Previous: H-49: Explosive Minefield Reduction
H-50. The Bangalore torpedo (see figure H-7) is a manually emplaced, explosive-filled pipe designed to create a lane in wire obstacles and is also effective against simple pressure-activated AP mines. The M1A1 and M1A2 kits are issued as a demolition kit that consists of 10 1.5-meter tubes, 10 connecting sleeves, and one nose sleeve. Each tube contains four kilograms of HE and weighs six kilograms. The kit clears a 1-by 15-meter lane.
H-51. The M1A3 Bangalore torpedo demolition kit consists of eight charge assemblies, eight connecting sleeves, and two nose sleeves. The tube assemblies, or torpedoes, are steel tubes 2 1/2 feet long and 2 1/8 inches in diameter, grooved and capped at each end. The torpedoes have a 4-inch composition A3 booster (1/2 pound each) at both ends of each 2 1/2 foot section. The main explosive charge is five pounds of composition B4. The primary use of the torpedo is for clearing lanes through wire obstacles and heavy undergrowth. It will clear a 3- to 4-yard-wide path through wire obstacles.
H-52. All torpedo sections have a threaded cap well at each end so they can be assembled in any order. The connecting sleeves are used to connect the torpedo sections together. An individual or pair of Soldiers connect the number of sections needed, and push the torpedo through the antipersonnel minefield before priming the torpedo. A detailed reconnaissance is conducted before using the Bangalore torpedo to ensure trip wires have not been used. The Bangalore torpedo generates one short impulse. It is not effective against pronged, double-impulse, or pressure-resistant antipersonnel or antitank mines.
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