World War II Axis Booby Traps and Sabotage Tactics

66 Pages·7.733 MB·English

by  Gordon L. Rottman

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Elite • 100 Thehistoryofmilitaryforces,artifacts,
World War II Axis
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World War II Axis Booby
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Elite • 100
World War II Axis
Booby Traps and
Sabotage Tactics
GORDON L ROTTMAN ILLUSTRATED BY PETER DENNIS
ConsultanteditorMartinWindrow
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
Safetyandlegality Themilitaryuseofboobytraps Abriefhistoryof
boobytraps WorldWarIIboobytraps
BOOBY TRAP MATERIALS 12
Handgrenadesasboobytraps Boobytrapactivation Explosivetrain
GERMAN BOOBY TRAPS 17
Alliedappreciations:September1942–June1943–testimonyofwounded
USpersonnel,August1943 Miscellaneousreports:Italy,October1943,
May–July1944–France,October1944–Italy,October1944–NWEurope,
February1945
GERMAN SABOTAGE EQUIPMENT 49
JAPANESE BOOBY TRAPS 51
Alliedappreciations:August1943–December1943–1944–May1944–
July1944–February1945
SUMMARY: THE IMPACT OF BOOBY TRAPS 62
RECOMMENDED READING 63
INDEX 64
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WORLD WAR II AXIS
BOOBY TRAPS
AND SABOTAGE DEVICES
INTRODUCTION
TheuseofboobytrapsinWorldWarIIhaslongintriguedmany,duetothe
ingenuitydemonstratedinemployingthemandtheimpactonthemoraleof
thosewhosufferedthem.PopularWorldWarIIliteraturefrequentlymentions
boobytraps,andimpliesthattheenemy’semploymentofsuchinsidiousand
deviousdeviceswaswickedlyunderhandedor,atbest,“unfair”(beggingthe
question, what’s unfair in war?). The fact of the matter is that booby traps
have long been an accepted reality of warfare, and no international law
prohibits their use in combat zones. Even the recently signed Ottawa
Convention to ban landmines fails to address booby traps, and does not
prohibit booby-trapping antitank mines, which in effect makes them
antipersonnel mines. These “treacherous weapons” may seem deceitful to
thosesufferingtheireffects,butnonewouldhesitatetousethemthemselves
ifthetacticalsituationwerereversed.
The purpose of this book is to provide historical information on the
employmentofboobytrapsbytheGermansandJapaneseinWorldWarII.
The information contained herein was extracted from Allied intelligence
documents,whosepurposewastoalertAlliedtroopstonewtypesofbooby
traps,booby-trappingtechniquesemployedbytheenemy,thematerialsused
in their construction, and how to avoid, detect and neutralize them. The
monthandyearoftheintelligencedocumentinwhichthereportappearedis
indicatedintheheading;theactualperiodinwhichtheeventsdescribedtook
placewasusuallyonetotwomonthsearlierthanthatdate.
The primary source of the information for this book is the Intelligence
Bulletin, a series of 36 monthly pamphlets published by the US War
Department’sMilitaryIntelligenceDivisionfromSeptember1942toAugust
1945. The bulletins provided a wide range of information on new enemy
weapons and equipment, small-unit tactics and techniques, methods of
operation,tipsofthetrade,lessonslearned,andotherintelligenceinformation
valuabletojuniorleadersandsoldiers.
Another source was Tactical and Technical Trends, a booklet initially
published twice monthly and later monthly, from June 1942 to June 1945.
“Triple-T” covered the same categories of intelligence information as the
Intelligence Bulletin, but in more depth; it had additional information and
subjects,moretacticalstudies,andwasorientedtohigher-levelstaffs.
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Abandonedvehicleswere
favoredforbooby-trapping,
thechargebeingactivated
simplybyopeningahatch,or
byatripwirelocatedtocatch
anyoneenteringthedark
interior.Chargessetamongst
storedshellsintheinterior
rackscouldtriggercatastrophic
explosions.HeretwoUS
soldiersposewithacharge
removedfromaGerman
Wespe10.5cmself-propelled
howitzer.
