieved with electrical priming. A blasting device is attached to the electric cap through firing wires laid at least 50 meters from the device.
3. The uses of C4 can be improvised for many situations. C4 can be used to purify water by boiling it, or it can heat one’s food.
4. CSM Neal Gentry
5. Darby trained his Rangers at the Commando Training Center in Achnacarry, Scotland.
6. He was killed in Torbole, Italy by fragments from an 88mm shell on the 30th of April, he was visiting the front.
7. An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. Troops lie in wait for the enemy to enter a predetermined killing zone in which they attack the enemy unexpectedly. Hopefully inflicting a maximum number of casualties while receiving the minimum amount.
8. To initiate an ambush, the leader must take into account a few factors. Ambushes are generally classified by category- (hasty or deliberate), type- (point or area), and formation- (linear or L-shaped). A hasty ambush is when the platoon or squad makes visual contact with the enemy but is not detected and so they are able to establish a hasty ambush. A deliberate ambush is conducted on a specific target at the predetermined location. In a point ambush, soldiers set up to attack an enemy in a single kill zone. In an area ambush there are two or more kill zones. A platoon is the smallest unit to conduct an area ambush. In a linear formation, the assault and support elements deploy parallel to enemy’s route. In an L-shaped formation, the assault element deploys parallel to the enemy’s route while the support element is the short leg deployed at one of the ends of the assault element at right angles. The leader must consider and plan on several factors such as: covering the entire kill zone by fire, using claymores and other mines to keep the enemy in the kill zone, protecting the assault and support elements with claymores and other mines, using security elements to isolate the kill zone, assaulting the kill zone to capture prisoners, search the dead and wounded, or collect equipment, and timing the whole ambush as well as communication between the elements. The leader must decide on the best combination of all these factors that best suits his given situation.
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ChemLightBattery
- Tadpole
- Posts: 57
- Joined: April 21st, 2004, 4:19 pm
C3
Cyclotrimethylene trinitramine or RDX which is what plastic explosive is made from has been refined since the end of WW2. Starting with compositions C, C2, and eventually C3. C3 proved to be to brittle in cold weather, so C4 its big brother came along. This came after M18's were already being massed produced, when the M18a1 came along they decided to replace the C3 with C4.