Instuctional phile Topic ..................... How To Properly Use Explosives Author .................... Compilation phrom several sources Compiler .................. Nocturnal Phoenix This is one of a series of compilations I am creating of the various techniques used to perphorm actions that aught not be perphormed (but will be done anyway, so why not do it right?). I am expecting to have maybe ten or so of these compilations by the time I am done. I realized the need phor some phorm of organization of this sort of inphormation when I came across phour meg of shit like this. Out of that phour meg, two meg was totaly redundant, one meg was corrupted to the point of not being able to read it, and of the other meg, everything that was actually usephul was scattered everywhere in bits and pieces. Now I personally am a strong proponant of peacephul world Anarchy, but I would really rather not try to make something phun like nitroglycerin (to use something extremely dangerous that I saw phrequently in all that shit) without having a complete set of instructions. Whenever it was possible, I have given credit to the author of the original article, although I phound many articles which were the same, word phor word, but with dipherent authors, phorcing me to chose one of them. Sorry if I chose wrong. The compiler of this phile apologizes to the authors of the articles within phor any alterations done to their documents. This was unavoidable, as most of these texts were nearly unreadable by the time I got them. I assume this is due to various changes made by people who had been in possesion of them bephore me, and to the slow corruption of the data as it was sent over innumerable fone lines phrom modem to modem. To avoid the phurther corruption of this inphormation, I would ask two things: 1. That any comments, notes, additions, etc. be placed at the very end of this phile, not just stuck wherever you pheel like it. I have put a sample addition in at the end of this file for convenience. Please leave: - Your name (your phake name that would be used phor BBS' and such, not your real name) - The date - Where you can be reached (BBS' etc.) - The inphormation you wish to leave 2. That any random corruptions phound while reading (such as the word "EXPLOSIVES" appearing as "EXPLO´IVES") are phixed (I'm sure that some smartass will be tempted to phix the example I have just given. Please don't). Thank you phor your cooperation in this matter. Please give this phile to whoever you can, knowing that it will probably have grown substantially by the next time you phind it. Also, when you do phind it again, and it is a newer version than you have, delete the older version and only distribute the newer one. - Nocturnal Phoenix ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tamping ------- Tamping is nothing more than an operation performed before the explosion, to regulate and direct the destructive power of the explosion. In other words, if a pound of black powder is ignited with a match, the explosion will occur but most of the destructive force will take the path of the least resistance - into the atmosphere. Now, if the same pound of black powder was placed within a steel pipe, and sealed at both ends, except for a tiny hole for the fuse, the explosion could be regulated with ease. This tamping operation is necessary for any forms of demolitions in order that the operation be successful. A stick of dynamite placed on a concrete roadway untamped, when exploded will create a very small crater, perhaps a few inches. If this same stick of dynamite were tamped, by placing several sandbags on top of if and around it, the explosion would create a much greater crater. This tamping operation is absolutely necessary for the demolition of a large structure or building. Tamping with sandbags can and should be used if at all possible, since the extent of the damage is multiplied several times by the addition of the sandbags. Tamping can be useless if you are on a silent lightning fast mission. In the case of railroad tracks, a two-pound charge of TNT carefully placed between the switch and rail will almost certainly do the trick without tamping. The best procedure when engaged in this type of sabotage is to repeat the acts every three-quarters of a mile or so, so as to delay the repair and create confusion. [1> When attempting to sever a steel rod or pole, through the use of explosives, place a charge on each side, leaving a small gap between the butts of the explosives. [2> When cutting a chain, place the explosive charge on one side and tape it securely into place. [3> When cutting any odd-shaped object, the best explosive to use is plastique because of its flexibility. [4> When cutting heavy metal cables, use plastique. The compound should be placed all around the cable that is to be cut, about a half-inch thick. [5> When sabotaging railroad tracks with explosive, use plastique if available, since this is the easiest substance to use when trying to sever objects or irregular shapes. [A> The most common way of cutting train tracks is by placing a charge of high explosives on either side of the "I" beam track, so as to have the forces of the two