SAFETY AND LEGALITY
Booby traps are designed to inflict casualties and/or cause material damage.
Thiscanapplyaseasilytothemaker,installer,friendlypersonnelandinnocent
individuals as to the intended victims. The manufacture of booby trap
components, especially explosives and detonators, can be extremely
dangerous. Setting up and arming a booby trap can be almost as dangerous
tothepersondoingitastotheintendedvictims.Thisbookisemphaticallynot
meanttobea“how-to”manual;theinformationisintendedonlyforhistorical
study. Readers are implored not to attempt to manufacture or employ any
formofboobytraportheircomponents.Thedevicesdescribedinthisbook
arefabricatedmostlyfromstandardmilitaryissuemunitionsandaccessories,
whichareseldomavailabletoday,andarenothomemadeexpedients.
Lawsvarygreatlybetweencountries,butforthemostpartnationaland
locallawsprohibittheuseofexplosiveand“infernal”devices–thatis,any
form of unattended device that may cause harm to a person or property,
5
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A19thcenturysetshotgun
usedasagametrap. Such
“setguns”wereoccasionally
encounteredonbattlefields,
oftenwithatripwiretofire
themdownanapproachpath
likelytobeusedbytheenemy.
Ifnothingelse,theyservedas
anearly-warningdevice.
whether that person has entered the property legally or illegally. The
manufacture of booby traps, whether explosive or non-explosive, can lead
toachargeofcriminalpossessionofaweapon.Inthelightoftoday’svirtually
unrestrainedliabilitysuits,itwouldbeextraordinarilyfoolishforapersonto
construct any form of booby trap, regardless of its intent or the degree of
injury it might inflict. Additionally, the much heightened security measures
sinceSeptember11,2001havecreatedanenvironmentinwhichanyformof
suspicious device or material, including inert replica devices used by re-
enactors, can get a person into serious trouble. Use good judgment when
making,transporting,andemployingsuchdevices;anythingthatlookseven
remotelylikeanordnancedevicewillinvokeastrongresponsebyauthorities
inalldevelopedcountries–ifconfrontedbyauthorities,immediatelydeclare
suchdevices.
Never, under any circumstances, attempt to modify or tamper with any
componentofanytypeofliveordnancedevice.
THE MILITARY USE OF BOOBY TRAPS
Boobytrapsare,bydefinition,mainlydefensiveweapons.Forcesemploying
themareusuallyonthedefensive,orinsomeformofretrogrademovement–
anything between a planned withdrawal and a panicked rout. Armies in
extremis leave booby traps behind to delay, harass and demoralize an
advancing or pursuing enemy. Booby traps are also emplaced to protect
defensivepositions,provideearlywarningoftheenemy’sapproach,hamper
hisattemptstobreachobstacles,hinderhisadvanceonspecificroutes,ordelay
his use of captured equipment or material. Booby traps can be employed as
early-warning devices by placing them within obstacles, or in avenues of
approachtofriendlypositions;examplesoftheseincludetrip-wiredgrenades
orotherexplosivedevicesintegratedintobarbedwireorroadblocks.Booby
traps may be employed offensively to some degree, in that they can be left
behind in enemy territory by a raiding force or reconnaissance patrol, and
theycanusefullybeemplacedonsupplyroutesinconjunctionwithmines.
