0408. TIPPING DELAY-FILLED TUBE
a. Description.
This delay is composed of a hollow metal rod or bamboo filled with wet beans, rice or peas. The tube is inverted and placed in the center of a ring of igniter material and a small vial of water or acid is tied to the tube. When the wet beans expand, they lift and topple the tube, thereby spilling the acid or water onto the igniter causing combustion.
This tipping delay may be used with a variety of igniters. They are easily prepared, and give fairly accurate delay times. This delay should not be used at temperatures near or below 32° F. when water is used as the initiator due to freezing. The following water actuated igniters listed in chapter 3 can be used with this mechanism: Sugar—Sodium Peroxide (0203), Aluminum Powder—Sodium Peroxide (0204) and Silver Nitrate—Magnesium Powder (0208). The delay may be used with concentrated sulfuric acid to initiate the above igniters and the following acid activated igniters: Sugar-Chlorate (0201), Fire Fudge (0202), and Match Head (0205). This delay may be used with the Glycerin—Potassium Permanganate Igniter (0206).
b. Material and Equipment.
Metal tube, pipe or piece of bamboo closed at one end, 4 to 6 inches long and 1 inch inside diameter, or glass test tube of similar dimensions.
Small glass vial or bottle with open mouth of 1 fluid ounce capacity.
String or rubber bands.
Rice, peas, or beans.
Water.
Concentrated sulfuric acid.
c. Preparation. The pipe or tube may be made of any material. It must be closed at one end and flat at the other in order to stand vertically. A large glass test tube is ideal for this purpose.
Using some string or rubber bands, attach the small vial to the larger tube. Attach the vial near the top with the open end of the vial pointing up and the open end of the tube down.
This assembly should stand up without toppling over. If it appears unsteady, move the vial downward slightly. A final adjustment may be required when the delay is filled with the required materials.
d. Application.
Rice will usually give delays of about ten to twenty minutes. Peas and beans will usually give delay times up to 4 or 5 hours. Whichever is used it must be first tested to determine the delay time for the tube that will be used.
To use this device, tightly pack the piece of pipe or bamboo with rice, peas or beans depending on what delay time is required. Add enough water to completely moisten the beans and quickly pour off the excess water. Place the pipe open end down, and immediately fill the small vial with water or concentrated sulfuric acid, depending on which igniter is being used.
Place a quantity of the igniter mixture in a ring around the delay assembly. Make the ring of such diameter that when the tube falls over, the acid or water from the vial will spill onto the igniter mixture.
Place incendiary material where the flame from the igniter will start it burning.
Another way in which the tipping delay can be used is to fill the small vial with glycerin instead of water or acid and then spread potassium permanganate crystals in a ring around the delay. When the glycerin is spilled onto the crystals, combustion will occur and ignite the incendiary material. The glycerin igniter will not work in temperatures below 50° F.
It is recommended that this device be tested at the same temperature at which it is to be used.
0409. TIPPING DELAY-CORROSIVE OR DISSOLVING ACTION
a. Description.
DISSOLVING
TIPPING DELAY
CORROSIVE
TIPPING DELAY
This device consists of a vial of initiating liquid supported by a tripod. One of the legs which supports the vial of liquid is dissolved by a fluid. The center of gravity of the structure changes and the structure topples over. The contents of the vial spill onto an appropriate igniter mixture and combustion occurs.
This corrosive or dissolving tipping delay may be used with a variety of igniters. However, it should not be used at temperatures near or below 32° F. when water is used as the initiator due to freezing of the water.
The following water actuated igniters listed in chapter 3 can be used with this mechanism: Sugar—Sodium Peroxide (0203), Aluminum Powder—Sodium Peroxide (0204) and Silver Nitrate—Magnesium Powder (0208). The delay may be used with concentrated sulfuric acid to initiate the above igniters and the following acid activated igniters: Sugar-Chlorate (0201), Fire Fudge (0202), and Match Head (0205). This delay may be used with the Glycerin—Potassium Permanganate Igniter (0206)‘
b. Material and Equipment.
Three wooden sticks or wooden pencils (approximately 6 inches long by ¼ inch diameter).
Glass vial (1 fluid ounce capacity).
String, tape or rubber bands.
Any one of the igniter mixtures mentioned above. One of the following combination of items:
Long sticks of hard candy and water.
Lengths of bare copper wire and concentrated nitric acid.
Iron nails or wire approximately inch diameter by 4 inches long and concentrated hydrochloric acid.
Iron nails or wire and saturated cupric chloride solution.
2 glass containers with glass stoppers for carrying acid.
Shallow glass or porcelain bowl such as soup bowl or ink bottle.
c. Preparation.
Make a tripod out of three sticks, taping them together at the top. Two legs should be the same length; the third should be about 2—3 inches shorter.
Tape to the short leg, either a stick of hard candy, piece of heavy bare copper wire, steel nail, or steel wire, adjusting the length so that the wire leg stands almost vertically.
The finished tripod should have a distance of about 4—5 inches between any two legs.