explosions act upon each other, thus causing the middle object maximum destruction. [B> Another method which has proven equally effective is placing a charge between the rail and the switch. The switch is one of the weakest points along the line, and a relatively small charge will not only sever the switch and rail, but will also rip up the ties and the railroad bed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Release Of Pressure Detonators ------------------------------ The next type of detonating device I will discuss is called a release-of-pressure mechanism. This device employs exactly the same principles as the pressure-trigger device, except in reverse. The movement of the pressure plate, rather than down, is now up. This can be used effectively when a weight is placed on the pressure plate. Then when it is removed, the explosives will be ignited. To construct, use a heavy-duty spring beneath the first metal plate. Connect a wire from the blasting cap to the first metal plate. The second wire is then stretched from the bottom of battery "A", to the second metal plate. The third wire is run from the electrical blasting cap to the top of battery "B". When this is accomplished, the booby trap is fully cocked. When the weight on the pressure plate is remove, the spring will will force the second metal plate against the first, thus completing the electrical circuit and exploding the device. In a tension-release booby trap, when the tension, resulting from a wire pulling on a pliable metal strip, is released, the metal strip will snap back into another metal strip. Since the wires from the batteries and blasting cap are connected to either metal strip, when they touch, the circuit will be complete and it will detonate the explosive charge. This type of detonator is especially effective when attached to drawers, doors, or any movable object. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Placement Of Charges -------------------- In demolition work, the greatest problem is the actual placement of the charges. When an individual is working on a large structure such as a building or a bridge, it is imperative that he have an understanding of the directional force of explosives, and the structure's weaknesses. These large-type structures are built to bear up under abnormal stress, so the chances are good, unless the charges are placed correctly, that the sabotage will have little or no effect. When attempting the demolition of a building, the first thing to do is to determine the weakest point in the structure. This is the point where a charge can be placed and well-tamped, and will result in maximum destruction. A large building will usually take more than just one charge. The best bet is to place large explosive charges on either side of a weak point in the foundations. These charges should be tamped from the outside, so as to drive the force inward. There are several methods of planting explosives. The advantage to most of the ones listed below is that they have a natural tamping factor, built-in. [1> Bury the explosive beneath the object of destruction. [2> Drill a bore hole into the object and fill with explosives. [3> Form a brace to hold the explosives tight against the object of destruction. A good brace can be made from wood placed on a diagnal, with one end jammed into the ground. [4> Place a charge out in the open, with the tamping material surrounding it, and directing its force. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Formulas For Demolitions Use ---------------------------------- [1> Computation for minimum safety distance with TNT For charges less then 27 pounds, the minimum safety distance is 900 feet. Over 27 pounds, the minimum safety distance is 300 times the cubic root of the number of pounds of TNT [2> Steel cutting When cutting, with explosives, part of a steel structure, determine the area in square inches of the member to be cut. This area is then labeled "A". Use the formula "P = 0.375 x A", where "P" equals The number of pounds of TNT necessary. [3> Steel cutting When a steel member is not part of a greater structure, a different formula is used. This is based on the diameter of the individual member. Use the formula " P = Dý ", where "P" equals The amount of TNT required and "D" is the diameter of the piece of steel. [4> Train rails To cut rails that weigh less then 80 pounds, use one-half pound of TNT. To cut rails that weigh over 80 pounds, use a full pound of TNT. [5> Timber cutting When the charge is to be external and untamped, the formula used is "P equals C cubed divided by 30", where "P" equals The pounds of plastique required, and "C" equals the circumference of the tree in feet. When figuring an internal tamped charge, the formula used is "P equals D squared divided by 250", where "P" equals the pounds of plastique, and "D" equals the diameter of the tree in inches. Some Important Principles A basic rule to follow in all calculations having to do with explosive compounds is to round off the amount to the next highest unit package. At times you may use a little more than necessary, but you will be assured of success. Another rule when calculating charges is to add one-third more explosives if you do not intend to tamp. If a formula is given for plastique (composition 4), as was done for both timber-cutting formulas, you are able to compute poundage in TNT by adding one-third to the weight of the plastique. When using the principle of cratering to destroy a paved surface with explosives, use several charges rather than just one. The use of a bore hole is especially effective here. It is pointless to attempt cratering a roadway without tamping, since most of the destructive force of your charge will go straight up in the air. