Figure 4-6. M2 block demolition charge, tetrytol.

TM 9-1300-277

Detonator

Country of Origin

Cap, blasting, electric,

Cap, blasting, non-

electric, M7

Electric detonator

Italy

Nonelectric detonator

Italy

ET4

Detonator No. 1

Netherlands

Ordinary PRB detonator

Belgium

BRISKA detonator

France

DM11 detonator

Germany

Commercial blasting caps J1 (non-electric caps) may be

Figure 4-6. M2 block demolition charge, tetrytol.

used in place of military caps M7, and commercial

blasting caps J2 (electric caps) may be used in place of

be run to determine that propagation of the explosion is

military caps M6, The main charge for the J1 and J2

complete for the quantities of munitions to be destroyed.

blasting caps is approximately double that of the

In addition, all safety requirements in the

commercial No. 8 blasting caps.

Demilitarization Disposal DMWR's must be followed.

Authority to run the tests and use alternate demolition

(1) Caps, blasting, electric (fig. 4-7). These

charges must first be obtained from Commander, US

are used when a source of electricity, such as a blasting

Army ARRCOM, ATTN: DRSARMAD, Rock Island, IL

machine, is available. Electric caps have lead wires of

61299.

various lengths, the most common being 12 feet long.

To prevent accidental firing, they have a short-circuiting

4-3. DEMOLITION CHARGE INITIATORS

shunt which must be removed before using the cap. If

a. General. Charge initiators include a wide range

the cap is without a shunt, the bare ends of the lead

of devices and materials which contain explosives in

wires will be twisted together to provide the shorting

some form and which are used to initiate the detonation

action to prevent accidental initiation by static electricity.

of demolition charges.

Electric blasting caps require about half an ampere of

b. Blasting Caps. Blasting caps are the main

electricity passing through their wires for ignition.

elements used to initiate high explosives. They function

Misfires can result from mixing electric caps of different

by translating a small signal, either a flame or a pulse of

characteristics in a series circuit-one type cap fires

electricity, into a detonation wave. They are designed

before the others have been given enough electrical

for insertion into cap wells and are also the detonating

energy to fire. With the exception of the military M6

element in certain firing devices. Blasting caps are

cap, electrical characteristics of caps can vary greatly,

classified by type of ignition and strength. Military

even from lot to lot made by one manufacturer. For this

electric blasting caps are instantaneous ignition.

reason, different types of commercial caps and even

Commercial electric blasting caps can be delay or

different lots of the same type made by the same

instantaneous ignition; No. 8 strength delay caps are

manufacturer should never be put together in a blasting

generally used since they are compatible with military

circuit.

dynamite. The blasting caps listed below, both electric

(2) Cap, blasting, electric, M6. Electric

and nonelectric, are recognized as interchangeable

blasting cap M6, an instantaneous ignition No. 12

within NATO (the recognized NATO terms for blasting

strength cap, is the standard Army electric blasting cap.

cap is 'detonator').

It initiates any standard demolition charge. Blasting caps

M6 are electrically uniform and, for this reason, any lot

of M6 caps may be mixed with any other lot of M6 caps

in a blasting circuit without fear of misfires resulting from

different

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