Section VIII. COMBINING METHODS

TM 43-0002-31

b. Burying.

(1) Disassemble equipment, if time permits.

(2) Scatter parts widely in lakes, streams, riv-

(1) Disassemble equipment.

ers, swamps, or other bodies of water.

(2) Bury priority components separately. For

example, bury priority one in a different place from prior-

(3) If time is critical, dump entire item in any

it y two.

body of water which is deep enough to allow equipment

(3) Use holes or latrines for burial places.

to be submerged out of sight and difficult to recover.

(4) Filters used in chemical-biological protec-

(4) Cover equipment with dirt, sand or gravel

acquired from diggings. If bulldozers are available, use

tive masks and gas-particulate filter units will also be

them to cover large quantities of small items with dirt,

damaged when submerged in water.

sand or gravel.

e. Special Procedures for Destroying Radioactive

(5) Leave as little evidence as possible as to

Sources.

place of burial. Cover with leaves, snow, or other debris.

(1) Burying. Burying is the safest method for

Brush sand, dirt, or snow to disguise burial spot. Drive

disposing of radioactive sources in a combat zone.

vehicles over burial area. Remove or scatter spoil left

About 7.5 inches of earth will reduce the radiation from

from diggings.

the source by a factor of about one-half. If time permits,

c. Hiding.

place the source in a container (piece of pipe, box, or

case) for burial. Besides the extra shielding, this will

(1) Disassemble equipment, if time permits.

decrease chances of the equipment being broken or

(2) Hide priority parts in caves or rubble.

(3) Cover and camouflage entrances to caves.

contaminated with dirt. This would help preserve the

materiel for use if retrieved later. Mark the location of the

d. Dumping in Water.

burial site on a map. Report the location to the local

WARNING

radiation protection officer (AR385-11).

(2) Scattering or hiding. Use these methods if

time does not permit digging holes for burying the

radioactive sources. Mark the location of the hiding

places for the burial site on a map. Report the location to

the local radiation protection offier (AR385-11).

Radiation hazard. Do not use mechani-

cal means, demolition, fire, gunfire, or

dumping in water to destroy radioactive

sources. Exposure to radiation from the

source may cause casualties or deaths.

Section VIII. COMBINING METHODS

2-24. Combining Methods. Not every situation can

b. If equipment is to be buried, hidden, or dumped

in water, and time is available, destroy priority parts by

be covered for determining the best combination of

mechanical means first.

methods to destroy equipment. In each case the method

c. When it is desirable to dump equipment in a body

or combination of methods must be determined on the

of shallow water, scatter small, vital components so that

basis of existing factors such as: equipment to be de-

they will be completely submerged and not easily re-

stroyed; available time, personnel, and materials re-

covered. Destroy components too large for dumping by

quired for destruction; and area in which destruction is to

demolition, burning, burying, or, if time is critical, leaving

take place.

them behind. However, do not leave behind any priority

parts of any size. If equipment is not completely de-

2-25. Procedures for Combining Methods.

stroyed, make sure that the enemy cannot make equip-

a. Always attempt to destroy priority parts by

ment usable by cannibalization.

mechanical means first. Then destroy the rest of the

equipment by demolition or burning. In any case, use

mechanical means before using other methods.

2-10