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Safely Using Explosives ----------------------- Bombs and booby traps incorporate more than just technical knowledge, they are based on human nature. To create an effective booby trap, one must have a primitive insight into his enemy's actions, thoughts, and methods. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of constructing booby traps, bombs, land mines, grenades, etc., it is important explain the basic working principles and mechanisms behind these devices. In the acquisition of equipment I would recommend purchasing or stealing, rather than making your own. Manufactured equipment is much safer to work with, and usually more effective. Once you have your explosive compounds, you will need a way to set it off, or detonate it. With all high explosives, you will need a detonator or blasting cap, unless you decide to lace the fuse into the explosive, although this is not recommended. A blasting cap is a low explosive compound that is connected to a high explosive, for the purpose of detonating it. There are two types of blasting caps - electric and nonelectric. To use a nonelectrical blasting cap, one gently pushes the fuse into the hollow end, until it is fully in. He then crimps the hollow metal end around the fuse, and puts it into the high explosive. When the fuse burns down it ignites the flash charge. That in turn explodes the priming charge, which detonates the base charge, and finally creates enough heat to set off the high-explosive charge. The fuse is ordinary safety fuse or detonating cord. When the fuse is put into the blasting cap, it is necessary to seal it. This act of sealing is called crimping. When involved with this sort of thing, one must use the standard safety precautions set down in the previous section. Crimpers look like a pair of pliers, and their function is very similar, although pliers cannot be used for crimping. With the crimper in your right hand and the blasting cap in your left, slowly squeeze the hollow end of the blasting cap until it is firmly against the fuse. Use care so that you do not squeeze the charge within the cap, as this may detonate it. Whereas nonelectrical blasting caps are functional and have proven that they can be relied on, electrical blasting caps offer a much greater variety of uses. The basic principle of the electrical blasting caps is that an electrical charge moves through an insulated wire until it reaches a small section of that same wire which is not insulated and which is surrounded by a primary flash charge. The heat from the electrical charge will explode the flash charge, which in turn will set off a series of minor explosions, finishing up with the high explosive. Both types of blasting caps should be placed within the high explosive itself. This is easy when working with plastique or a pliable surface. Manufactured TNT has a small hole designed at the top for just this reason, but in dynamite one has to make his own hole. This hole should be made with a wooden or nonsparking metal object. The ends of the crimpers are ideal. The hole can be made in one of two ways: the first is bored carefully and gently straight down from the top of the stick, to exactly the length of the cap itself; the second type of hole is made from the side in a downward diagnal direction. Both of these methods have proven effective. Another method priming dynamite, which is not as reliable as either nonelectrical or electrical blasting caps, is called "lacing". The principle behind most detonating devices is simply to create a temperature which is hot enough to ignite the high explosive. This increase in temperature can be accomplished with a relatively good degree of success by weaving the fuse throughout the high explosive so that, as the fuse burns down, the heat created from the burning process it captures and held within the high explosive until the detonation temperature is reached. There are different methods of lacing, depending on what type of high explosive you happen to working with. For dynamite, the most common and most functional method is to literally sew the detonation cord into the stick. This preparation entails the individual's making several holes directly through the dynamite itself. This hole-making should be performed just as the planting of the blasting cap was handled. The holes must be dug gently and slowly with a nonmetallic instrument. "Lacing" should be done only when there is no alternative, and blasting caps are not available. When using TNT, you can lace it by wrapping the detonating cord around the body of the explosive at least five or six times, and then tying it off with a clove hitch. This will result in a great amount of heat being transferred into the TNT from the fuse, and its detonation. Plastique can also be ignited in this fashion, by employing a heavy- duty detonation cord, and tying a double knot in one of its ends. This large knot is then buried deep in the center of the composition. It must be at least one inch from any side. