Post by mgk1951 on Jul 19, 2009 15:08:20 GMT 8
Cannibalization is always the possibility of an enemy capturing equipment during battle, making it serviceable and using it against its former owners. This was obviously in mind when the following Section (I've included the first section only) was added to a Coast Artillery Field Manual in 1943.
FM 4-40, August 6, 1942, is changed as follows:
64. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. – a. Tactical situations may arise when, due to limitations of time or transportation, it will become impossible to evacuate all equipment. In such situations it is imperative that all matérial that cannot be evacuated be destroyed to prevent-
(1) Its capture intact by the enemy.
(2) Its use by the enemy, if captured, against our own or allied troops.
b. The working principles to be followed are:
(1) Methods for the destruction of matériel subject to capture or abandonment in the combat zone must be adequate, uniform and easily followed in the field.
(2) Destruction must be as complete as the available time, equipment, and personnel will permit. If thorough destruction of all parts cannot be completed, the most important features of the matériel should be destroyed, and parts essential to the operation or use of the matériel, and which cannot be easily duplicated, ruined, or removed. The same essential parts must be destroyed on all like units to prevent the enemy constructing one complete unit from several damaged ones by “cannibalization.”
(3) The destruction of matériel subject to capture or abandonment will be undertaken only when ordered by the harbor defense commander.
c. To accomplish adequate and uniform destruction of matériel, it is essential that –
(1) All echelons prepare plans for the destruction of matériel in the event of imminent capture. Such plans must be flexible enough to make allowance for variations in available time, equipment, and personnel.
d. Certain of the methods outlined require special tools and matériels, such as TNT and incendiary grenades, which normally may not be items of issue. The issue of such special tools and matériels, the vehicles for which issued, and the conditions under which destruction will be effected are command decisions in each case, according to the tactical situations.
65. PRIORITY OF DESTRUCTION. – a. Destruction should be accomplished in the following priority:
(1) Tube.
(2) Power equipment.
(3) Carriage and mount.
(4) Sights and observation instruments.
(5) Plotting room equipment.
(6) Ammunition.
(7) Locomotive and railway cars.
b. In the event of imminent capture, everything that could be possible use to the enemy should be destroyed. If evacuation is probable, all sights, optical instruments, and other valuable small items should be evacuated.
66. TUBE. – The selection of a method of demolition will depend on the tactical situation and the material available. The methods for the destruction of the tube are presented in the order of their effectiveness.
a. Demolition by unfuzed HE shell and either M9A1 AT grenade or M6 AT rocket. – (1) Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. It is not necessary to wait for the recoil fluid to drain completely before firing the piece as in (4) below.
(2) Lay an armed (safety pin removed) M9A1 AT grenade, HE, or M6 AT rocket in the tube about 6 inches in front of the projectile (see (3) below) with the ogive nose end towards the shell. The grenade or rocket must be centered in the tube, using either a wooden adapter or a wad of waste.
(3) Place an unfuzed, point detonating, HE shell M103 and propelling charge in the gun and close the breech.
(4) Fire the gun electrically if possibe; if not use a lanyard at least 100 feet long. The person firing the piece should be under cover in the rear of the piece and about 20 degrees of the line of fire.
(5) When using this method, the danger zone is about 500 yards in radius.
b. Demolition by TNT blocks. – (1) Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. Insert 30 to 50 ½-pound TNT blocks in the chamber and close the breechblock. Plug the muzzle end of the tube tightly with earth to a distance of approximately 2 feet from the muzzle. Detonate the TNT charge by means of a detonating cord routed through the primer vent.
(2) The firer should be under cover. The danger zone is about 500 yards.
(3) For instructions on the wiring and firing of TNT, see FM 5-26, paragraphs 21 to 27, inclusive.
c. Demolition by TNT blocks and HE shell. – Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. Ram an HE shell into the forcing cone, place 30 to 50 ½-pound TNT blocks in the chamber, and close the breechblock. Detonate the TNT with detonating cord routed through the primer vent. A sufficient length of safety fuze should be used to permit personnel to reach cover.
d. Demolition by incendiary grenades. – If evacuation is imminent and it is desired to accomplish demolition without telltale explosions, the following method should be used: Place 10 to 12 unfused M14 incendiary grenades in the chamber. They should be placed on their sides and stacked one on top of another. Close the breech. Equip another incendiary grenade with a 15-second Bickford fuse, ignite it, and throw it in the muzzle. Elevated the gun to its maximum elevation. The metal from the grenades will fuze with the interior of the breechblock, making it impossible to open the breech.
e. Demolition by firing guns at each other. – (1) Fire adjacent guns at each other at point-blank range, using HE or AP shell. Two or more hits on vital spot such as the breech mechanism, recoil mechanism, or tube should adequately destroy the gun. Fire from cover. The danger space is from 200 to 500 yards.
(2) Destroy the last gun and carriage by the best means available.
(3) Danger from “cannibalisation” is inherent in this method.
67. Breech. – Any of the above methods for destroying the tube should also destroy the breech; but if the method selected does not, a heavy sledge may be used to render the breech useless.
This type of instruction was probably added to other reprinted Field Manuals. The instruction may have been initiated by events in Manila and Subic Bays. The instruction also reinforce the need for uniformity of destruction to avoid “cannibalisation”.