Boobytrapsdonotwinbattles,andtheyseldomhaveasignificantimpact
on tactical events except at the most local levels; but if employed in
abundance,withvarietyandimagination,theycandelaytheenemyandinstill
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aheighteneddegreeofcautionanduncertainty.Theymaybeabletochannel
the enemy into areas covered by fire, in a manner similar to minefields and
otherobstacles.However,thetime,effort,andresourcesneededtoeffectively
sowenoughboobytrapstohaveevenamoderateimpactissubstantial.Their
main contribution to warfare is their potential for adversely affecting the
enemy’smoraleandslowinghimdown.Theyareverymuchapsychological
weapon, intended not only to inflict casualties but to place more stress on
enemy combat troops. On the other hand, once their presence is known or
suspected,itleads toheightenedalertness,andalerttroops canoftendetect Below left
The“wolfpit”trapdatesfrom
them easily. For generations, commands have conducted schools to teach
earlyantiquity,butsawlimited
selected troops how to detect and neutralize booby traps, and these men
usebytheGermans,especially
wouldpassthisinformationontotheirunits. ontheEasternFronttohamper
In certain instances the use of booby traps can rebound upon the force massedinfantryandcavalry
charges. Theywouldbeplaced
employing them, especially if it counterattacks to retake an area (seldom
instaggeredrowsayardorso
accomplishedbythesameunitthatoriginallyoccupiedtheareaandplacedthe
apart.
boobytraps).Equally,friendlypatrolsandraidsintoareaspreviouslyoccupied
bytheirownforcesmayencountertheseboobytraps.Theycancreateadverse Below right
publicopinion,orcausecasualtiesamongfriendlyorneutralciviliansstillin Aninstructionalphotoof
aTommyoftheGreatWar
thearea.
supposedlydetonatinga
boobytrapwhilebreaking
throughabarricade. While
A Brief History of Booby Traps
overshadowedinmost
accountsbythemoredramatic
A booby trap is defined as an explosive or non-explosive device or other
horrorsofwarfareonthe
material,deliberatelyplacedtocausecasualtieswhenanapparentlyharmless WesternFront,boobytraps
objectisdisturbed,anormallysafeactisperformed,oranassumedsafeplace weremorewidelyencountered
isoccupied.Boobytrapsaredevicessoconcealedordisguisedthattheywill duringWorldWarIthanis
commonlyunderstood. The
betriggeredbyanunwaryvictim.
basicallydefensivepositions
Boobytrapshavebeenaroundforsometime,althoughtheidiomwasnot
ofbothsidesledlogicallyto
coineduntilabout1850(thoughtheterm“booby”foranawkward,foolish thebooby-trappingofthethick
personoriginatedinthe17thcentury).Thefirstboobytrapswerepitfalls,a beltsofbarbedwirethatfaced
anytrench-raidingparty,and
termdatingbacktothe14thcentury,althoughtheconceptofpitsconcealed
ofbarricadeserectedtostop
by a flimsy cover dates back into pre-history, when they were first used by
penetrationdownthelength
hunterstocaptureanimalsdrivenintothem,orwereleftunattendedtocatch oftrenches.
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animals and checked periodically. As
humans began to wage war, pitfalls
with sharpened stakes in the bottom
were constructed to trap marauding
enemies approaching camps or
settlements. Deadfalls of logs or rocks
werealsousedtodisablelargeanimals
or men, tripped by the victim or
remotely activated to send them
thundering down a hillside or into a
ravine. In this manner they were – to
use modern military terminology –
employed to deny the use of a
chokepoint on an avenue of approach.
Occasionally a large rock or heavy log
was fastened to a rope and suspended
fromaproperlysituatedtree;activation
by a tripwire or the pull of a rope sent
the object swinging down a trail to
smash into a briefly startled enemy.
Sharpened wooden stakes and spikes
simply driven in the ground and
concealed under vegetation also
constituted booby traps, to slow an
enemy’sadvanceortoinflictcasualties
–theenemyeitherbeingchasedintothe
traps, or unsuspectedly advancing into
them.