To the top of the tripod, on the short leg, firmly tape or tie the small 1-fluide ounce capacity vial, open end up. Make certain that the tripod still stands upright after attaching the vial. The distance between legs may have to be varied to keep the tripod barely standing upright.
d. Application.
To use the delay device, insert the leg of the tripod which has the candy, wire, or nails into a glass or porcelain bowl. Fill the vial at the top of the tripod with either water, concentrated sulfuric acid, or glycerin, depending on which igniter is being used. Spread a quantity of the proper igniter material in a ring around the tripod, placing it where the spilled initiating liquid is certain to contact it. Fill the glass or porcelain bowl with the prescribed liquid for dissolving the leg of the tripod in the bowl. For hard candy the liquid is water; for copper wire the liquid is concentrated nitric acid; for steel nails the liquid may be either concentrated hydrochloric acid, or a saturated solution of cupric chloride.
No definite delay times can be established for these delays because of factors such as temperature, solution concentration, and imperfections in the leg of the tripod. Prior to use, test the device under conditions expected at the target. The following table should be used merely as a guideline of expected delay times for the various materials. Delay material Delay time
Hard candy plus water 5—10 minutes
Copper wire plus concentrated nitric acid 2—5 minutes
Copper wire plus nitric acid diluted with an equal volume of water. 45—60 minutes
Steel wire or nails plus concentrated hydrochloric acid. 24 hours to 7 days
Steel wire or nails plus cupric chloride 10 minutes to solution. 5—6 hours.
The delay time will vary greatly with only moderate changes in temperature. Do not use this type of delay mechanism where accurate delay times are required.
0410. BALANCING STICK
a. Description.
This delay device consists of a piece of wood or stick, a small vial, a nail, a piece of string, and a long strip of cloth. A hole is drilled through the middle of the stick. The vial is fastened to one end, and the strip of cloth to the other. The length of the cloth is adjusted so that the rod just balances on a nail passing through the hole whe
n the vial is ¾ full. The cloth is wetted with solvent to make it heavy and the vial is filled with initiating liquid to maintain balance. As the solvent evaporates, the end of the stick which supports the vial of initiating liquid becomes heavier than the end supporting the cloth. The unbalanced stick rotates about the nail until the initiating liquid spills onto the igniter mixture and combustion occurs. Fire then spreads to and ignites incendiary material.
This device may be used with a variety of igniters. However, it should not be used at temperatures near or below 32° F. when water is used as the initiator due to freezing of the water. The following water actuated igniters listed in chapter 3 can be used with this mechanism: Sugar—Sodium Peroxide (0203), Aluminum Powder—Sodium Peroxide (0204) and Silver Nitrate—Magnesium Powder (0208). The device may be used with concentrated sulfuric acid to initiate the above igniters and the following acid activated igniters: Sugar-Chlorate (0201), Fire Fudge (0202), and Match Head (0205). It may also be used with the Glycerin—Potassium Permanganate Igniter (0206).
b. Material and Equipment.
Piece of wood ⅞ by ⅞ by 16 inches).
2 Nails.
String.
Strip of cloth.
2 glass vials (1 fluid ounce) with stoppers.
c. Preparation.
Drill a hole through the middle of the stick as shown below.
Insert a nail through the hole. The nail should permit the stick to turn freely. Tie a piece of string (4-6 inches in length) to both ends of the nail, forming a loop. It is not important that the stick balance exactly.
To one end of the stick tape a small glass vial. Tilt the vial when attaching it so that when this end of the stick is about 8 inches above the other end, the vial will be vertically upright. On the other end of the stick tie a strip of cloth, rag, or rope. This strip should be heavy enough so that the stick is balanced when the vial is about ¾ full of initiating fluid.
d. Application.
To use this delay, drive a nail (approximately 4 inches long) into a wall or wooden box about 8 inches above the floor, leaving at least 2 inches of the nail projecting. Place the loop of string on the nail near the head of the nail. The stick should not touch the box or wall, but must swing freely. The rag should touch the floor. Pour enough solvent on the rag to soak it thoroughly (approximately 1 fluid ounce). Working quickly, fill the vial with initiating liquid and balance the rod by shifting the cloth. Spread a quantity of appropriate igniter mixture on the floor where the initiating liquid will spill when the solvent on the cloth evaporates. In a few minutes the solvent will evaporate, causing the stick to become unbalanced. The vial will tilt with the stick and, the liquid in the vial will pour out and initiate the igniter mixture.
Where no solvent is available or where the odor of solvent may make the device easy to detect, do not use cloth soaked with solvent. Use a wire basket containing ice as shown below.
When ice is used, the delay time will be a matter of minutes, depending on the ambient temperature. Ice cannot be used at temperatures near 32° F. Be sure that the drippings from the melting ice does not wet the igniter or interfere with initial combustion of flammable material.
0411. STRETCHED RUBBER BAND
a. Description.
