Allied and Enemy Explosives

179 Pages·2016·8.62 MB·English

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ENEMY EXPLOSIVES^^^
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PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
THE COMMANDING OFFICER. ORDNANCE BOMB DISPOSAL CENTER
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. MARYLAND
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Distribution limited to U.S. Gov't, agencies only; ' i
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TABLE OP CONTENTS
Y ' CHAPTER I
M x
If
Section I Introduction Page i
II Definition of terms used
CHAPTER 2
Section I Types of explosions
II Principles of explosive action
III Types of explosives c
Low explosives 7
High explosives
IV Results of detonation lv
V Discussion of characteristics of explosives 12
Sensitivity 12
Velocity of detonation id
Strength 16
Brisance 17
Power 18
High order detonation 19
Low order detonation 19
Density 19
Stability in storage 20
Hygroscopicity 21
The cavity effect 21
VI Common ingredients 25
Aromatic hydrocarbons 2c
Nitric acid 27
Sulphuric acid 27
Alcohols 2h
Ammonia 2H
Oxidizing agents 2?
Ammonium nitrate 30
Aluminum
31
r- i
Miscellaneous ingredients
33
CHAPTER 3
Section I Low explosives
35
' ’ II Black Powder XC-
III Nitrocellulose explosives 40
IV Smokeless powders 40
i ’h/ Av Single base powders 40
i : Doub'e base powders
44
' V Pyrotechnics
; ■» % 9 ¥
. VI Incendiaries
t 4 H
• ' *
p V '* CHAPTER 4
\ , * Section I High explosives
fO
k <* «
’ - ’1 Primary high explosi’ 50
R
v
II The explosive train
61
HI Loading explosives
Y
IV Requirements of a good military high explosive
54
V A table of high explosives giving a comparison of
certain characteristics '
57
i
, . . .IT.:...______
CHAPTER 5
Section I Mercury fulminate Pag- 62
66
, II Lead Azide
HI Lead Trini troresor.cinate 70
CHAPTER 6 AROMATIC NITRO COMPOUNDS 73
Section I Trinitrotoluene based explosives 73
Trinitrotoluene 73
Trinitrotoluene - wax mixtures 78
79
Amatol
Ammonals 83
Tri tonal 88
Baratol 89
Miscellaneous trinitrotoluene explosives 90
II Benzene based explosives 91
n r Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine based explosives 91
Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine 01
Tetrytol 93
IV Nitrophenol based explosives 9*
Dinitrophenol ’ 95
Trinitrophenol 96
Trimonite 98
Tridite 99
Trinitrophenol - Trinitrotoluene mixture 101
V -Ammonium picrate based explosives 102
Ammonium picrate 102
Ammonium picrate mixtures 103
VI Hexanitrod.iphenylamine based explosives 104
Hex&ni trodiphenvlamine 104
Hexamite 106
Novit 107
VII Trinitroanisole based explosives 106
■ Trinitroanisole 108
Hexanite-anisole mixture 109
Nitrolit 110
VIII Nitrobenzene based explosives 111
Dini trobenzene HI
Trinitrobenzene 112
Trinitrochiorobenzene 113
Trinitrochlorobenzene-aromonium ni trate 114
IX Miscellaneous Aromatic nitro compounds 114
Trini trocresol 114
Ammonium Trinitrocresylate 114
Nitronaptnalenes 113
Trinitroxylene 117
CHAPTER 7 ALIPHATIC NITRATES 11C|
Section I Cyclotrimethylerietrinitramine based explosives 119
Cycletrimethylenetrini tramine 119
Cycl 01 r i m*11hy 1 en t r i n i t ram i ne-wax m i x tu r - -s Isi
Qyclotol
T /'
Plastic cyclotrimethyH-notrini tramine explosives I2f"
v Torpcx
12
Depth bomb exDlosive "
130
( PTX-1
Hi
PTX-2 1 '
Miscellaneous ey c 101 r i no t by 1-. n o t r i n i t r r ; i r> v
explosives
-y CHAPTER 7 ALIPHATIC NITRATES
• —
Section II Pentaerythritoltetranitrate based explosives Page 13r-
Pen taery thri to1tet ran i trate 13'-
Pentolite 138
Pentaerythritoltetranitrate-wax mixtures 140
Miscellaneous pentaerythritoltetranitrate mixtures 142
. Ill Ethylenedinitramine based explosives 143
f ' Ethylenedinitramine 14*
Ednatol 144
TV Ethylenediaminedinitrate based explosives 145
i Ethylenediaminedinitrate 145
Ethylenediaminedinitrate-ammonium nitrats mixtures 146
'.V Miscellaneous Aliphatic nitrates 147
Nitrostarch explosive 147
Guncotton 149
Nitroguanidine 149
CHAPTER 8 MISCELLANEOUS EXPLOSIVES 150
Section I Dynamites 150
II Chlorate and perchlorate explosives 152
Jap type 88 152
Italian chedaites
153
III Liquid explosives
153
) CHAPTER 9 TOXICITY OF EXPLOSIVES 13'6
CHAPTER 10 FIELD TESTING OF EXPLOSIVES 160
CHAPTER 11 COMPARATIVE BOMB HIGH EXPLOSIVE TRAINS 162
Section I Components of a typical train 162
II United States Bomb High explosive Train 164
III British Bomb High Explosive Train 165
IV Italian Bomb High Expletive Train 16.5
V Japanese Bomb High Explosive Train 166
VI German Bomb High Explosive Train 167
- v . _ _______
.J . i — Tyy»*gg%?«*i<EilL-
■ ' ’ CHAPTER 1 / '
' SECTION I ‘
INTRODUCTION
In this war 85% of the casualties have been caused by high explo­
sive ammunition. This means that we are primarily engaged in destroying
the enemy by the proper use of as much high explosive as it is possible
to dump on him.