Another early form of booby trap
was to emplace an array of fish hooks
dangling from thin lines inside
windows or dark corridors to ensnare
trespassers. (Even poisonous snakes
couldbeemployedinasimilarmanner,
Anearly-warBritishdepiction but the considerable logistical, installation, maintenance, and removal
oftheGermandeploymentof problemsofthismethodrenderitratherimpractical...).
antitankminesandtraps.What ThefirstexplosiveboobytrapswereusedbytheChineseagainstinvading
theBritishcalled“pancake”
Mongolsin1277,butdetailsareobscure.Inthe18thand19thcenturiessome
mineswereTellerminen–
“plattermines.” use was made of modified firearms as booby traps – usually an old pistol,
blunderbuss or shotgun was rigged in a stationary position to cover a door,
window or trail, with its trigger attached to a tripwire – a “set gun.” A few
purpose-built “trap guns” or “spring guns” were made, usually to catch
poachers or stock thieves; these were large-caliber, shot-loaded, pistol-like
weaponsmountedonaswivel.Theswivelstakewasdrivenintothegroundand
onetothreetripwireswereattachedtocoverdifferentopeningsorpaths;when
atripwirewasdisturbedthetrapgunwouldswivelintheintruder’sdirection
anddischarge.
Otherthanthosebasedonhuntingtraps,theuseofboobytrapsthrough
the19thcenturywaslimited,anditwasnotuntiltheIndustrialRevolution
that the use of effective mechanical booby traps became widespread. The
first recorded, albeit limited use of explosive booby traps in the Western
worldwasduringtheSecondSeminoleWar(1835–42).In1836aboobytrap
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was left by troops abandoning Fort Alabama in west central Florida; it
wasactivatedbySeminolesenteringthefortontheirheels,andthefortwas
destroyed.Detailsarenotavailable,butitwasprobablyatripwire-activated
flintlock igniting kegs of black powder. Some use was made of explosive
boobytrapsintheAmericanCivilWar;termed“landtorpedoes,”“sub-terra
torpedoes” or “sensitive shells,” these were 24lb and 32lb cannon and 8in Areconstructiondiagramofa
and 10in mortar shells buried as landmines, with a percussion-capped WorldWarIIGermansmallunit
defenseplaninItaly,showing
detonator nipple exposed (landmines are, after all, a form of booby trap).
thelocationsofriflemenand
Thesewerefirstused bythe Confederates in1862atYorktown,VA.There
machinegunners. Notealso
werealsoinstanceswhenadesirableobject,suchasajackknife,wasattached thatinthelargecentral
by a pull-cord to a buried shell fitted with a friction igniter as used to fire buildingontherightsideofthe
roadawindowsillisbooby-
cannon.Themoralityandlegalityofsuch“infernalcontrivances,”employed
trapped,andinthelowerleft
with“devilishingenuity,”wasbitterlyarguedbybothsides.
corneratripwire-activated“S”-
World War I saw the introduction of mechanical firing devices, and it mineismarked.
was not long before they were
incorporated into booby traps and
landmines. Tripwire-activated hand
grenades rigged in barbed wire
obstaclessawwidespreaduse,tocause
casualties,delaytheenemy,andprovide
early warning of raiding patrols and
infantry attacks. Booby traps played
only a small part in the overall mass
carnageoftheGreatWar,however,and
littleisnowheardofthem.
WORLD WAR II BOOBY
TRAPS
The contemporary stereotype image of
the Japanese as inscrutable and sneaky
led to expectations of a high degree of
booby trap usage, but it was actually
comparatively limited in the Pacific
theater.Themostprevalentuseofbooby
traps(shikakebakudan)bytheJapanese
wastobooby-traptheirownandAllied
dead, as well as abandoned weapons
and other desirable objects to kill or
injure souvenir-hunters – a well-known
habit of the Allies. Grenades and
adapted artillery and mortar projectiles
were the main sources of booby-trap
materials, and standard demolition
charges, typically of 1kg and less, were
also used in this way.1 The use of
triggering trip- or pull-cords or wires
(tessen – steel ) was extensive. The
wire
Japanesesignificantlyincreasedtheiruse
of booby traps as the war progressed;
1 SeeElite160:WorldWarIIInfantryAssaultTactics
9