This item utilizes a rubber band, which has been soaked in gasoline or carbon disulfide until it has considerably expanded. After removal of the rubber band from the solvent, the rubber band is attached to a wall and to a bottle containing igniter fluid. As the rubber band contracts due to solvent evaporation, the bottle is tipped and initiator liquid comes in contact with an appropriate igniter material. This stretched rubber band delay may be used with a variety of igniters. However, it should not be used at temperatures near or below 32° F. when water is used as the initiator because the water freezes. The following water actuated igniters listed in chapter 3 can be used with this mechanism: Sugar—Sodium Peroxide (0203), Aluminum Powder—Sodium Peroxide (0204), and Silver Nitrate—Magnesium Powder (0208). The delay may be used with concentrated sulfuric acid to initiate the above igniters and the following acid activated igniters: Sugar-Chlorate (0201), Fire Fudge (0202), and Match Head (0205). This delay may be used with Glycerin—Potassium Permanganate Igniter (0206).
b. Material and Equipment.
Bottle or jar (1 to 2 fluid ounce capacity).
Rubber bands.
Gasoline or carbon disulfide.
Air tight container for carrying the gasoline or carbon disulfide.
Nails.
Igniter.
c. Preparation.
Fill a bottle (1 to 2 fluid ounce capacity) with water, acid, or glycerin, depending on which igniter is to be used.
Soak the rubber bands in gasoline or carbon disulfide for about one hour. Do not soak too long or they will become excessively weakened.
d. Application.
At the place where the delay is to be used, drive a large headed nail into the wall, leaving about 2 to 2½ inches exposed. Loop the rubber bands over the head of the nail. Place the bottle two bottle heights away from the nail. Quickly loop the free end of the rubber bands over the neck of the bottle. Move the bottle back and forth until there is just enough tension in the rubber bands to hold the bottle without it toppling when a pencil or twig is placed under the far end. The stick under the end of the bottle is used as a tilt device to make sure that the bottle topples over when the rubber band contracts.
Place some incendiary material close to the bottle. Sprinkle a quantity of igniter mixture about the area in which the liquid will be spilled. As the solvent evaporates, the rubber bands will shrink, tip the bottle, spill the liquid, and initiate the igniter material. Note. Always set up the bottle before spreading the igniter mixture.
0412. ALARM CLOCK
a. Description.
This device is used for igniting materials after a definite delay time. The device employs a manually-wound alarm clock, with the alarm bell removed, as the timing mechanism. A piece of string is fastened to the key used to wind the alarm. The other end of the string is fastened to a bottle of appropriate initiating liquid. When the modified alarm mechanism is tripped, the winding key will reel in the string and overturn the bottle of initiating liquid and start a fire.
This alarm clock delay may be used with a variety of igniters. However, it should not be used at temperatures near or below 32° F. when water is used as the initiator because the water freezes. The following water actuated igniters listed in chapter 3 can be used with this mechanism: Sugar—Sodium Peroxide (0203), Aluminum Powder—Sodium Peroxide (0204), and Silver Nitrate—Magnesium Powder (0208). The delay may be used with concentrated sulfuric acid to initiate the above igniters and the following acid activated igniters: Sugar-Chlorate (0201), Fire Fudge (0202), and Match Head (0205). This delay may be used with Glycerin—Potassium Permanganate (0206).
This device will produce fairly accurate delay times between one and eleven hours. Caution: The ticking sound of the clock may reveal the presence of the device.
b. Material and Equipment.
Alarm clock, manually wound (without bell, if possible).
Bottle.
String.
Initiator liquid.
Cloth or absorbent paper.
c. Preparation.
Remove the bell or striker from the clock.
Fully wind time and alarm springs.
Set desired time on alarm.
Tie the string to the alarm key so that it will be pulled when the alarm mechanism is tripped. If necessary, tie a twig or stick to the alarm key to obtain a longer level.
d. Application.
Tie the string to the alarm key or stick. Set the clock in place and anchor it if necessary. Muffle the clock with rags, making sure that the rags do not interfere with the reeling action of the alarm mechanism. Tie the free end of the string to the bottle of activating liquid. The bottle should be tilted in the direction of the fall by a pencil or twig. When this device is placed on a smooth surface, the clock
should be taped, tied, or weighted down to prevent it from sliding when the tension in the string is taken up by the revolving key.
Adjust the spacing so that the string is taut. Place a cloth or an absorbent paper towel where the contents of the bottle will be spilled. Place a quantity of igniter mixture on the cloth or paper towel. Partially overlap the igniter mixture with a flammable material so as to assist combustion.
CHAPTER 6
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
0501. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
a. Description.
Spontaneous combustion is the outbreak of fire in combustible material that occurs without application of direct flame or spark. A combustible material such as cotton waste, sawdust, or cotton batting is impregnated with a mixture of a vegetable oil and specific drying oils known as driers. This impregnated combustible material is placed in a container which provides confinement around the sides and bottom. Heat produced by the chemical action of the driers in the oil is transferred to the confined combustible material with resultant outbreak of fire. Prepared igniter materials such as Fire Fudge (0202) or initiator material such as Fuse Cord (0101) can be used with the impregnated combustible material to increase reliability and decrease ignition delay time.
U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare Page 8