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Detonators ---------- The most common time-delay device is an ordinary safety fuse. These fuses usually consist of a black-powder core surrounded with a fabric and then a layer of waterproof material. Although there are many different types, it can generally be said that safety fuses burn between 30 and 45 seconds per foot; however, check these figures when you make your purchase. Fuses can be bought from any mail-order pryotechnics company. Two with whom I have dealt are: Ecco Products Box 189 Northvale, New Jersey 07647 Westech Corporation P.O. Box 8193 Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 Double-coated waterproof fuse usually sells for 20 to 25 dollars for a thousand to fifteen hundred feet. I would advise purchasing this equipment, since homemade fuses are not to be trusted. Bombs can be detonated in many ways. The detonation and use of certain devices are based mainly on the cleverness and imagination of the saboteur. In the following section I have discussed several basic forms of detonators, both nonelectric and electric. However, there is an infinite number of variations, which may be better suited to individual situations. The first type is referred to either as a tension-release, or a wiretrap device. It operates on the principle of releasing the tension caused by a wound spring, on the firing pin, and allowing it to strike and set off a nonelectrical blasting cap. The nonelectrical blasting cap will in turn generate the necessary heat to ignite the TNT or dynamite. This can be implemented in many ways. A common method in which the wire-trip device can be employed is stretching a trip wire six inches above the ground. Another equally popular method of employing the tension-release device is attaching the taut wire to the back of a door, so that, when the door is opened, the tension is released, and the explosive ignites. A device very similar to the last one is the pull-trigger electric detonator. It functions in the same manner, in that a safety pin is removed from the striker or firing pin, causing it to move forward and connect with a metal plate. This connection with the metal plate completes the electrical circuit. The batteries have been connected by wires to an electrical blasting cap, a metal plate, and finally to the firing pin. Although professional supplies for this equipment are available at reasonable prices, the device can be constructed from household items. The construction of this device is as follows: two flashlight batteries are connected to each other, and then one wire is run from one end of the batteries to the electrical blasting cap, the other wire from the opposite end of the batteries to the metal plate. A third wire is run from the blasting cap to the firing pin. This now completes the fully cocked device. In the same manner as the explosive is detonated, so is the common military grenade. The principle of a tension release is the same. After the pin is pulled out of the military grenade, the spring is free to react, causing the primer to ignite the lead-spitter fuse, and it in turn will ignite the lead oxide and pentolite. The pentolite will release enough heat to ignite the TNT and cause fragmentation of the metal casing. The next type of detonating device I am going to discuss is called the pressure-trigger device. It is based on the application of pressure rather than its release, as in the previous devices. This mechanism is primarily used when an electrical circuit is employed. The plunger is pushed down; it forces one thin metal plate against another thicker metal plate. The batteries are connected, via the blasting cap, to each of these metal plates. Therefore, when they touch, the electrical circuit is complete, and the explosive will ignite. This type of device has several important advantages. First of all, it can be constructed away from the area it will be used in. This will cut installation time down to seconds. Later the in the chapter, I discuss a type of booby trap that can be rigged into the ignition system of a car. Although the ignition-system booby trap works very well, it takes time to install. This pressure-trigger device will act almost in the same manner if placed beneath the drivers seat, and can be installed in a lot less time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bridge Destruction ------------------ Bridges are much hard to destroy than buildings, and this is for several reasons: [1> Most of the bridges to be destroyed will be far larger than buildings. [2> They are built strongly, to last for long periods of time. [3> They have many reinforcements that are not visible. [4> Everyone realizes the strategic importance of bridges, therefore everyone should realize how well guarded