U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare (12 page)

a. Description.

1. 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 when 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.
   
2. 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.

c. Preparation.

1. Drill a hole through the middle of the stick as shown below.
   
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   

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.

c. Preparation.

1. Fill a bottle (1 to 2 fluid ounce capacity) with water, acid, or glycerin, depending on which igniter is to be used.
   
2. 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.

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   

a. Description.

1. 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.
   
2. 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).
   
3. 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.

c. Preparation.

1. Remove the bell or striker from the clock.
   
2. Fully wind time and alarm springs.
   
3. Set desired time on alarm.
   
4. 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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.