Therefore, practically everyone in the Army is called upon to
handle explosives at some time during their Army career and, for their
own safety, all personnel should have some knowledge of the character­
istics of explosives. It follows that, knowing these characteristics,
the reason for and the observance of the proper safety precautions
Should be automatic. '
This premise is particularly true of bomb disposal personnel whos°
rputine, job is complete disposal of all ammunition, Allied and Em.-my.
The complete disposal, of course, includes the explosive components of
ammunition'. Therefore bomb disposal personnel should be especially
familiar with the characteristics of all explosives they may bo re­
quired to destroy.
' Having identified an explosive, the B.D. officer will need to
know what its behavior will oe under all conditions, the precautions
which must be observed in dealing with it and the safest moans by which
it may be destroyed. He will also be better equipped to make \n
intelligent report concerning new and unidentified explosives.
Fundamentally there is littlj use in safely defuzing ammunition
if the explosive is mistr;ated through ignorance and a premtur.
detonation results.
1.
This pamphlet give^a short introduction on the fundamental
nature of explosives followed by an 'analysis of the characteristics of
ell'. Allied and Enemy explosives which may be encountered in the field.
If some of this material seems to be of the "nice to know" type it
should be remembered that, when discussing any subject, it is necessary
to build up a background and vocabulary to permit intelligent com-
jaunication, using commonly understood terms.
. SECTION II
‘ DEFINITION OF TERMS USED
1. AN ATOM is the.smallest portion of any matter.
2. A MOLECULE is the smallest particle of any kind of substance that
■can. exist independently and still have the same properties as the
original' substance.. It is composed of atoms. •
3* A REACTION is the mutual action of chemical agents or some distinc­
tive result of such action.
4. KINDLING TEMPERATURE is the temperature necessary for the reaction
of two agents. •>
5. OXIDATION is the reaction of a combustible material with oxygen 'to
form a gas.
6. COMBUSTION is rapid oxidation accompanied by flame. It is commonly
called burning or deflagration.
*
7. FLAME is a product of combustion and is caused by heating minute
particles of solid matter to an incadescent Ik at.
8. DECOMPOSITION takes niece when the atoms of a molecule separate md
do not feunite after the disturbing caus? ins ceased to op rate.
9% EXPLOSION 3*‘Spi'd •cie'cOnp'os'i'-Uon sand- the tdrft is \nrrrsLly used in
d'etebtfibihg the acVibh'-of- low explosives.
, • V"' ' .,- -e..
Jfesc. J&
10. DETONATION is the rapid decomposition of a high explosive. "
r '•
11. HEAT OF COMBUSTION is the total he-'t evolved when a definite
quantity of substance is completely oxidized.
12. EXUDATION is the act of sweating out of liquid through the pores of
' solid materiale ,
♦
13* HYDROLYSIS is a double decomposition in which water is one of the
interacting substances. ■
%
14. A FUZE is a device used to function ammunition.
15. A FUSE is a device used to function charges of explosives.
*'* "
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CHAPTER 2 •
’ SECTION I . .
TYPES OF EXF’LOSIOl S
^ ^ e^PiP3iqri nay be defined as the sudden and rapid escape of
. .-(giscg from a. confined space accompanied by high temn'ratures and a loud
noise. , • • ■
’ ..... Llllll V ---~*** 'f _ * ‘
are tiro types of explosions, mechanical and cr. arnica!. A
- -. :tf#i .tif a raecHhnical explosion is the casr- of the st.am boiler.
' ' ' • H ' "} - ,
i « :b#ated and'converted into steam which fills th - boiler,
-^I’idaa.lly increasing the pressure. /'hen the boiler can no longer
f^.ddR^ain the pressure it bursts, with a loud noisj, permitting the .wjs
l (steam) to escape.
It should be noted that in this case, Dressuro was gradually
1 - ‘ » *■ ‘
. . •'I
increased to a maximum causing the explosion, following -,/hicn th
pressure returned immediately to that of the atmosphere.
Chemical, explosions are radically different from this. If a click
of dynamite is detonated the explosion occurs anc gases expano rachin.
^maximum pressure after, and as a result of, tar d. tonation. Aft r
this they gradually return to atmospheric pr-issur-... For 'ilit/ry
pu^RO3?8 need only consider chemical oxnlos ions.
SECTION II
PRINCIPLES OF EXPLOSIVE aCTI,»\'
-generally function by a npid expansion, from > soli 1
form, to gaseous products which occupy a much gr-at-T volum-. Thic
expansion is the result of several factors:
1. The first of these is th-' reaction of eorburtitlwith oxy. n
to form a gas. Everyone is f uni liar with th_ burning of wood or eo 1
in the atmosphere. In this reaction th'.- carbon -nu hydro-* n in tb.
4.