Regards
mgk
COASTAL ARTILLERY FIELD MANUAL
SERVICE OF THE PIECE
SEACOAST ARTILLERY
8-INCH GUN, MARK VI, MODIFICATION 3A2
ON RAILWAY MOUNT MIAI
WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, APRIL 5, 1943
FM 4-40, August 6, 1942, is changed as follows:
SECTION XI (ADDED)
DESTRUCTION OF MATÉRIEL
64. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. – a. Tactical situations may arise when, due to limitations of time or transportation, it will become impossible to evacuate all equipment. In such situations it is imperative that all matérial that cannot be evacuated be destroyed to prevent-
(1) Its capture intact by the enemy.
(2) Its use by the enemy, if captured, against our own or allied troops.
b. The working principles to be followed are:
(1) Methods for the destruction of matériel subject to capture or abandonment in the combat zone must be adequate, uniform and easily followed in the field.
(2) Destruction must be as complete as the available time, equipment, and personnel will permit. If thorough destruction of all parts cannot be completed, the most important features of the matériel should be destroyed, and parts essential to the operation or use of the matériel, and which cannot be easily duplicated, ruined, or removed. The same essential parts must be destroyed on all like units to prevent the enemy constructing one complete unit from several damaged ones by “cannibalization.”
(3) The destruction of matériel subject to capture or abandonment will be undertaken only when ordered by the harbor defense commander.
c. To accomplish adequate and uniform destruction of matériel, it is essential that –
(1) All echelons prepare plans for the destruction of matériel in the event of imminent capture. Such plans must be flexible enough to make allowance for variations in available time, equipment, and personnel.
d. Certain of the methods outlined require special tools and matériels, such as TNT and incendiary grenades, which normally may not be items of issue. The issue of such special tools and matériels, the vehicles for which issued, and the conditions under which destruction will be effected are command decisions in each case, according to the tactical situations.
65. PRIORITY OF DESTRUCTION. – a. Destruction should be accomplished in the following priority:
(1) Tube.
(2) Power equipment.
(3) Carriage and mount.
(4) Sights and observation instruments.
(5) Plotting room equipment.
(6) Ammunition.
(7) Locomotive and railway cars.
b. In the event of imminent capture, everything that could be possible use to the enemy should be destroyed. If evacuation is probable, all sights, optical instruments, and other valuable small items should be evacuated.
66. TUBE. – The selection of a method of demolition will depend on the tactical situation and the material available. The methods for the destruction of the tube are presented in the order of their effectiveness.
a. Demolition by unfuzed HE shell and either M9A1 AT grenade or M6 AT rocket. – (1) Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. It is not necessary to wait for the recoil fluid to drain completely before firing the piece as in (4) below.
(2) Lay an armed (safety pin removed) M9A1 AT grenade, HE, or M6 AT rocket in the tube about 6 inches in front of the projectile (see (3) below) with the ogive nose end towards the shell. The grenade or rocket must be centered in the tube, using either a wooden adapter or a wad of waste.
(3) Place an unfuzed, point detonating, HE shell M103 and propelling charge in the gun and close the breech.
(4) Fire the gun electrically if possibe; if not use a lanyard at least 100 feet long. The person firing the piece should be under cover in the rear of the piece and about 20 degrees of the line of fire.
(5) When using this method, the danger zone is about 500 yards in radius.
b. Demolition by TNT blocks. – (1) Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. Insert 30 to 50 ½-pound TNT blocks in the chamber and close the breechblock. Plug the muzzle end of the tube tightly with earth to a distance of approximately 2 feet from the muzzle. Detonate the TNT charge by means of a detonating cord routed through the primer vent.
(2) The firer should be under cover. The danger zone is about 500 yards.
(3) For instructions on the wiring and firing of TNT, see FM 5-26, paragraphs 21 to 27, inclusive.
c. Demolition by TNT blocks and HE shell. – Remove the recoil cylinder drain plug. Ram an HE shell into the forcing cone, place 30 to 50 ½-pound TNT blocks in the chamber, and close the breechblock. Detonate the TNT with detonating cord routed through the primer vent. A sufficient length of safety fuze should be used to permit personnel to reach cover.
d. Demolition by incendiary grenades. – If evacuation is imminent and it is desired to accomplish demolition without telltale explosions, the following method should be used: Place 10 to 12 unfused M14 incendiary grenades in the chamber. They should be placed on their sides and stacked one on top of another. Close the breech. Equip another incendiary grenade with a 15-second Bickford fuse, ignite it, and throw it in the muzzle. Elevated the gun to its maximum elevation. The metal from the grenades will fuze with the interior of the breechblock, making it impossible to open the breech.
e. Demolition by firing guns at each other. – (1) Fire adjacent guns at each other at point-blank range, using HE or AP shell. Two or more hits on vital spot such as the breech mechanism, recoil mechanism, or tube should adequately destroy the gun. Fire from cover. The danger space is from 200 to 500 yards.
(2) Destroy the last gun and carriage by the best means available.
(3) Danger from “cannibalisation” is inherent in this method.
67. Breech. – Any of the above methods for destroying the tube should also destroy the breech; but if the method selected does not, a heavy sledge may be used to render the breech useless.
This type of instruction was probably added to other reprinted Field Manuals. The instruction may have been initiated by events in Manila and Subic Bays. The instruction also reinforce the need for uniformity of destruction to avoid “cannibalisation”.
Regards
mgk