they are. An important factor to bear in mind, when working on bridge demolition, is the extent of real damage desired. Total destruction of a bridge is useless, a waste of good explosives. It may even be harmful, since there may come a time when friendly force will need the use of that bridge. Bridge destruction should therefore be considered a tactical-delay operation. It will slow the enemy down, and cause them much expense and time to rebuild. Since types of charges differ for different types of brides, I will go into specific types of bridge demolitions. [Stringer bridges] are the most common type of concrete, steel, or timber bridges in existence. They are usually one or more spans, but this makes little difference in the actual placement of charges. If more than one span is to be destroyed, one should just copy the first placement on the second span. The stringer-type bridge is on basically two or three steel "I" beams, referred to as stringers. The obvious method is to attempt to sever these primary aspects of the entire structure. This can be accomplished by placing charges on either side of each stringer. Each charge should be tamped either with sandbags or a wooden brace. The result of placing all the charges on the same side of the stringer is the twisting and forced warping of the steel beams beyond any future use. When dealing with a bridge of this type which incorporates more than one span, place the charges along the joints of the stringer, since this is the weakest point along the line. A [slab bridge] is a simple structure, consisting of a flat slab of either concrete or timber held together in such a way that it forms one continuous slab, these are the easiest bridges to destroy, since all that is required is a diagnal line of explosive charges placed either under, or drilled into, the structure itself. If the charges are placed beneath the bridge, they should be attached by some means, and tamping should be used. The [T-Beam bridge] is very similar to the stringer-type bridge, except it is without the bottom reinforcements. This doesn't mean the T-beam bridge is any weaker or easier to destroy. This type of bridge is based on three or four concrete or steel T-beams, with a large slab of concrete covering them. The space between the T-beams on the underneath of the bridge is ideal for the placement of explosive charges, since 75% of the tamping has already been constructed, by the very nature of the bridge itself. This type of bridge may have more than one span but, since bridge- destruction is only a tactical-delay operation, the destruction of one span should be enough. If you wish to destroy more than one span, just repeat the same operation, on the second span, paying close attention to the joints. Like the stringer-type bridge, the charges are placed beneath the bridge, between the beams themselves. A steel or wooden platform should be constructed to so hold the explosives, and direct their force upward into the bridge. The [concrete cantilever bridge] is probably better known as a causeway. It is usually a very low bridge, with many segments or spans supported by a series of concrete columns. The same basic procedure should be followed as previously outlined, in that one should look for the weakest point in the structure, and fix the charges at that point. The weakest point in most structures is the place where two objects join, so the explosive charges should be placed along the joints of the separate sections or spans. Place charges of explosives at the foot of the corresponding column to insure destruction. The charges placed at the foot of the columns should all be tamped and placed on the same side of the respective columns, so as to encourage maximum destruction. This type of bridge has many spans, but usually it is only necessary to destroy several of the middle sections. All charges placed at the foot of the columns should be situated on the same side, so as to channel the movement of the destructive force in one direction. The [truss bridge] is usually used for railroad crossings, and is built of steel. This type of bridge is one of the strongest in the world, and offers many problems for the saboteur. The best method is to run several different explosions at thirty-minute intervals, to that one can see exactly what needs destruction, but this is not feasible for the guerilla operation. Be very careful when attempting a sabotage operation of this type, especially with a truss bridge, since, as it is a train crossing, it will undoubtedly be guarded heavily. [Suspension bridges] are, generally speaking, the largest bridges in the world, and accordingly the strongest. It is a good idea to allow yourself three of four separate charges with a time lapse between them. If this is not possible, concentrate your charges on the main cables, and the center section of the bridge. Six - no less important - charges should be placed on the two towers at either end of the bridge and tamped down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name - Nocturnal Phoenix Date - October 25, 1992 I can be reached on GENERIC BBS, (555)-555-5555, 1200/9600 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------